Joe McKenney
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Joe" McKenney was an American football
player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Boston College
from 1928 to 1934, compiling a record of 44–18–3. McKenney also played at Boston College and was the starting quarterback
for the Eagles
from 1923 to 1926.
When McKenney graduated from Brighton High School in 1923, he was invited to the Harvard Club by his principal. There he was presented with a $1,000 scholarship
and McKenney, who grew up close to Harvard Stadium
and was a former Crimson mascot, accepted without telling his parents. When his mother read about his going to Harvard
in the Boston Post
, she told him that he must go to a Catholic school
or go to work.
McKenney played quarterback
and punter for Boston College and was team captain
during their undefeated 1926 season. He was the first four-year starting
quarterback in BC history. He was an assistant under D. Leo Daley
in 1927 before being promoted to head coach. During McKenney's tenure as head coach, one of Boston College's biggest rivals was Fordham, coached by McKenney's coach at BC, Frank Cavanaugh.
McKenney's tenure at BC ended when he resigned to accept the higher paying ($5,000 a year) post of associate director of physical education
of Boston Public Schools
. His replacement was John "Dinny" McNamara
, his classmate and assistant coach. McKenney also served as a linesman
for college football games from 1936 to 1945 and was a member of the Metropolitan District Commission
from 1938 to 1948, including a stint as commissioner. While with the MDC, he sold the land now occupied by Alumni Stadium
to Boston College. When the stadium opened in 1957, McKenney was the master of ceremonies. McKenney has the distinction of being the only person in American college history to serve as captain his football team, head coach of his football team, elected president of his college's alumni association
, and receive an honorary degree from the school.
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...
player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
from 1928 to 1934, compiling a record of 44–18–3. McKenney also played at Boston College and was the starting 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...
for the Eagles
Boston College Eagles football
The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division...
from 1923 to 1926.
When McKenney graduated from Brighton High School in 1923, he was invited to the Harvard Club by his principal. There he was presented with a $1,000 scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
and McKenney, who grew up close to Harvard Stadium
Harvard Stadium
Harvard Stadium is a horseshoe-shaped football stadium in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States. Built in 1903, the stadium seats 30,323. The stadium seated up to 57,166 in the past, as permanent steel stands were installed in the north end of the stadium in 1929...
and was a former Crimson mascot, accepted without telling his parents. When his mother read about his going to Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in the Boston Post
Boston Post
The Boston Post was the most popular daily newspaper in New England for over a hundred years before it folded in 1956. The Post was founded in November 1831 by two prominent Boston businessmen, Charles G...
, she told him that he must go to a Catholic school
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
or go to work.
McKenney 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...
and punter for Boston College and was team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
during their undefeated 1926 season. He was the first four-year starting
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...
quarterback in BC history. He was an assistant under D. Leo Daley
D. Leo Daley
-External links:...
in 1927 before being promoted to head coach. During McKenney's tenure as head coach, one of Boston College's biggest rivals was Fordham, coached by McKenney's coach at BC, Frank Cavanaugh.
McKenney's tenure at BC ended when he resigned to accept the higher paying ($5,000 a year) post of associate director of physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
of Boston Public Schools
Boston Public Schools
Boston Public Schools is a school district serving the city of Boston, Massachusetts, United States.-Leadership:The district is led by a Superintendent, hired by the Boston School Committee, a seven-member school board appointed by the Mayor after approval by a nominating committee of specified...
. His replacement was John "Dinny" McNamara
Dinny McNamara
-External links:...
, his classmate and assistant coach. McKenney also served as a linesman
Official (American football)
In American football, an official is a person who has responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game.During professional and college football games, seven officials operate on the field...
for college football games from 1936 to 1945 and was a member of the Metropolitan District Commission
Department of Conservation and Recreation (Massachusetts)
The Department of Conservation and Recreation is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. As of May 24, 2011 the Commissioner of the DCR is Edward M. Lambert, Jr...
from 1938 to 1948, including a stint as commissioner. While with the MDC, he sold the land now occupied by Alumni Stadium
Alumni Stadium
Alumni Stadium is a football stadium located on the campus of Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, approximately sixmiles west of downtown Boston. The stadium lies within the city limits of Boston, although its postal address is Chestnut Hill. It is the home of the Boston College Eagles...
to Boston College. When the stadium opened in 1957, McKenney was the master of ceremonies. McKenney has the distinction of being the only person in American college history to serve as captain his football team, head coach of his football team, elected president of his college's alumni association
Alumni association
An alumni association is an association of graduates or, more broadly, of former students. In the United Kingdom and the United States, alumni of universities, colleges, schools , fraternities, and sororities often form groups with alumni from the same organisation...
, and receive an honorary degree from the school.