Homer Woodson Hargiss
Encyclopedia
Homer Woodson "Bill" Hargiss (September 1, 1887 – October 15, 1978) was an American football
and basketball
player, and track and field
athlete, and coach in Kansas
and Oregon
. He was an early innovator in football and was known to be one of the first coaches to use the forward pass
and the huddle
.
. He was a standout at the college in football, baseball, basketball, gymnastics, boxing, and track & field. Emporia State honored him in 1982 by inducting him into their "Athletic Hall of Honor" -- the first year the honor was available, as a distinguished alumni in 1970, and for the all-Centennial Team in 1997. Hargiss would later return to the college as a coach.
. The school had a well-developed rivalry with Kansas State Normal School, where Hargiss played quarterback
the previous year, and would later coach.
At C of E, Hargiss developed plays using talented quarterback Arthur Schabinger that most had never seen before, namely the forward pass and the option pass
.
and Notre Dame
.
For the second to last game in 1910, Schabringer scored seven touchdowns in a 107–0 win over Pittsburg Normal
. The forward pass played a major role in the game as well.
football, basketball, and track coach at Oregon State University
from 1918 to 1919. During his tenure there, he compiled a 6–8–1 record. From 1918–1920 he also coached the Oregon State Beavers
basketball team.
(called Kansas Normal School at the time) in Emporia, Kansas
and he held that position for twelve seasons, from 1914 until 1917 and then returning from 1920 until 1927. His overall coaching record at ESU was 61–23–11. This ranks him third at ESU in terms of total wins and first at ESU in terms of winning percentage.
In the 1920 game against Washburn University
under coach Dwight Ream
, Emporia State fullback
Jack Reeves sustained a neck injury that resulted in his death. The 1922 season also saw the loss of player Don Davis (it is not known if Davis died from play or natural causes).
While at Kansas Normal, Hargiss coached the 1926 team to an undefeated season and outscored their opponents 144 to 3. The closest game of the season was a 6–0 battle against Hargiss's former team, the College of Emporia.
, compiling a record of 18–16–2. He was fired as football coach on October 10, 1932, two days after the Jawhawks lost at home to Oklahoma, 21–6. Hargiss was succeeded by assistant coach Adrian Lindsey
.
formation in a game. It happened against the University of Washington
in Seattle in 1918. Hargiss instructed the starters
that once they returned to the field, they were to stand 10 yards behind the ball before the beginning of each play and whisper to one another what they were going to do next.
An eyewitness to the game was veteran Seattle sports columnist Royal Brougham, whose stories of the contest give testimony today to OSU's early use of this pioneering new formation.
began to regularly call the play.
was a football coach at Ottawa University
in Ottawa, Kansas
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, and track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
athlete, and coach in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
and Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He was an early innovator in football and was known to be one of the first coaches to use the forward pass
Forward pass
In several forms of football a forward pass is when the ball is thrown in the direction that the offensive team is trying to move, towards the defensive team's goal line...
and the huddle
Huddle
In sport, a huddle is when a team gathers together, usually in a tight circle, to strategise, motivate or celebrate. It is a popular strategy for keeping opponents insulated from sensitive information, and acts as a form of insulation when the level of noise in the venue is such that normal...
.
Playing career
Hargiss participated in sports at Kansas Normal College, now Emporia State UniversityEmporia State University
Emporia State University is a university in the city of Emporia in Lyon County, Kansas, just east of the Flint Hills.- History :...
. He was a standout at the college in football, baseball, basketball, gymnastics, boxing, and track & field. Emporia State honored him in 1982 by inducting him into their "Athletic Hall of Honor" -- the first year the honor was available, as a distinguished alumni in 1970, and for the all-Centennial Team in 1997. Hargiss would later return to the college as a coach.
College of Emporia
Hargiss's first coaching job came as the head coach of the College of Emporia (C of E) in Emporia, KansasEmporia, Kansas
Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,916. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 with Interstates 335 and 35 on the Kansas Turnpike...
. The school had a well-developed rivalry with Kansas State Normal School, where Hargiss played quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
the previous year, and would later coach.
At C of E, Hargiss developed plays using talented quarterback Arthur Schabinger that most had never seen before, namely the forward pass and the option pass
Halfback option play
The halfback option play is an unorthodox play in American football. It resembles a normal running play, but the running back has the option to throw a pass to a wide receiver or tight end before crossing the line of scrimmage....
.
Forward pass
In the team's 1910 game at Washburn, Arthur Schabinger has been credited by some to have thrown the first legal forward pass in college football history. While this claim is widely disputed by other colleges (there are multiple claims dating back to 1906), College of Emporia most certainly was one of the first innovators of the play particularly to throw "overhand" forward passes instead of the more common "underhand" passes. The school was using the forward pass as a regular play three years before Knute RockneKnute Rockne
Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
and Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
.
For the second to last game in 1910, Schabringer scored seven touchdowns in a 107–0 win over Pittsburg Normal
Pittsburg State Gorillas football
The Pittsburg State Gorillas football team represents Pittsburg State University in collegiate level football. The Pittsburg State football team was formed in 1908, competes in NCAA Division II and is affiliated with the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association...
. The forward pass played a major role in the game as well.
Option pass
Hargiss also ran the option pass play (possibly the first of all time) at the College of Emporia in 1910. The "option pass" play was a sweep to the end with halfbacks that would either pass or run depending on how the defensive play would develop.Oregon State University
Hargiss was the headHead coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
football, basketball, and track coach at Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
from 1918 to 1919. During his tenure there, he compiled a 6–8–1 record. From 1918–1920 he also coached the Oregon State Beavers
Oregon State Beavers
The Oregon State Beavers is a name shared by all sports teams at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. The Beavers are part of the Pacific-12 Conference . Oregon State's mascot is Benny the Beaver...
basketball team.
Emporia State University
Hargiss was the ninth and twelfth head football coach for Emporia State UniversityEmporia State University
Emporia State University is a university in the city of Emporia in Lyon County, Kansas, just east of the Flint Hills.- History :...
(called Kansas Normal School at the time) in Emporia, Kansas
Emporia, Kansas
Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,916. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 with Interstates 335 and 35 on the Kansas Turnpike...
and he held that position for twelve seasons, from 1914 until 1917 and then returning from 1920 until 1927. His overall coaching record at ESU was 61–23–11. This ranks him third at ESU in terms of total wins and first at ESU in terms of winning percentage.
In the 1920 game against Washburn University
Washburn University
Washburn University is a co-educational, public institution of higher learning in Topeka, Kansas, USA. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and business. Washburn has 550 faculty members, who teach more than 6,400 undergraduate students and...
under coach Dwight Ream
Dwight Ream
Dwight Ream was the 16th head football coach for Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas and he held that position for two seasons, from 1920 until 1921. His overall coaching record at Washburn was 8 wins, 7 losses, and 4 ties...
, Emporia State fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Jack Reeves sustained a neck injury that resulted in his death. The 1922 season also saw the loss of player Don Davis (it is not known if Davis died from play or natural causes).
While at Kansas Normal, Hargiss coached the 1926 team to an undefeated season and outscored their opponents 144 to 3. The closest game of the season was a 6–0 battle against Hargiss's former team, the College of Emporia.
University of Kansas
From 1928 to 1932, Hargiss served as the head football coach at University of KansasUniversity of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, compiling a record of 18–16–2. He was fired as football coach on October 10, 1932, two days after the Jawhawks lost at home to Oklahoma, 21–6. Hargiss was succeeded by assistant coach Adrian Lindsey
Adrian Lindsey
-External links:...
.
Use of the huddle
Oregon State was one of the very first schools nationally to use the huddleHuddle
In sport, a huddle is when a team gathers together, usually in a tight circle, to strategise, motivate or celebrate. It is a popular strategy for keeping opponents insulated from sensitive information, and acts as a form of insulation when the level of noise in the venue is such that normal...
formation in a game. It happened against the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle in 1918. Hargiss instructed the starters
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
that once they returned to the field, they were to stand 10 yards behind the ball before the beginning of each play and whisper to one another what they were going to do next.
An eyewitness to the game was veteran Seattle sports columnist Royal Brougham, whose stories of the contest give testimony today to OSU's early use of this pioneering new formation.
Forward pass
While coaching at the College of Emporia, Hargiss would regularly use the forward pass and records show that it was used as early as 1910, three years before Knute RockneKnute Rockne
Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
began to regularly call the play.
Honors and legacy
- Charter Inductee Kansas Sports Hall of FameKansas Sports Hall of FameThe Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is a museum located in Wichita, Kansas, dedicated to preserving the history of sports in the state of Kansas. The museum provides exhibits, archives, facilities, services, and activities to honor those individuals and teams whose achievements in sports brought...
1961. - Inducted into the NAIA Track and Field Hall of Fame.
- One of first coaches to use forward passForward passIn several forms of football a forward pass is when the ball is thrown in the direction that the offensive team is trying to move, towards the defensive team's goal line...
, unbalanced line, and huddle. - Head football and track and fieldTrack and fieldTrack and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
coach at KU for 5 and 10 years respectively. Football conference champions in 1930. - Coached five world record holders in track: John KuckJohn KuckJohn Henry Kuck was an American athlete who mainly competed in the shot put.Born in Wilson, Kansas, Kuck competed for the United States at the 1928 Summer Olympics held in Amsterdam, Netherlands where he won the gold medal in the men's shot put event.-References:*...
, Glenn Cunningham, Jim Bausch, Clyde Coffman and Peter MehringerPeter MehringerPeter Joseph Mehringer is an Olympic Gold Medal winning wrestler from Kansas. Nicknamed the "Kansas Whirlwind," Kinsley, Kansas-native Peter J. Mehringer undoubtedly ranks as one of the greatest wrestlers ever to attend the University of Kansas...
. - His 1926 football team at Emporia State UniversityEmporia State UniversityEmporia State University is a university in the city of Emporia in Lyon County, Kansas, just east of the Flint Hills.- History :...
was undefeated and allowed only 3 points. - Earned 16 college athletic lettersVarsity letterA varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
at Kansas State Normal (Emporia State) participating in football, basketball, track and field, baseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, gymnasticsGymnasticsGymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
and boxingBoxingBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and was named captain five times. - He was a three-sport standout at Beulah High School.
- Was collegiate track coach of SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Bob DoleBob DoleRobert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996... - Was one of the first coaches to gather within hours after the reported death of coaching great Knute RockneKnute RockneKnute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
Personal life
Hargiss graduated from Kansas Normal School in Emporia, Kansas. His brother, Floyd Daniel HargissFloyd Daniel Hargiss
Floyd Daniel Hargiss was the sixth head college football coachfor the Ottawa University Braves located in Ottawa, Kansasand he held that position for the 1912 season.- Career :...
was a football coach at Ottawa University
Ottawa University
Ottawa University is a private, non-profit, faith-based liberal arts college located in Ottawa, Kansas. It was founded in 1865 and is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA...
in Ottawa, Kansas
Ottawa, Kansas
Ottawa is a city situated along the Marais des Cygnes River in the central part of Franklin County, located in east-central Kansas, 50 miles southwest of Kansas City, Mo., in the central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,649. It is the county seat and most populous...
.