Bo McMillin

American football player and coach (1895–1952)

Bo McMillin

McMillin during his stint at Indiana

Biographical details
Born| (1895-01-12)January 12, 1895
Prairie Hill, Texas, U.S.
Died| March 31, 1952(1952-03-31) (aged 57)
Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1917| Centre
1919–1921| Centre
1922–1923| Milwaukee Badgers
1923| Cleveland Indians
Position(s)| Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1922–1924| Centenary
1925–1927| Geneva
1928–1933| Kansas State
1934–1947| Indiana
1948–1950| Detroit Lions
1951| Philadelphia Eagles
Basketball
1925–1928| Geneva
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1946–1947| Indiana
1948–1951| Detroit Lions (GM)
Head coaching record
Overall| 140–77–13 (college football)
14–24 (NFL)
26–28 (college basketball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
2 LIAA (1922–1923)
3 Tri-State (1925–1927)
Big Ten (1945)
Awards
Football

* 2× Consensus All-American (1919, 1921)
* First-team All-American (1920)
* All-time Centre team (1935)
* AFCA Coach of the Year (1945)
* Amos Alonzo Stagg Award (1952)

College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1951 (profile)

Alvin Nugent "Bo" McMillin (January 12, 1895 – March 31, 1952) was an American football player and coach at the collegiate and professional level. He played college football at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, where he was a three-time All-American at quarterback, and led the Centre Praying Colonels to an upset victory over Harvard in 1921. McMillin was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player as part of its inaugural 1951 class.

McMillin was the head football coach at Centenary College of Louisiana (1922–1924), Geneva College (1925–1927), Kansas State University (1928–1933) and Indiana University (1934–1947), compiling a career college football coaching record of 140–77–13. In 1945, he led Indiana to its first Big Ten Conference title and was named AFCA Coach of the Year.

After graduating from Centre, McMillin played professionally with the Milwaukee Badgers and Cleveland Indians—two early National Football League (NFL) teams—in 1922 and 1923. He later returned to the NFL, coaching the Detroit Lions from 1948 to 1950 and the Philadelphia Eagles for the first two games of the 1951 season before his death. McMillin's career NFL coaching mark was 14–24.

## Early years

[edit]

McMillin was born on January 12, 1895, to Reuben Thomas McMillin and Martha Buchanan Reilly in Prairie Hill, Limestone County, Texas. The family moved in 1897 to Waco and in 1901 to Fort Worth.[1] McMillin's father was a meat packer.[1] As a child, Bo was known to pick fights,[2] but was also known all his life as one who never drunk nor smoked nor swore.[3] He spoke with a distinctive Texas drawl.[4] He was an Irish Catholic.[5]

He played football as a running back at North Side High School in Fort Worth and Somerset High School in Somerset, Kentucky. At North Side, he played with Red Weaver and was coached by Robert L. (Chief) Myers. Sully Montgomery, Matty Bell, Bill James and Bob Mathias also attended North Side.[6] By the ninth grade, McMillin had reached his full growth at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) and 165 pounds (75 kg).[1]

Myers obtained the coaching job at his alma mater, Centre College, and brought all the above-named players with him. McMillin and Weaver did not have sufficient high-school credits to enter college and enrolled at Somerset High School for the 1916-17 year, playing with Red Roberts.[7] "I've got a boy under my wing down here in Texas who's a football-playing fool and I want him to go to Centre. I'd like for you to get him in a high school up there, and away from his pool-playing pals in Texas." wrote Myers to a man in Somerset.[8]

## Centre College

[edit]

McMillin on a 1950s football card

McMillin began his collegiate career at Centre College in Kentucky. McMillin was a poor student who supported himself by gambling[1] and liked to play football.[3] McMillin failed all his courses during his senior year, eventually receiving his A.B. degree from Centre in 1937 with credit for military service and courses taken after he left the college.[9] According to McMillin, he initially left Centre with $3,500 in debt.[10]

Track medal (with detail) won by McMillin on April 27, 1917

He was a Hall-of-Fame, three-time All-American, triple-threat quarterback on the Centre Colonels football team under head coaches Chief Myers and Charley Moran. McMillin was the quarterback on Centre's all-time football team which was chosen in 1935.[11] He was nominated for the Associated Press All-Time Southeast 1869-1919-era team.[12] In McMillin's day of iron man football, he was also a safety man on defense and a kick returner on special teams.[13]

### 1917

[edit]

He began playing football at Centre in 1917, making an impact as a freshman when his 17-yard drop kick defeated the rival Kentucky Wildcats 3–0 (his only field goal).[14] During his freshman year, McMillin was also on the track team; on April 27, 1917, he won the 220-yard dash at a Centre interscholastic track meet.

He missed the following year to serve in the United States Navy during the final year of World War I before returning to Centre.[15]

### 1919 and 1920 seasons

[edit]

Around 1920

In 1919, McMillin was selected to the Walter Camp All-America first-team at quarterback after helping the Praying Colonels to a perfect 9–0 record (including upsets of Indiana and West Virginia).[16] Centre had been down 3–0 to Indiana for most of the game, scoring a touchdown to lead 6–3 with just over a minute left.[17] Desperate to even the score, Indiana tossed a pass which was intercepted by McMillin, who returned it for a touchdown, dodging and straight arming the entire Indiana eleven.[17] McMillin had the team pray before the West Virginia game, giving the Centre College Colonels its nickname of the "Praying Colonels".[18][19] The 1919 team was selected for a national championship by MIT statistician Jeff Sagarin.[20]

In 1920

In 1920, McMillin received second-team All-America honors from Camp as Centre posted another successful season.[21] However, the season did include a disappointing 31–14 loss to defending national champion Harvard. With the Harvard game tied 7–7, it was 4th down and 6 at the 30-yard line. Instead of punting, McMillin "defied every "don't" in the football book" and tossed a touchdown pass.[22]

McMillin also had his only loss to a team from the South, to Georgia Tech by a 20–0 score. Tech tackle Bill Fincher reportedly tried to knock McMillin out of the game with brass knuckles or "something equally diabolical."[23] Before the game, Fincher said "You're a great player Bo...I feel awful sorry about it because you are not going to be in there very long—about three minutes."[24] The Atlanta Constitution reported, "McMillin's forward passes outdid anything of the kind seen here in many years, but Tech seemed to know where they were going".[25] According to one writer, "Even the great "Bo" McMillin was powerless against the Tech players".[26]

### 1921

[edit]

About to score against Harvard.

1921 was an exceptional season for McMillin and Centre College. He was a consensus All-American, with an extraordinary October 29, effort against Harvard. After losing the year before, McMillin had promised that Centre would beat Harvard in 1921 (despite the Crimson's undefeated record since 1918). Before 43,000 fans, McMillin dashed 32 yards for the lone touchdown in a 6–0 Centre victory which ended Harvard's 25-game winning streak. Fullback Red Roberts told him, "It's time to score—ride my hump".[27] McMillin dodged three of Harvard's secondary on his way to the end zone.[28] Harvard coach Bob Fisher said after the game, "In Bo McMillin, Centre has a man who is probably the hardest in the country to stop".[29]

MIT students who attended the game to cheer against Harvard tore down the goalposts and hoisted him on their shoulders and for decades afterward, it was known as "football's upset of the century".[30] Tulane coach Clark Shaughnessy later wrote that the win "first awoke the nation to the possibilities of Southern football."[31] Students painted the "impossible formula" of C6H0 around Danville,[32] and the campus post office has a last vestige of the graffiti on its side.[33] On the return celebration in Danville on Monday, Governor Edwin P. Morrow remarked "I'd rather be Bo McMillin this moment than the Governor of Kentucky."[34]

Centre players in Danville, fresh off the defeat of Harvard. McMillin is top right.

The week before, Centre had defeated Transylvania 98–0 in a game where Spalding's Football Guide reported that McMillin ran back a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.[13] The season ended with a 14–22 upset loss to Texas A&M in the Dixie Classic, when Texas A&M's 12th-man tradition originated.[35] McMillin blamed himself for the loss.[36] The day before the game, McMillin got married.[37]

In an attempt to name Heisman Trophy winners retroactively before 1936, the National Football Foundation selected him as its 1921 recipient.[38]

## Professional playing career

[edit]

McMillin played professional football in the early days of the NFL, with the Milwaukee Badgers and the Cleveland Indians. McMillin could only play on certain weeks when the team he was coaching traveled North. The Badgers had to mail him the plays and signals the week before, pay him in advance, and he never had any practice with the team.[39]

## Coaching career

[edit]

Building upon his success as a player, McMillin became a coach and spent the next quarter-century compiling a 146–77–13 record. McMillin's "tactical contributions" were "both negligible," the five man backfield and the "cockeyed T."[40][n 1]

### Centenary and Geneva

[edit]

Preferring a small school,[42] McMillin began at Centenary College of Louisiana in 1922. Over a three-year period, he lost only three of 28 games, and won two Louisiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles.[43]

Cal Hubbard (pictured) was coached by McMillin at both Centenary and Geneva.

McMillin's success in Louisiana allowed him to move on to Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, where he was the school's 13th head football coach for three seasons (1925–1927). His coaching record at Geneva was 22 wins, 6 losses and 1 tie, and he is a member of the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame.[44] Geneva College fans generally consider McMillin among the best coaches in school history.[45] His teams, renowned for playing some of the best teams in college football, prided themselves on a challenging schedule.[46] Geneva opened the 1926 season with a 16–7 upset of Harvard.[47]

Former Centre player Swede Anderson followed McMillin to Centenary and Geneva. Mack Flenniken also followed coach McMillin, as well as Cal Hubbard, the only person inducted into the Pro Football and Baseball Halls of Fame and Centenary's first All-American, at both schools.[48] Georgia Tech coach Bill Alexander once watched Centenary when it was in Atlanta to play Oglethorpe. "Bo, this Oglethorpe bunch has fast backs, but the line is light and green. If you turn that Hubbard loose, he might kill some of them. Have Cal 'hurt his knee', why don't you, and let him sit on the bench?"[49]

### Kansas State

[edit]

In 1928, McMillin was hired by Kansas State University to replace Hall of Fame coach Charlie Bachman. He coached successfully at Kansas State for six years, including an 8–2 season in 1931, which after a 5–0 start and Rose Bowl aspirations had the Wildcats suffer close losses to Iowa State and Nebraska.[50][51][n 2] In his final season at the helm in 1933, Kansas State "had an unexpectedly fine season," including an upset of Oklahoma.[53]

Elden Auker (McMillin's all-conference quarterback at Kansas State) wrote in his book, Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms, "McMillin was a great psychologist. He really knew how to give us talks that fired us up ... The normal routine for McMillin was to bring us out onto the field to loosen up and then take us back into the locker room for a pep talk. By the time he was through talking, we believed we could take on the world".[54]

### Indiana

[edit]

Coaching Indiana

McMillin's success at Kansas State propelled him into his most noteworthy achievements, coaching at Indiana University for 14 years, beginning in 1934. He helped improve the nondescript program to an undefeated season in 1945.[55][n 3] That year was the first in which the Hoosiers won the Big Nine Conference and the school's only outright conference title. McMillin received the Coach of the Year Award. "I haven't seen Blanchard," said McMillin at the award ceremony's dinner, "but until I do, I'll settle for Pete Pihos any time."[57]

McMillin was successful at the annual College All-Star game, winning in 1938 and 1946 against the defending NFL champions.[58]

Indiana was reportedly at another Big Ten stadium when McMillin sought entrance several hours before the game, only to find the gates locked and guarded. He coaxed the guards to open one gate so they could discuss the problem and announced, "This is the Indiana football team. We've been marching around this place long enough, and, suh, we are not wearying ourselves before we get our suits on".[59] He is the last Indiana football coach to have left with a winning record.

### Detroit Lions

[edit]

McMillin on the cover of a program for a 1948 Lions game.

Despite becoming the school's athletic director and earning apparent lifetime security, with seven years remaining on his most-recent contract the 53-year-old McMillin sought new challenges after the 1947 season.[60] He accepted a five-year contract to coach the National Football League's Detroit Lions on February 19, 1948.[61]

McMillin's coaching success disappeared with the Lions as the team dropped its first five games in 1948 and finished with a 2–10 record. In addition to many on-field changes, he briefly changed the team's colors from the familiar Hawaiian blue to maroon (similar to the color worn by his Indiana teams).[62]

The Lions also struggled in 1949, with a 4–8 record, but picked up the rights to future star Doak Walker and brought in quarterback Bobby Layne and Heisman Trophy winner Leon Hart the following year.[63] Continued conflict with players led to McMillin's departure after the end of the 1950 NFL season,[1] which saw the Lions finish with a 6–6 record.[64]

### Philadelphia Eagles

[edit]

He then took up the challenge of returning the Philadelphia Eagles to their previous glory when he was hired on February 8, 1951, succeeding Earle (Greasy) Neale.[4][65] After two games, both victories, McMillin underwent surgery for what was thought to be stomach ulcers. The findings were far worse: stomach cancer, which ended his coaching career. On March 31, 1952, McMillin died of a heart attack; his funeral was attended by many fellow coaches and former players.[59]

## Awards and accolades

[edit]

In November 1951, during the last months of his life, McMillin was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame for his success as a player. Two months later, he received the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award from the American Football Coaches Association for his contributions to the sport. In 2013 McMillin was posthumously inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame,[66] and he is also a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame[67] and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.[1]

In 1923 a horse named Bo McMillin, owned by J. Pendergast, ran in the Kentucky Derby. At odds of 12–1, the horse (ridden by D. Connelly) finished 12th in the 21-horse field.[68]

McMillin's grandson, the son of his daughter Kathryn Jane Bubier, Craig McMillin Bubier, was an All-American lacrosse player at Johns Hopkins University in 1986.[69][70] The next season, Bubier's senior year, was capped by Bubier scoring the winning goal to secure his third  national championship.[71] His championship streak continued in the 1990 World Games.[72]

## Head coaching record

[edit]

### College football

[edit]

Year  | Team  | Overall  | Conference | Standing  | Bowl/playoffs  | AP#

|
|
|
|
|
|

Centenary Gentlemen (Louisiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1922–1924)
1922 | Centenary | 8–1 |  | 1st |  |
1923 | Centenary | 10–1 |  | 1st |  |
1924 | Centenary | 8–1 |  |  |  |
Centenary: | 26–3 |  |
Geneva Covenanters (Tri-State Conference) (1925–1927)
1925 | Geneva | 6–3 | 5–0 | 1st |  |
1926 | Geneva | 8–2 | 4–0 | 1st |  |
1927 | Geneva | 8–0–1 | 4–0 | 1st |  |
Geneva: | 22–5–1 | 13–0 |
Kansas State Wildcats (Big Six Conference) (1928–1933)
1928 | Kansas State | 3–5 | 0–5 | 6th |  |
1929 | Kansas State | 3–5 | 3–2 | 3rd |  |
1930 | Kansas State | 5–3 | 3–2 | 3rd |  |
1931 | Kansas State | 8–2 | 3–2 | 3rd |  |
1932 | Kansas State | 4–4 | 2–3 | 4th |  |
1933 | Kansas State | 6–2–1 | 4–1 | 2nd |  |
Kansas State: | 29–21–1 | 15–15 |
Indiana Hoosiers (Big Ten Conference) (1934–1947)
1934 | Indiana | 3–3–2 | 1–3–1 | T–8th |  |
1935 | Indiana | 4–3–1 | 2–2–1 | T–3rd |  |
1936 | Indiana | 5–2–1 | 3–1–1 | T–4th |  |
1937 | Indiana | 5–3 | 3–2 | 3rd |  |
1938 | Indiana | 1–6–1 | 1–4 | 9th |  |
1939 | Indiana | 2–4–2 | 2–3 | 8th |  |
1940 | Indiana | 3–5 | 2–3 | T–6th |  |
1941 | Indiana | 2–6 | 1–3 | T–7th |  |
1942 | Indiana | 7–3 | 2–2 | T–5th |  |
1943 | Indiana | 4–4–2 | 2–3–1 | 4th |  |
1944 | Indiana | 7–3 | 4–3 | 5th |  |
1945 | Indiana | 9–0–1 | 5–0–1 | 1st |  | 4
1946 | Indiana | 6–3 | 4–2 | 3rd |  | 20
1947 | Indiana | 5–3–1 | 2–3–1 | T–6th |  |
Indiana: | 63–48–11 | 34–34–6 |
Total: | 140–77–13 |
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth

* #Rankings from final AP Poll.

### NFL

[edit]

Team | Year | Regular Season

|
|

Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish
DET | 1948 | 2 | 10 | 0 | .167 | 5th in NFL Western
DET | 1949 | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | 4th in NFL Western
DET | 1950 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | 4th in NFL National
DET Total | 12 | 24 | 0 | .333
PHI | 1951 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 5th in NFL American
PHI Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000
Total[73] | 14 | 24 | 0 | .368

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The cockeyed T resembled Robert Neyland's Tennessee single-wing.[41]
2. ^ The team included All-American end Henry Cronkite.[52]
3. ^ Swede Anderson was his backfield coach from 1938 to 1945.[56]

## Endnotes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f "McMillin, Alvin Nugent [Bo]". tshaonline.org. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
2. ^ Pope 1956, p. 353
3. ^ a b Reed, Billy (November 11, 1968). "I'd Rather Be Bo McMillin than Governor". si.com. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
4. ^ a b "Bo McMillin to Fly Eagles 'Differently'". The Ludington Daily News. February 9, 1951.
5. ^ Shanklin 1995, p. 29
6. ^ Fred Turbyville (November 21, 1919). "Centre College Prays and Crys, Then Goes Out And Wins". New Castle Herald. p. 14. Retrieved May 8, 2016 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "Red Weaver". centre.edu. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
8. ^ White, Don (June 12, 2013). "Bo knows Upsets!". Commonwealth Journal. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
9. ^ "Alvin N. (Bo) McMillin". centre.edu. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
10. ^ "M'Millan Paid $2000 For Game". Spokane Daily Chronicle. January 3, 1925.
11. ^ George Trevor (November 25, 1935). "1921 Team Produces Most Stars For Centre's All-Time Eleven". Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved March 24, 2015 - via Google news.
12. ^ "U-T Greats On All-Time Southeast Team". Kingsport Post. July 31, 1969. Retrieved June 27, 2024 - via Google News.
13. ^ a b Camp 1922, p. 26
14. ^ Rob Robertson (April 2011). "The Centre College Football Team's Amazing Run, Climaxed by Winning the "Southern Championship" in 1924" (PDF). The College Football Historian. 3 (3): 6.
15. ^ Roberts, Randy (June 1, 1991). "Bo McMillin: Man and Legend by Charles W. Akers and John W. Carter". Indiana Magazine of History - via scholarworks.iu.edu.
16. ^ "Walter Camp's All-American Team". Fitchburg Daily Sentinel. December 13, 1919.
17. ^ a b "Centre Downs Indiana In Last Two Minutes of Play". The Courier-Journal. October 5, 1919. p. 42. Retrieved May 8, 2016 - via Newspapers.com.
18. ^ Frank G. Weaver (1919). "Come On, You Praying Kentuckians". Association Men. 45: 416.
19. ^ "Kentucky Colonels Have Phenomenal Record; Always Pray Before Battle". Arizona Daily Star. November 28, 1919. p. 7. Retrieved May 27, 2016 - via Newspapers.com.
20. ^ Brown 1970
21. ^ "Camp Names Gridiron Stars". Post-Standard. Syracuse, NY. December 15, 1920.
22. ^ Yust 1952, pp. 476–477
23. ^ "Fincher, Guyon, Strupper-and Shaw Hardy". The Miami News. November 3, 1943.
24. ^ Grantland Rice (July 19, 1940). "Sportlight". The Nebraska State Journal. p. 12. Retrieved August 22, 2016 - via Newspapers.com.
25. ^ "Georgia Tech Beats Strong Centre Team By Score of 24 To 0". News and Observer. October 31, 1920. p. 13\. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2015 - via Newspapers.com.
26. ^ Arthur Duffy (November 1, 1920). "Sport Comment". Boston Post. p. 12\. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2015 - via Newspapers.com.
27. ^ Goldstein 1996
28. ^ "How Centre Colonels Defeated the Crimson In Cambridge Stadium". The Courier-Journal. October 30, 1921. p. 49. Retrieved February 13, 2016 - via Newspapers.com.
29. ^ "McMillin's Brillian Sprint Gives Centre Victory Over Harvard". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. October 30, 1921. p. 6. Retrieved February 13, 2016 - via Newspapers.com.
30. ^ "Centre College Remembers Day When It Was King of the Gridiron". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
31. ^ Clark D. Shaughnessy (September 11, 1931). "Dixie Football At the Top, Says Loyola Mentor". The Tuscaloosa News.
32. ^ E. Benjamin Samuels (October 28, 2011). "Remembering a Forgotten Upset". thecrimson.com. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
33. ^ Kaplan, Inc. 2004, p. 105
34. ^ Merle Crowell (January 1, 1922). "David Whips Goliath Again". American Magazine. 93. Colver Publishing House: 52–53 - via Google Books.52-53&rft.date=1922-01-01&rft.au=Merle+Crowell&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=acQ_AQAAMAAJ&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Bo+McMillin" class="Z3988">
35. ^ Schoor 1994
36. ^ "Listening In". Boys' Life. 12 (3): 1. March 1922.
37. ^ "Bo McMillin Married.; Centre College Football Star Weds Miss Miers at Fort Worth". The New York Times. January 3, 1922.
38. ^ "The Heisman Winners Before There Was a Heisman" (PDF). The National Football Foundation's Football Letter. 51 (3): 3. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
39. ^ Cook 2012, p. 8
40. ^ Pope 1956, p. 349
41. ^ Jim Joanos (August 2008). "The History of FSU Football: 1948- Sixty Years Ago".
42. ^ "M'Millin Tells Why He Coaches Centenary Team". Alton Evening Telegraph. November 16, 1922. p. 9. Retrieved December 1, 2015 - via Newspapers.com.
43. ^ "Conference Championships". cfbdatawarehouse. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
44. ^ "Alvin Nugent "Bo" McMillin". bcshof.org. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
45. ^ Marino Parascenzo (November 3, 1971). "The Geneva Story: A Winning Fairy Tale". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
46. ^ "Geneva College, Conqueror of Harvard, Plans Busy Grid Menu for 1927". The Evening Independent. October 14, 1926.[permanent dead link‍]
47. ^ Henry McLemore (April 26, 1937). "Cal Hubbard Chooses Star Pro Grid Team". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. p. 15. Retrieved May 22, 2016 - via Newspapers.com.
48. ^ "Robert "Cal" Hubbard". Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
49. ^ Pope 1956, p. 10
50. ^ "Kansas State University 1931 season results". cfbdatawarehouse.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
51. ^ Fitzgerald 2001, p. 35
52. ^ Stallard 2000, p. 121
53. ^ National Collegiate Athletic Association 1934, p. 71
54. ^ Auker 2001, p. 40
55. ^ Sam Beishuizen (October 13, 2015). "Indiana Hoosiers - Indiana Honors 70th Anniversary of 1945 Hoosier Football Team". iuhoosiers.com. Indiana University. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
56. ^ "Former Centenary Grid Star Goes To Indiana". Monroe Morning World. March 20, 1938. p. 9. Retrieved June 8, 2016 - via Newspapers.com.
57. ^ Hammel 1999, p. 102
58. ^ Alvin (Bo) McMillin (July 17, 1950). "Bo McMillin Calls All-Star Game No. 1 Gridiron Show". Chicago Daily Tribune.
59. ^ a b "Bo McMillin Dies Same Day Rock Was Killed". The Jacksonville Daily Journal. April 1, 1952. p. 9. Retrieved July 10, 2016 - via Newspapers.com.
60. ^ Maxymuk 2012, pp. 191–192
61. ^ "M'Millin May Take Lions' Job Today". Chicago Tribune. February 19, 1948.
62. ^ Griffith 2012, p. 144
63. ^ "Leon Hart Biography". jockbio.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
64. ^ "McMillin Quits Detroit Lions". St. Petersburg Times. December 20, 1950.
65. ^ "Eagles fire Greasy Neale, Hire McMillan as Coach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. February 9, 1951. p. 20. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
66. ^ "Bo McMillin '22 inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame - Centre College". June 20, 2013. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
67. ^ "Alvin (Bo) McMillin". Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
68. ^ "Breeders, Kentucky Derby (1916-2015)" (PDF). kentuckyderby.com. p. 9. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
69. ^ "50th Anniversary of the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame". www.voice-tribune.com. July 25, 2013. Archived from the original on November 12, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
70. ^ "1986 Men's All-Americans" (PDF). www.usila.org. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
71. ^ William N. Wallace (May 26, 1987). "Johns Hopkins Edges Cornell For Title". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
72. ^ "U.S. Men History - Rosters - US Lacrosse Team USA". teamusa.uslacrosse.org. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
73. ^ "Bo McMillin Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 27, 2016.

## Books

[edit]

* Auker, Elden (2001). Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms. Triumph Books. ISBN 1-892049-25-2.
* Brown, John Y. (1970). The Legend of the Praying Colonels. Louisville, Kentucky: J. Marvin Gray & Associates, Inc.
* Camp, Walter (1922). National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Rules: Official Intercollegiate Football Guide. New York: Spalding's Athletic Library.
* Cook, William A. (October 25, 2012). Big Klu: The Baseball Life of Ted Kluszewski. McFarland. ISBN 9780786490844 - via Google Books.
* Fitzgerald, Tim (2001). Wildcat gridiron guide: past & present stories about K-State football. Spirit Street Pub. ISBN 9780970345806.
* Goldstein, Richard (1996). Ivy League Autumns. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0-312-14629-0.
* Griffith, R. D. (September 1, 2012). To the NFL: You Sure Started Somethin': A Historical Guide of All 32 NFL Teams and the Cities They've Played In. Dorrance Publishing. ISBN 9781434916815 - via Google Books.
* Hammel, Bob (January 1, 1999). Indiana University: Glory of Old IU. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 9781582610689 - via Internet Archive.
* Kaplan, Inc. (June 22, 2004). The Unofficial, Unbiased Guide to the 331 Most Interesting Colleges 2005. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743251990.
* Maxymuk, John (August 2, 2012). NFL Head Coaches: A Biographical Dictionary, 1920-2011. McFarland. ISBN 9780786492954 - via Google Books.
* National Collegiate Athletic Association (1934). Spalding's Football Guide.
* Pope, Edwin (1956). Football's Greatest Coaches.
* Schoor, Gene (1994). The Fightin' Texas Aggies: 100 Years of A&M Football. Dallas, Texas: Taylor Publishing Company.
* Shanklin, William L. (May 1, 1995). Against All Odds: Football's Great Comebacks and Upsets. Barclay House Books. ISBN 9780935016130.
* Stallard, Mark (January 1, 2000). Wildcats to Powercats: K-State Football Facts and Trivia. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781584970040 - via Google Books.
* Yust, Walter (1952). Encyclopædia Britannica: a new survey of universal knowledge. Vol. 9.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bo McMillin.

* Bo McMillin at the College Football Hall of Fame
*   * Career statistics from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference
* Bo McMillin at Find a Grave

Links to related articles

* v
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Centenary Gentlemen head football coaches

* No coach (1894–1896)
* No team (1897–1907)
* Unknown (1908)
* James Hinton (1909)
* David B. Boddie (1910)
* Ramey (1911)
* Simon W. Tudor (1912)
* Brooks Garrett (1913–1914)
* No team (1915–1918)
* Homer Norton (1919–1921)
* Bo McMillin (1922–1924)
* Earl A. Davis (1925)
* Homer Norton (1926–1933)
* Curtis Parker (1934–1939)
* Jake Hanna (1940–1941)
* No team (1942–1946)
* Jess Thompson (1947)
* No team (1948–2023)
* Byron Dawson (2024– )

* v
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Geneva Golden Tornadoes head football coaches

* William McCracken (1890–1896)
* Ross Fiscus (1897–1899)
* Samuel G. Craig (1900–1903)
* Smith Alford (1904)
* Archibald Leech (1905)
* No team (1906)
* Arthur McKean (1907–1911)
* Graydon Long (1912)
* C. Brainerd Metheny (1913–1916)
* Philip Henry Bridenbaugh (1917–1921)
* Robert Park (1922)
* Tom Davies (1923)
* Jack Sack (1924)
* Bo McMillin (1925–1927)
* Mack Flenniken (1928–1929)
* Howard Harpster (1930–1932)
* Jimmy Robertson (1933)
* Dike Beede (1934–1936)
* Edgar P. Weltner (1937–1940)
* Alured Ransom (1941)
* Cal Hubbard (1942)
* No team (1943–1945)
* Alured Ransom (1946–1948)
* Walter J. West (1949–1952)
* Byron E. Morgan (1953–1962)
* Donald Lederick (1963–1966)
* Joe Banks (1967–1968)
* Dan Frasier (1969–1971)
* Max Holm (1972–1973)
* Dick Lasse (1974–1975)
* Gene Sullivan (1976–1992)
* Geno DeMarco (1993– )

* v
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Geneva Golden Tornadoes men's basketball head coaches

* Charles Bemies (1892–1893)
* No team (1893–1897)
* Unknown (1897–1898)
* Joseph H. Thompson (1898–1902)
* Paul Critchlow (1902–1903)
* James May (1903–1904)
* Unknown (1904–1905)
* Robert Young (1905–1906)
* No team (1906–1907)
* Guy Wertz (1907–1909)
* Arthur McKean (1909–1911)
* Howard George (1911–1912)
* Graydon Long (1912–1913)
* C. Brainerd Metheny (1913–1917)
* Philip Henry Bridenbaugh (1917–1922)
* Harry C. McCarter (1922–1924)
* Paul R. Cutwright (1924–1925)
* Bo McMillin (1925–1928)
* Ken Loeffler (1928–1935)
* Gordon Benn (1935–1936)
* Don Wolfe (1936–1937)
* Edgar P. Weltner (1937–1941)
* Alured Ransom (1941–1942)
* Harold Bruce (1942–1946)
* Alured Ransom (1946–1949)
* Cliff Aultman (1949–1971)
* Max Holm (1971–1972)
* James Christopher (1972–1979)
* Gordon C. Stauffer (1979–1981)
* Lee Erickson (1981–1984)
* Marc Evans (1984–1987)
* Jerry Slocum (1987–1996)
* Jeff Santarsiero (1996– )

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Kansas State Wildcats head football coaches

* Ira Pratt (1896)
* A. W. Ehrsam (1897)
* Billy P. Williamson (1898)
* Albert Hansen (1899)
* Fay Moulton (1900)
* Wade Moore (1901)
* Cyrus E. Dietz (1902)
* G. O. Dietz (1903)
* Reuben F. Booth (1904)
* Mike Ahearn (1905–1910)
* Guy Lowman (1911–1914)
* John R. Bender (1915)
* Zora G. Clevenger (1916–1919)
* Charlie Bachman (1920–1927)
* Bo McMillin (1928–1933)
* Pappy Waldorf (1934)
* Wesley Fry (1935–1939)
* Hobbs Adams (1940–1941)
* Ward Haylett (1942–1944)
* Lud Fiser (1945)
* Hobbs Adams (1946)
* Sam Francis (1947)
* Ralph Graham (1948–1950)
* Bill Meek (1951–1954)
* Bus Mertes (1955–1959)
* Doug Weaver (1960–1966)
* Vince Gibson (1967–1974)
* Ellis Rainsberger (1975–1977)
* Jim Dickey (1978–1985)
* Lee Moon # (1985)
* Stan Parrish (1986–1988)
* Bill Snyder (1989–2005)
* Ron Prince (2006–2008)
* Bill Snyder (2009–2018)
* Chris Klieman (2019– )

# denotes interim head coach

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Indiana Hoosiers head football coaches

* Arthur B. Woodford (1887–1888)
* Evans Woollen (1889)
* No team (1890)
* Billy Herod (1891)
* No coach (1892–1893)
* Gustave Ferbert & Joseph R. Hudelson (1894)
* Winchester Osgood & Robert Wrenn (1895)
* Madison G. Gonterman (1896–1897)
* James H. Horne (1898–1904)
* James M. Sheldon (1905–1913)
* Clarence Childs (1914–1915)
* Ewald O. Stiehm (1916–1921)
* James P. Herron (1922)
* Bill Ingram (1923–1925)
* Harlan Page (1926–1930)
* Earl C. Hayes (1931–1933)
* Bo McMillin (1934–1947)
* Clyde B. Smith (1948–1951)
* Bernie Crimmins (1952–1956)
* Bob Hicks # (1957)
* Phil Dickens (1958–1964)
* John Pont (1965–1972)
* Lee Corso (1973–1982)
* Sam Wyche (1983)
* Bill Mallory (1984–1996)
* Cam Cameron (1997–2001)
* Gerry DiNardo (2002–2004)
* Terry Hoeppner (2005–2006)
* Bill Lynch (2007–2010)
* Kevin Wilson (2011–2016)
* Tom Allen (2016–2023)
* Curt Cignetti (2024– )

# denotes interim head coach

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Indiana Hoosiers athletic directors

* Edgar Syrett (1894–1896)
* Madison G. Gonterman (1897–1898)
* James H. Horne (1899–1905)
* Zora G. Clevenger (1906)
* James M. Sheldon (1907–1910)
* Charles P. Hutchins (1911–1913)
* Clarence Childs (1914–1915)
* Ewald O. Stiehm (1916–1922)
* Zora G. Clevenger (1923–1946)
* Bo McMillin (1946–1947)
* Paul J. Harrell (1948–1954)
* W. W. Patty # (1954–1955)
* Frank E. Allen (1955–1961)
* Bill Orwig (1961–1975)
* Paul Dietzel (1975–1978)
* Ralph Floyd (1978–1990)
* Ed Williams # (1990–1991)
* Clarence Doninger (1991–2001)
* Michael McNeely (2001–2002)
* Terry Clapacs (2002–2004)
* Rick Greenspan (2004–2009)
* Fred Glass (2009–2020)
* Scott Dolson (2020– )

# denotes interim athletic director

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Detroit Lions head coaches

Formerly the Portsmouth Spartans (1930–1933)

* Hal Griffen (1930)
* George Clark (1931–1936)
* Dutch Clark (1937–1938)
* Gus Henderson (1939)
* George Clark (1940)
* Bill Edwards (1941–1942)
* John Karcis (1942)
* Gus Dorais (1943–1947)
* Bo McMillin (1948–1950)
* Buddy Parker (1951–1956)
* George Wilson (1957–1964)
* Harry Gilmer (1965–1966)
* Joe Schmidt (1967–1972)
* Don McCafferty (1973)
* Rick Forzano (1974–1976)
* Tommy Hudspeth (1976–1977)
* Monte Clark (1978–1984)
* Darryl Rogers (1985–1988)
* Wayne Fontes (1988–1996)
* Bobby Ross (1997–2000)
* Gary Moeller (2000)
* Marty Mornhinweg (2001–2002)
* Steve Mariucci (2003–2005)
* Dick Jauron # (2005)
* Rod Marinelli (2006–2008)
* Jim Schwartz (2009–2013)
* Jim Caldwell (2014–2017)
* Matt Patricia (2018–2020)
* Darrell Bevell # (2020)
* Robert Prince # (2020)
* Dan Campbell (2021–present)

# denotes interim head coach

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Detroit Lions general managers

* Dutch Clark (1936–1938)
* Graham P. Smith (1941–1942)
* Bo McMillin (1948–1950)
* Nick Kerbawy (1951–1958)
* Edwin J. Anderson (1958–1966)
* Russ Thomas (1967–1989)
* Chuck Schmidt (1990–2000)
* Matt Millen (2001–2008)
* Martin Mayhew (2008–2015)
* Sheldon White # (2015)
* Bob Quinn (2016–2020)
* Brad Holmes (2021–present)

# denotes interim general manager

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Philadelphia Eagles head coaches

* Lud Wray (1933–1935)
* Bert Bell (1936–1940)
* Greasy Neale (1941–1950)
* Bo McMillin (1951)
* Wayne Millner # (1951)
* Jim Trimble (1952–1955)
* Hugh Devore (1956–1957)
* Buck Shaw (1958–1960)
* Nick Skorich (1961–1963)
* Joe Kuharich (1964–1968)
* Jerry Williams (1969–1971)
* Ed Khayat (1971–1972)
* Mike McCormack (1973–1975)
* Dick Vermeil (1976–1982)
* Marion Campbell (1983–1985)
* Fred Bruney # (1985)
* Buddy Ryan (1986–1990)
* Rich Kotite (1991–1994)
* Ray Rhodes (1995–1998)
* Andy Reid (1999–2012)
* Chip Kelly (2013–2015)
* Pat Shurmur # (2015)
* Doug Pederson (2016–2020)
* Nick Sirianni (2021–present)

# denotes interim head coach

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1919 Centre Praying Colonels football--national champions

* 7 Norris Armstrong
* 11 Bo McMillin
* 12 Terry Snoddy
* Matty Bell
* Ben Cregor
* Edgar Diddle
* Bill James
* Sully Montgomery
* Red Roberts
* Howard Van Antwerp
* Red Weaver

* Head coach: Charley Moran

*selected national champion by Sagarin

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1919 College Football All-America Team consensus selections

Backfield|

* QB Benny Boynton
* QB Bo McMillin
* HB Eddie Casey
* HB Chic Harley
* FB Ira Rodgers

Line|

* E Lester Belding
* E Bob Higgins
* E Henry Miller
* T Pete Henry
* T Belford West
* G Doc Alexander
* G Swede Youngstrom
* C Charles Carpenter
* C Red Weaver

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1921 College Football All-America Team consensus selections

Backfield|

* QB Aubrey Devine
* QB Bo McMillin
* HB Mac Aldrich
* HB Glenn Killinger
* FB Eddie Kaw

Line|

* E Eddie Anderson
* E Harold Muller
* T Iolas Huffman
* T Dan McMillan
* G Fiske Brown
* G Stan Keck
* G Frank Schwab
* C Herb Stein

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1919 College Football All-Southern Team composite selections

Backfield|

* QB Bo McMillin
* HB Buck Flowers
* HB Mullie Lenoir
* FB Judy Harlan

Line|

* E Alf Adams
* E Bill Fincher
* T Artie Pew
* T Josh Cody
* T Pete Bonner
* G Fatty Warren
* C Bum Day

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1920 College Football All-Southern Team composite selections

Backfield|

* QB Bo McMillin
* HB Red Barron
* HB Buck Flowers
* FB Riggs Stephenson

Line|

* E Owen Reynolds
* E John Staton
* T Bill Fincher†
* T Artie Pew
* G Noah Caton
* G Fatty Warren
* C Bum Day

† = Unanimous selection

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1921 College Football All-Southern Team composite selections

Backfield|

* QB Bo McMillin†
* HB Red Barron
* HB Goat Hale
* FB Judy Harlan

Line|

* E Owen Reynolds
* E Red Roberts
* T Artie Pew
* T Albert Staton
* G Hugh Whelchel
* G Noah Caton
* C Bum Day

† = Unanimous selection

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Walter Camp's All-Americans from the South

First team|

* C Bum Day (1918)
* C Red Weaver (1919)
* QB Bo McMillin (1919)
* T Bill Fincher (1920)
* E Red Roberts (1921)
* E Lynn Bomar (1923)

Second team|

* T Bully Van de Graaff (1915)
* T Bill Fincher (1918)
* T John Ripple (1918)
* HB Buck Flowers (1918)
* QB Bo McMillin (1920, 1921)
* E Lynn Bomar (1922)
* HB Red Barron (1922)
* E Henry Wakefield (1924)

Third team|

* FB Owsley Manier (1906)
* HB A. H. Douglas (1907)
* G Will Metzger (1910)
* HB Lewie Hardage (1912)
* T Josh Cody (1915)
* G Baby Taylor (1915)
* E Graham Vowell (1916)
* C Pup Phillips (1916)
* QB Irby Curry (1916)
* E Red Roberts (1919)
* T Josh Cody (1919)
* HB Jimmy Leech (1920)
* G Hugh Whelchel (1921)
* FB Judy Harlan (1921)

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AFCA Division I FBS Coach of the Year winners

* 1935: Waldorf
* 1936: Harlow
* 1937: Mylin
* 1938: Kern
* 1939: Anderson
* 1940: Shaughnessy
* 1941: Leahy
* 1942: Alexander
* 1943: Stagg
* 1944: Widdoes
* 1945: McMillin
* 1946: Blaik
* 1947: Crisler
* 1948: Oosterbaan
* 1949: Wilkinson
* 1950: Caldwell
* 1951: Taylor
* 1952: Munn
* 1953: Tatum
* 1954: Sanders
* 1955: Daugherty
* 1956: Wyatt
* 1957: Hayes
* 1958: Dietzel
* 1959: Schwartzwalder
* 1960: Warmath
* 1961: Bryant
* 1962: McKay
* 1963: Royal
* 1964: Broyles & Parseghian
* 1965: Prothro
* 1966: Cahill
* 1967: Pont
* 1968: Paterno
* 1969: Schembechler
* 1970:  McClendon & Royal
* 1971: Bryant
* 1972: McKay
* 1973: Bryant
* 1974: Teaff
* 1975: Kush
* 1976: Majors
* 1977: James
* 1978: Paterno
* 1979: Bruce
* 1980: Dooley
* 1981: Ford
* 1982: Paterno
* 1983: Hatfield
* 1984: Edwards
* 1985: DeBerry
* 1986: Paterno
* 1987: MacPherson
* 1988: Nehlen
* 1989: McCartney
* 1990: Ross
* 1991: B. Lewis
* 1992: Stallings
* 1993: Alvarez
* 1994: Osborne
* 1995: Barnett
* 1996: Br. Snyder
* 1997: Carr
* 1998: Fulmer
* 1999: Beamer
* 2000: Stoops
* 2001: Coker & Friedgen
* 2002: Tressel
* 2003: Carroll
* 2004: Tuberville
* 2005: Paterno
* 2006: Grobe
* 2007: Mangino
* 2008: Whittingham
* 2009: Patterson
* 2010: C. Kelly
* 2011: Miles
* 2012: B. Kelly
* 2013: Cutcliffe
* 2014: Patterson
* 2015: Swinney
* 2016: MacIntyre
* 2017: Frost
* 2018: Leach
* 2019: Orgeron
* 2020: Allen
* 2021: Fickell
* 2022: Dykes
* 2023: DeBoer
* 2024: Cignetti

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* e

Amos Alonzo Stagg Award winners

* 1940: Herring Jr.
* 1941: Cowell
* 1942–1945 No award given
* 1946: Rice
* 1947: Alexander
* 1948: Dobie, Warner & Zuppke
* 1949: Harlow
* 1950 No award given
* 1951: McLaughry
* 1952: McMillin
* 1953: Little
* 1954: Bible
* 1955: Tomlin
* 1956 No award given
* 1957: Neyland
* 1958: Bierman
* 1959: Wilce
* 1960: Harman
* 1961: Eliot
* 1962: Wieman
* 1963: Kerr
* 1964: Faurot
* 1965: Stuhldreher
* 1966: Moore
* 1967: Neely
* 1968: Martin
* 1969: Engle
* 1970: Waldorf
* 1971: Murray
* 1972: Curtice
* 1973: Jordan
* 1974: Gaither
* 1975: Zornow
* 1976 No award given
* 1977: Schwartzwalder
* 1978: Hamilton
* 1979: Crisler
* 1980 No award given
* 1981: Russell
* 1982: Robinson
* 1983: Bryant
* 1984: Wilkinson
* 1985: Daugherty
* 1986: Hayes
* 1987: Scovell
* 1988: McCracken
* 1989: Nelson
* 1990: Casanova
* 1991: Blackman
* 1992: McClendon
* 1993: Jackson
* 1994: Devaney
* 1995: Merritt
* 1996: Neinas
* 1997: Parseghian
* 1998: Reade
* 1999: Schembechler
* 2000: Osborne
* 2001: Dooley
* 2002: Paterno
* 2003: Edwards
* 2004: Schipper
* 2005: Fry
* 2006: Teaff
* 2007: Curry
* 2008: Walsh
* 2009: Gagliardi
* 2010: Royal
* 2011: Bowden
* 2012: DeBerry
* 2013: Westering
* 2014: Slocum
* 2015: Hatfield
* 2016: Cooper
* 2017: Nehlen
* 2018: Broyles
* 2019: Levy
* 2020: Tomey
* 2021: No award given
* 2022: Tjeerdsma
* 2023: Kidd
* 2024: Kehres
* 2025: Ford

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* United States

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