1921 Rock Island Independents season
(Redirected from 1921 Rock Island Independents football)
| 1921 Rock Island Independents season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Frank Coughlin and Jimmy Conzelman |
| Home field | Douglas Park |
| Results | |
| Record | 5–2–1 Overall 4–2–1 APFA |
| League place | 5th in APFA |
The 1921 Rock Island Independents season was their second completed in the young American Professional Football Association (APFA), later rechristened the National Football League. The team failed to improve on their previous record against league opponents of 6–2–2, winning only four games.[1] They finished fifth in the league.[2]
The team was broadly supported by the community of Rock Island, Illinois. For away games the local newspaper, the Rock Island Argus, put up a large gridboard outside its offices and kept up with the game by direct wire, marking the position of the ball on the board.[3] Large crowds were attracted to follow the action, with more than 2,000 people blocking Second Avenue to follow the progress of the Green Bay Packers game on October 30.[3]
Schedule
[edit]| Game | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap | Sources | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 2 | Detroit Tigers | T 0–0 | 0–0–1 | Douglas Park | 3,304 | Recap | [4] | |
| 2 | October 10 | at Chicago Staleys | L 10–14 | 0–1–1 | Staley Field | 4,000 | Recap | [5][6] | |
| 3 | October 16 | at Chicago Cardinals | W 14–7 | 1–1–1 | Normal Park | 4,000 | Recap | ||
| 4 | October 23 | at Detroit Tigers | W 14–0 | 2–1–1 | Navin Field | 3,000 | Recap | [7] | |
| 5 | October 30 | at Green Bay Packers | W 13–3 | 3–1–1 | Hagemeister Park | 6,000 [8] | Recap | [9][10][11] | |
| 6 | November 6 | Minneapolis Marines | W 14–3 | 4–1–1 | Douglas Park | < 2,000 | Recap | [12] | |
| 7 | November 13 | at Chicago Staleys | L 0–3 | 4–2–1 | Cubs Park | 6,000 | Recap | [13][14][15] | |
| – | November 20 | Duluth Knights of Columbus | W 28–0 | 5–2–1 | Douglas Park | 800 | — | [16] | |
| Note: Games in italics indicate a non-league opponent. | |||||||||
Standings
[edit]
| APFA standings | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |||
| Chicago Staleys | 9 | 1 | 1 | .900 | 128 | 53 | T1 | ||
| Buffalo All-Americans | 9 | 1 | 2 | .900 | 211 | 29 | L1 | ||
| Akron Pros | 8 | 3 | 1 | .727 | 148 | 31 | W1 | ||
| Canton Bulldogs | 5 | 2 | 3 | .714 | 106 | 55 | W1 | ||
| Rock Island Independents | 4 | 2 | 1 | .667 | 65 | 30 | L1 | ||
| Evansville Crimson Giants | 3 | 2 | 0 | .600 | 89 | 46 | W1 | ||
| Green Bay Packers | 3 | 2 | 1 | .600 | 70 | 55 | L1 | ||
| Dayton Triangles | 4 | 4 | 1 | .500 | 96 | 67 | L1 | ||
| Chicago Cardinals | 3 | 3 | 2 | .500 | 54 | 53 | T1 | ||
| Rochester Jeffersons | 2 | 3 | 0 | .400 | 85 | 76 | W2 | ||
| Cleveland Tigers | 3 | 5 | 0 | .375 | 95 | 58 | L1 | ||
| Washington Senators | 1 | 2 | 0 | .334 | 21 | 43 | L1 | ||
| Cincinnati Celts | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 14 | 117 | L2 | ||
| Hammond Pros | 1 | 3 | 1 | .250 | 17 | 45 | L2 | ||
| Minneapolis Marines | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 37 | 41 | L1 | ||
| Detroit Tigers | 1 | 5 | 1 | .167 | 19 | 109 | L5 | ||
| Columbus Panhandles | 1 | 8 | 0 | .111 | 47 | 222 | W1 | ||
| Tonawanda Kardex | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 45 | L1 | ||
| Muncie Flyers | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 28 | L2 | ||
| Louisville Brecks | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 27 | L2 | ||
| New York Brickley Giants | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 72 | L2 | ||
- Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Roster
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ 1921 Rock Island Independents
- ^ 1921 Rock Island Independents (APFA)
- ^ a b "Weather Fails to Keep Down Crowd of Fans: Even Larger Throng Than Week Ago Packed Second Avenue to See Game on Argus Board," Rock Island Argus, Oct. 31, 1921, p. 17.
- ^ J.L. Hughes, "Independents Held to Even Terms: Great Defense Saves Detroit from a Defeat," Rock Island Argus, Oct. 3, 1921, p. 12.
- ^ Howard V. Millard, "Staleys Meet Islanders in Great Pro Game Today: Two of Strongest Professional Elevens in Country Clash at 3 O'Clock — Both Sides Optimisitic," Decatur Herald, Oct. 10, 1921, p. 4.
- ^ "Starchworkers Win 14–10 Over Rock Island Team: 4,000 See Staleys Trim Rock Island in Thrilling Tilt," Decatur Herald, Oct. 11, 1921, p. 4.
- ^ J.L. Hughes, "Independents' Line Forces Victory: Own Misplays Beat Detroit, by 14–0 Score," Rock Island Argus, Oct. 24, 1921, p. 10.
- ^ Sports editor J.L. Hughes of the Rock Island Argus estimated the size of this crowd at 5,000.
- ^ Cal, "Rock Island Takes Fall Out of Packers, 13 to 3: Independents Break Down Packers' Offense; Lambeau Scores with Field Goal," Green Bay Press-Gazette, Oct. 31, 1921, p. 10.
- ^ J.L. Hughes, "Independents Beat Packers, 13–3: Wet Field and Slippery Ball Stops Scoring," Rock Island Argus, Oct. 31, 1921, p. 17.
- ^ "Rock Island Pros Triumph Over Green Bay Packers in Hard Battle: Islanders Use Line Bucks to Beat Badgers," Davenport Democrat and Leader, Oct. 31, 1921, p. 7.
- ^ J.L. Hughes, "Victory is Snatched from Defeat: Passes Carry Ball 85 Yards in Late Rally," Rock Island Argus, Nov. 7, 1921, p. 14.
- ^ "Staleys Trounce Rock Island 3–0 in Hard Fought Game: 6,000 Fans Brave Snow to See Fierce Tilt in Rain-Soaked Field," Decatur Herald, Nov. 14, 1921, p. 4.
- ^ J.L. Hughes, "Field Goal Wins for Staley Crew: Independents Are Defeated by Sternaman," Rock Island Argus, Nov. 14, 1921, p. 12.
- ^ J.L. Hughes, "Mud Battle Won by Independents: Duluth Takes First Defeat of Year, 29–0," Rock Island Argus, Nov. 14, 1921, p. 14.
- ^ "Independents Crush Duluth Eleven, 28 to 0, on a Sloppy Girdiron: Northern Team No Match for Local Eleven," Davenport Democrat and Leader, Nov. 21, 1921, p. 7.