Tod Rockwell

Ferdinand Almon "Tod" Rockwell (1900 – March 22, 1952) was an American football player and coach. He attended the University of Michigan, where he played quarterback for the Wolverines football team in 1923 and 1924, helping the 1923 team win a national championship. Rockwell served as the head football coach at Salem College—now known as Salem University—in 1925, the University of North Dakota from 1926 to 1927, and Louisiana Polytechnic Institute—now known as Louisiana Tech University from 1928 to 1929.

Tod Rockwell
Biographical details
Born1900
Jackson, Michigan
Died(1952-03-22)March 22, 1952 (aged 52)
Scott Field, Illinois
Playing career
1923–1924Michigan
Position(s)Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1925Salem
1926–1927North Dakota
1928–1929Louisiana Tech
Head coaching record
Overall13–19–3 (excluding Salem)

Early years

Rockwell was born in Chicago, the son of a Methodist minister.[1] He attended high school in Jackson, Michigan.[2]

University of Michigan

Rockwell enrolled at the University of Michigan and played on the freshman football team in 1920. He did not play football in 1921 or 1922.[2]

In 1923, Rockwell began the season as a backup quarterback, but he became the starter after Irwin Uteritz broke his ankle in a game against the Quantico Marines. When Rockwell came into the game against the Marines, Michigan lined up for a field goal with Rockwell holding the ball. As the Marines came through to block the kick, Rockwell jumped to his feet and ran the ball 26 yards for a touchdown. The touchdown run was Rockwell's first play for Michigan's varsity team.[3] The following week, Rockwell again gained attention for a punt return against Wisconsin. The ball bounced off Rockwell's chest at the 25-yard line, but he picked up the loose ball. Rockwell was hit and appeared to be knocked down, but the whistle was not blown. Rockwell started a slow walk with the ball through a relaxed Badger team, which believed Rockwell had been ruled down. After reaching midfield, Rockwell began running at full speed and ran for Michigan's only touchdown in a 6 to 3 victory.[3][4] Years later, Harry Kipke wrote about the play and described Rockwell's "perfect acrobatic somersault" as he appeared to be down but maintained his balance and ran for the winning touchdown.[5]

The following week, Michigan faced Minnesota for the Western Conference championship, and Rockwell caught a pass from Michigan's fullback on his fingertips, juggled the ball, and ran 31 yards for a touchdown that led Michigan to a tie with Illinois for the conference championship.[3] Rockwell's performance in the closing games of the 1923 season led sports writer Billy Evans to write: "Rockwell is one of the best open field runners in the Western Conference. He, more than any other man, saved the Big Ten title for Michigan."[3]

After the 1923 season, another sport writer said of Rockwell: "Through the years Michigan has turned out a bunch of brilliant quarterbacks, 'Boss' Weeks, 'Shorty' McMillan, Tommy Hughitt and Uteritz but Rockwell gives promise of equaling the remarkable performance of all these former celebrities."[6] The 1923 team finished the season with a perfect 8–0 record and has been recognized by Billingsley as the national champion of 1923.[7]

In 1924, Rockwell started seven games at quarterback and one at halfback in leading the Wolverines to a 6–2 record, including wins over Michigan State (7–0), Wisconsin (21–0), Minnesota (13–0), Northwestern (27–0) and Ohio State (16–6).[8] However, the Wolverines could not stop the Illinois team led by Red Grange, giving up 39 points to Michigan's 14.[8] Rockwell was the second leading scorer in the Big Ten Conference in 1924 with 77 points on 10 touchdowns, 14 extra points and one field goal. Rockwell's scoring total was one point behind conference scoring leader Red Grange.[9]

Rockwell received his degree from the University of Michigan as part of the first class to graduate from Michigan's new school of physical education and coaching.[1]

Coaching career

After graduating from Michigan, Rockwell coached for four years. His first position was in 1925 as athletic director and football coach at Salem College in Salem, West Virginia.[1][10] In April 1926, he was hired as the new head football coach for the University of North Dakota. He held that position at North Dakota during the 1926 and 1927 season, compiling a record of 8–8. His third position was as head football coach at Louisiana Tech, where he had a record of 5–11–3 from 1928 to 1929.[11]

Later years

In 1930, Rockwell became a sports writer for the Detroit Free Press. He spent 10 years at the Free Press, writing about Michigan football, high school sports, yachting and Golden Gloves boxing.[1]

Rockwell left the Free Press in 1940 to join the United States Navy construction forces, known as the Seabees. Rockwell remained in the Navy throughout World War II. After the war, he managed "Sports Final", a sports publication in Detroit. He later accepted a civilian public relations position for the United States Air Force. He also worked for a short time for the Michigan Department of Health.[1]

Rockwell died on March 22, 1952.[12]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Salem Tigers (Independent) (1925)
1925 Salem
Salem:
North Dakota Flickertails (North Central Conference) (1926–1927)
1926 North Dakota 4–43–25th
1927 North Dakota 4–42–2T–3rd
North Dakota: 8–85–4
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1928–1929)
1928 Louisiana Tech 2–7
1929 Louisiana Tech 3–4–3
North Dakota: 5–11–3
Total:
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References
  1. "Tod Rockwell Dies; Former U-M Gridder, part 2". Detroit Free Press. March 23, 1952. p. 33.
  2. "University of Michigan Football Roster History". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved November 20, 2015.(enter "rockwell" in the box for "last name" to retrieve Rockwell's roster details)
  3. Billy Evans (December 8, 1923). "Won Fame On First Big Ten Play: A Substitute on the Sidelines Saved the Big X Championship for Michigan". Iowa City Press-Citizen.
  4. "Tod Rockwell Dies; Former U-M Gridder". Detroit Free Press. March 23, 1952. p. 31.
  5. Harry Kipke (October 8, 1935). "Harry Kipke Gives His Version of 1923 Wisconsin - Michigan Battle: Claims Rockwell Did Somersault as He Was Hit". Wisconsin State Journal.
  6. "Michigan Quarter Carries Football on His Vacation". Ogden Standard-Examiner. July 24, 1924.
  7. "1923 Football Team". Univ. of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
  8. "1924 Football Team". Univ. of Michigan.
  9. "They Stopped Grange, But He Leads In Points Scored". San Antonio Express (AP story). November 24, 1924.
  10. "Tod Rockwell Gets New Post". Detroit Free Press. April 9, 1926. p. 17.
  11. "All-Time Coaching Records Ferdinand A. "Tod" Rockwell Records by Year". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  12. "Tod Rockwell". The New York Times. March 24, 1952.
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