Dick Harlow

Richard Cresson Harlow (October 19, 1889 – February 19, 1962) was an American football player and coach, as well as an oologist. Harlow served as the head coach at Pennsylvania State University (1915–1917), Colgate University (1922–1925), Western Maryland College (1926–1934), and Harvard University (1935–1942, 1945–1947). He is credited with pioneering modern defensive schemes. Often fielding undersized teams, Harlow coordinated stunts to avoid blockers, rather than trying to overpower them. His offensive style utilized shifts, reverses, and lateral passes. Harlow was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1954.

Dick Harlow
Harlow in 1920
Harlow in 1920
Biographical details
Born(1889-10-19)October 19, 1889
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedFebruary 19, 1962(1962-02-19) (aged 72)
Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1910–1911Penn State
Position(s)Tackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1912–1914Penn State (assistant)
1915–1917Penn State
1918Virginia Tech (assistant)
1919–1921Penn State (assistant)
1922–1925Colgate
1926–1934Western Maryland
1935–1942Harvard
1945–1947Harvard
Boxing
c. 1919Penn State
Head coaching record
Overall149–69–17
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1954 (profile)

Early years

A native of Philadelphia, Harlow attended Pennsylvania State University, where he played football for the Nittany Lions, under Bill and Jack Hollenback. As a tackle, Harlow distinguished himself during the 1910 and 1911 seasons. In the latter year, the team went undefeated and won the national title. A two-year letterman, he also was a member of the baseball and track and field teams, as well as the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.

Coaching career

Penn State

Upon graduation from Penn State, Harlow remained with the Nittany Lions as an assistant football coach for three seasons, under his former coach Bill Hollenback. Harlow succeeded him as head coach in 1915, and hired Lawrence Whitney as an assistant. After compiling a combined 20–8 record in three seasons, Harlow entered the United States Army in 1918, and was stationed at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where he was an assistant coach for Charles A. Bernier. After an honorable discharge, Harlow returned to Penn State in the following year, again as an assistant, but this time under coach Hugo Bezdek. Harlow also became the boxing coach at that time.[1]

Colgate

Harlow left Penn State to become the 20th head coach at Colgate University from 1922 to 1925, succeeding Ellery Huntington Jr. For the first two seasons, Harlow hired Punk Berryman as assistant. Harlow coached the team to a 55–0 victory over Niagara University, where players refused to tackle any Colgate players, leading to many scores.[2] Harlow's overall coaching record at Colgate was 24–9–3.

Western Maryland

Harlow moved from Colgate to become the head coach at Western Maryland College from 1926 to 1934, succeeding Ken Shroyer.[3] There, Harlow coached the Green Terror to a 60–13–7 record with three undefeated seasons.[4][5] In 1934 Western Maryland was invited to play in the inguinal Orange Bowl. Seeing it as not much of a challenge; Harlow declined to have his players play in then more prestigious East–West Shrine Game. In Orange Bowl, Bucknell, who lost to the Green Terror early that season, beat the Miami Hurricanes.[6]

Harlow had many great players such as Eugene "Stoney" Willis, who threw the first shovel pass against Boston College in 1932, and Bill Shepherd, who was considered to be one of the best running backs in the country in the early 1930s, starring the East West shrine game in 1934 behind Michigan center Gerald Ford. At Western Maryland, Harlow also coached Rip Engle. He had a great influence on Engle's career, and they remained good friends for many years. Harlow said that his "biggest thrill" came from those games where he beat Bosten College and Bucknell by such a lopsided margin.[6]

Harvard

In 1935, Harlow became the first non-alumnus ever to coach at Harvard. The job was initially offered to Clark Shaughnessy, but was turned down. Harlow's assistant coaches immediately became Henry Lamar and Skip Stahley. Lamar took over as head coach while Harlow served in the United States Navy during World War II. When Harlow returned, Lamar went back to being an assistant. From 1938 to 1946, Lyal Clark also served as an assistant. At Harvard, Harlow was voted Coach of the Year in 1936, and a year later, was chosen as the Ivy League Coach of the Year. He retired in 1947 with a lifetime record of 149–69–17, and was succeeded by Arthur Valpey. Harlow was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.

Oology career

Harlow was an expert in oology, the study of birds' eggs. In 1939, he was named curator of oology at the Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology, and he remained in that position until 1954.

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Penn State Nittany Lions (Independent) (1915–1917)
1915 Penn State 7–2
1916 Penn State 8–2
1917 Penn State 5–4
Penn State: 20–8
Colgate (Independent) (1922–1925)
1922 Colgate 6–3
1923 Colgate 6–2–1
1924 Colgate 5–4
1925 Colgate 7–0–2
Colgate: 24–9–3
Western Maryland Green Terror (Independent) (1926–1934)
1926 Western Maryland 6–1
1927 Western Maryland 6–2
1928 Western Maryland 6–2–1
1929 Western Maryland 11–0
1930 Western Maryland 9–0–1
1931 Western Maryland 4–4–2
1932 Western Maryland 5–1–2
1933 Western Maryland 5–3
1934 Western Maryland 8–0–1
Western Maryland: 60–13–7
Harvard Crimson (Independent) (1935–1942)
1935 Harvard 3–5
1936 Harvard 3–4–1
1937 Harvard 5–2–1
1938 Harvard 4–4
1939 Harvard 4–4
1940 Harvard 3–2–3
1941 Harvard 5–2–1
1942 Harvard 2–6–1
Harvard Crimson (Independent) (1945–1947)
1945 Harvard 5–3
1946 Harvard 7–2
1947 Harvard 4–5
Harvard: 45–39–7
Total:149–69–17

See also

References
  1. "Harlow To Coach Boxers.; Former Football Star Will Assist Bezdek at Penn State" (PDF). The New York Times. January 9, 1919. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  2. "PLAYERS REFUSE TO TACKLE; After Dispute With Colgate, Niagara Loses Farcical Game, 55 to 0". The New York Times. October 7, 1923. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  3. "2005 McDaniel College Football Media Guide" (PDF). McDaniel College Director of Sports Information. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 16, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  4. "Coaching by Year".
  5. "McDaniel Football Records - All-time Game Results".
  6. Lighter, James E. Fearless and Bold. Westminster: McDaniel College, 2007. 334. Print.
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