Thomas A. Barry
Encyclopedia
Thomas Austin Barry was an American college football
coach and player, lawyer, and industrial adviser. He served as the head coach at Tulane University
, the University of Notre Dame
, the University of Wisconsin
, and the University of Denver
. Barry attended Harvard Law School
and Brown University
, where he played on the football team and was named an All-American
in 1902.
, Barry attended Brown University
, where he played on the football team, and received varsity letter
s in 1899, 1900, and 1902. He served as the team captain in 1902, and led Brown to its first win against , 15–6, in which he scored all of his team's points. Barry scored on a 50- and 31-yard run
and a 28-yard field goal
. It was the first time he had ever attempted to kick a field goal. That season, Caspar Whitney
named him to his All-America
first team and Walter Camp
named him to his second team. He also played on the baseball team, and The Boston Post later wrote, "he became pioneer in the art of stealing home and not once in his college career did he fail to beat the throw to the plate. He stole home against Harvard, Dartmouth, and Yale." Barry graduated from Brown in 1903. He later graduated from Harvard Law School
.
in 1903. The following year, he played minor league baseball
for Albany
in the Eastern League
, and coached football at Tulane
. During the 1904 season, he led the Olive and Blue to a 5–2 record. Barry coached Notre Dame
from 1906 to 1907 and amassed a 12–1–1 record. Several years earlier the Western Conference
(now the Big Ten) had denied Notre Dame admission because of its small enrollment. In hopes it would help gain an invitation, Barry ensured Notre Dame followed the Western Conference regulations, but to no avail. In a Notre Dame alumni publication in 1931, an article titled "Coaches Before Rockne" wrote of him:
Barry left Notre Dame to take over as the coach of the football
and baseball teams at Wisconsin
from 1908 to 1910. In football, he amassed a 9–4–3 record. Notre Dame invited Barry back as its head coach, but he declined to pursue his career in law. In January 1911, the University of Denver
hired him as its head football and baseball coach, and Barry coached the football team to a 5–2–1 record in his only season there.
to Hollywood, Florida
, where he remained until his death. He died in his home on December 27, 1947 at the age of 68. Barry has been inducted into the Brown University Athletic Hall of Fame. In February 1947, The Boston Post named him to the "All-Time Big Ten" of Brockton athletics, and the article's author wrote "Tom Barry was undoubtedly the most distinguished athlete Brockton has ever produced". Fighting Irish football legend Knute Rockne
called Barry "the man who laid the football foundation at Notre Dame."
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
coach and player, lawyer, and industrial adviser. He served as the head coach at Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
, the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, the University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, and the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
. Barry attended Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
and Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, where he played on the football team and was named an All-American
1902 College Football All-America Team
The 1902 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1902 college football season...
in 1902.
Early life
A native of Brockton, MassachusettsBrockton, Massachusetts
Brockton is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States; the population was 93,810 in the 2010 Census. Brockton, along with Plymouth, are the county seats of Plymouth County...
, Barry attended Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, where he played on the football team, and received varsity letter
Varsity letter
A 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 :...
s in 1899, 1900, and 1902. He served as the team captain in 1902, and led Brown to its first win against , 15–6, in which he scored all of his team's points. Barry scored on a 50- and 31-yard run
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
and a 28-yard field goal
Field goal
A field goal is a general term used in some sports wherein a goal may be scored either during general play or via some sort of free shot...
. It was the first time he had ever attempted to kick a field goal. That season, Caspar Whitney
Caspar Whitney
Caspar William Whitney was an American author, editor, explorer, and war correspondent. He originated the concept of the All-American team in college football in 1889 when he worked for Harper's Magazine....
named him to his All-America
1902 College Football All-America Team
The 1902 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1902 college football season...
first team and Walter Camp
Walter Camp
Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football...
named him to his second team. He also played on the baseball team, and The Boston Post later wrote, "he became pioneer in the art of stealing home and not once in his college career did he fail to beat the throw to the plate. He stole home against Harvard, Dartmouth, and Yale." Barry graduated from Brown in 1903. He later graduated from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
.
Coaching career
After graduation from Brown, Barry coached the football team at Bowdoin CollegeBowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
in 1903. The following year, he played minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
for Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
in the Eastern League
Eastern League
Eastern League may refer to:*Eastern League , a professional baseball minor league in the United States*International League, a baseball minor league known as the Eastern League from 1884 to 1912...
, and coached football at Tulane
Tulane Green Wave football
The Tulane Green Wave football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents Tulane University in New Orleans. The team is a member of Conference USA and is led by interim head coach Mark Hutson, who took over on October 18, 2011, when fifth-year head coach Bob Toledo resigned...
. During the 1904 season, he led the Olive and Blue to a 5–2 record. Barry coached 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...
from 1906 to 1907 and amassed a 12–1–1 record. Several years earlier the Western Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
(now the Big Ten) had denied Notre Dame admission because of its small enrollment. In hopes it would help gain an invitation, Barry ensured Notre Dame followed the Western Conference regulations, but to no avail. In a Notre Dame alumni publication in 1931, an article titled "Coaches Before Rockne" wrote of him:
"Barry had a good system of coaching. He believed in leading his men, never in pushing them, and in giving every man a fair trial, playing no favorites ... A proof of Barry's football knowledge came forward in 1907. The material was terrible and things looked mighty gloomy. He knew his men, however ... the team was tied for championship honors [with ]."
Barry left Notre Dame to take over as the coach of the football
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
and baseball teams at Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
from 1908 to 1910. In football, he amassed a 9–4–3 record. Notre Dame invited Barry back as its head coach, but he declined to pursue his career in law. In January 1911, the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
hired him as its head football and baseball coach, and Barry coached the football team to a 5–2–1 record in his only season there.
Later life and legacy
In 1944, Barry retired from practicing law and moved from Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
to Hollywood, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
, where he remained until his death. He died in his home on December 27, 1947 at the age of 68. Barry has been inducted into the Brown University Athletic Hall of Fame. In February 1947, The Boston Post named him to the "All-Time Big Ten" of Brockton athletics, and the article's author wrote "Tom Barry was undoubtedly the most distinguished athlete Brockton has ever produced". Fighting Irish football legend Knute Rockne
Knute Rockne
Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
called Barry "the man who laid the football foundation at Notre Dame."