C. W. Dibble

Condit Woodhull Dibble (October 23, 1876 – September 14, 1948) was an American football player and coach. He starred in football as a halfback at Lawrenceville School, a prep school in New Jersey, and briefly for Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He was also the head coach of the 1897 Buffalo football team.

C. W. Dibble
Biographical details
Born(1876-10-23)October 23, 1876
Perry, New York
DiedSeptember 14, 1948(1948-09-14) (aged 71)
North Adams, Massachusetts
Playing career
1896Williams
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1897Buffalo
Head coaching record
Overall7–0

When he entered Lawrenceville he became one of the school's all-time football heroes because of his speed and prowess as a halfback that won him the name of "Flash" Dibble. His success was celebrated in an Owen Johnson novel entitled The Varmint of life at Lawrenceville.[1]

In the fall of 1896, Dibble entered Williams College. In an October 3, 1896 game against Harvard, Dibble was apparently kicked in the head while playing. Two weeks later, he was unconscious and diagnosed with a brain abscess. He was thought to be incurably insane.[2] Dibble recovered but suffered from strange bouts of memory loss including the inability to remember anyone, outside of immediate family, from his home town. His medical situation made national news.[3]

Dibble was treated by a Buffalo, New York doctor and "cured" in June 1897.[4] In 1897, he enrolled at the University of Buffalo. Although still wanting to continue to play football, he wisely agreed to coach instead.[5] The Buffalo team finished the season undefeated at 7–0.[6] He left the school the following year.

Due to his head injury, Dibble never returned to Williams College and never graduated from college. He worked in banking for most of his life in North Adams, Massachusetts. He died on September 14, 1948.[7]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Buffalo (Independent) (1897)
1897 Buffalo 7–0
Buffalo: 7–0
Total:7–0
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References
  1. "Football Days of "Flash Condit" Recalled by Son at Lawrenceville.," Perry (NY) Record - November 13, 1930.
  2. "Halfback Dibble Insane.," Ithaca Daily News - October 19, 1896.
  3. "Queer Freak of Memory.," New York World - May 1, 1897.
  4. "Dibble's Lost Memory Restored.," New York Times - June 4, 1897.
  5. "Personal.," Wyoming (NY) County Times - October 14, 1897.
  6. "1897 Buffalo Football," University at Buffalo Sports History Collection - February 18, 2013.
  7. "Condit Dibble.," Wyoming (NY) County Times - September 30, 1948.
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