George C. Adams
George Caspar Adams (April 24, 1863 – July 13, 1900) was a former head coach of the Harvard University football program from 1890 to 1892. From 1890 to 1892, he co-coached with George A. Stewart, another Harvard graduate.
Adams pictured on the Harvard football team, c. 1886 | |
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Boston, Massachusetts | April 24, 1863
Died | July 13, 1900 37) Quincy, Massachusetts | (aged
Alma mater | Adams Academy (1882) Harvard University (1886) |
Playing career | |
1883, 1886 | Harvard |
Position(s) | End, rusher, halfback |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1890–1892 | Harvard |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 34–2 |
Early life
George Adams was born in 1863 in Boston to John Quincy Adams II and Fannie Cadwallader Crowninshield. His father, born to Charles Francis Adams, Sr., was the grandson of 6th President of the United States John Quincy Adams and great-grandson of 2nd President of the United States, John Adams.[1] His mother, Fanny Crowninshield, was also a granddaughter of former United States Secretary of the Navy under presidents Madison and Monroe, Benjamin Williams Crowninshield.[2]
George Caspar Adams attended the Adams Academy before entering Harvard in 1882,[3] where he graduated with an A.B. in 1886.[3]
Coaching career
During his time as a student at Harvard, Adams played a vital role in reinstating the football program in 1886 for Harvard by heading a petition movement to the administration. Once the season was granted, Adams played on the team and assisted in managing and coaching it.[4][5]
In 1890, Adams, along with another fellow alumnus, George A. Stewart (Class of 1884) were appointed as coaches for the Harvard football program of the upcoming season. In their first season, the team went 11–0, winning the national championship, also with five players being named All-Americans.[6] The appointment of Adams and Stewart is widely regarded to be the beginning of an organized coaching system at Harvard.[7]
Head coaching record
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harvard Crimson (Independent) (1890–1893) | |||||||||
1890 | Harvard | 11–0 | |||||||
1891 | Harvard | 13–1 | |||||||
1892 | Harvard | 10–1 | |||||||
Harvard: | 34–2 | ||||||||
Total: | 34–2 | ||||||||
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth |
Later life
He later worked in real estate in Boston.[3] He was also a recreational yachtsman who belonged to many yacht clubs.[3]
Adams died of tuberculosis in Quincy 1900.[3]
Family tree
Adams was a descendant of the prominent Adams political family.
References
- American presidential families - Hugh Brogan, Charles Mosley - Google Books. Books.google.ca. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
- Browning, Charles Henry. Americans of Royal Descent: A Collection of Genealogies of American Families Whose Lineage is traced to the Legitimate Issue of Kings. Philadelphia: Porter & Costes, 1891, ed. 2, pp. 68–69.
- Secretary's Report - Harvard College (1780- ). Class of 1886 - Google Books. Books.google.ca. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
- Outing - Google Books. Books.google.ca. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
- National Magazine - James Harrison Kennedy - Google Books. Books.google.ca. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
- "Harvard : Media Center: Harvard Crimson Football - National Championships". Gocrimson.com. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- Harvard Magazine - Google Books. Books.google.ca. Retrieved December 6, 2012.