John A. Moorhead

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John A. Moorhead
Moorhead from The Owl, 1908
Biographical details
Born(1882-02-19)February 19, 1882
Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedAugust 18, 1931(1931-08-18) (aged 49)
Sewickley, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Playing career
1903–1904Yale
Position(s)Halfback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1906Western U. of Pennsylvania (assistant)
1907–1908Western U. of Pennsylvania / Pittsburgh (assistant)
Head coaching record
Overall16–5

John Alston Moorhead (February 19, 1882 – August 18, 1931)[1] was an American college football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Pittsburgh during the 1907 and 1908 seasons; the school known as the Western University of Pennsylvania before 1908. Moorhead applied for the coaching job after being cut off by his father for eloping with his mother's French maid. Prior to coaching at Pittsburgh, He played halfback while attending Yale University, from which he graduated in 1904.

Some historical records from refer to him as John A. Moorehead and as James A. Moor(e)head. He was also referred to as "Jim".[2]

Pittsburgh football

In 1906 John A. Moorhead took on assistant coaching duties for the Western University of Pennsylvania's (now the

burgeoning rivalry between the two schools. Moorhead was retained as head coach in 1908,[5][6] and guided the team to an 8–3 record.[7] During that season, he helped to facilitate the implementation of the first known use of numbers on the uniforms of football players.[8][9][10] In 1909, Moorhead withdrew his name from the candidacy for that season's coaching position at the urging of his father who wanted him to have a more direct role in the family's business interests. However, John A. did use his influence to help elect Joseph H. Thompson as his successor to the head coaching position at Pittsburgh.[11]

Family

John A. Moorhead was born into one of Pittsburgh's oldest and wealthiest families. His father,

Paris. Alston was accompanied home by a French maid named Marguerite Clements. John A. and Marguerite fell in love, and their relationship, which was kept a secret, blossomed. However, word of the affair soon reached Alston, who then fired Clements. Upon hearing this, John A. declared, "If she goes, I go with her." The two then married in New York City the following day, but John A. was subsequently cut off from his family's fortune and forced to make his own way in life.[12]

John A. and his father reportedly reconciled during the February, 1907 funeral of Miss Anne Katherine Moorhead, the sister of John A., who was killed in a train wreck on the

Bronx.[13] The coaching success of Moorhead, particularly the 1907 win over rival Penn State, and his ability to provide for himself and his wife, further helped to change the attitude of the elder Moorhead towards his son. According to The New York Times, the father had "taken his son back to his heart, told him that he has demonstrated that he is every inch a man, and extended to him and his young wife the place that belongs to them in the family circle".[12][14]

John A. and Marguerite would go on to have one child, Marjorie Anne Moorhead. John A. also had a brother, Donald Moorhead, who also attended Yale.

Death

Moorhead died at age 49 in his home in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, due to a fall that resulted in a fractured skull. He was buried at Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh.[1]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Western University of Pennsylvania / Pittsburgh Panthers (Independent) (1907–1908)
1907 Western University of Pennsylvania 8–2
1908 Pittsburgh 8–3
Western University of Pennsylvania / Pittsburgh: 16–5
Total: 16–5

References

  1. ^ a b "John Alston Moorhead, B.A. 1904" (PDF). Bulletin of Yale University: Obituary Record of Graduates of Yale University Deceased During the Year 1931–1932. New Haven: Yale University. October 15, 1932. p. 116.
  2. ^ "Yale Methods Against Penn". The Pittsburg Press. Pittsburgh, PA. 1907-09-20. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  3. ^ Davis, Carl E. (1907-08-18). "Football Outlook at Western University". The Pittsburg Press. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
  4. ^ "Athletics". The Owl. Western University of Pennsylvania. 1909. pp. 212–215. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  5. ^ "Choice of Moorhead is Promptly Ratified". The Pittsburg Press. 1908-04-12. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
  6. ^ Davis, Ralph S. (1908-10-29). "Being a College Football Player is Far From an Easy Proposition". The Pittsburg Press. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  7. ^ "Athletics". The Owl. University of Pittsburgh. 1910. pp. 127–136. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  8. ISBN 0-916114-08-2
    .
  9. ISBN 0-7613-1557-8
    .
  10. ^ Murphy, Arthur (1959-09-28). "Memo From The Publisher". Sports Illustrated. Time, Inc.: 15. Archived from the original on 2012-12-06.
  11. ^ "Moorehead Quits Coaching" (PDF). The New York Times. 1909-02-19. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  12. ^ a b "Son's Team Wins; Father Forgives" (PDF). The New York Times. 1907-12-02. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  13. ^ "Young Moorhead Forgiven, Father Reconciled with His Son After Daughter's Funeral" (PDF). The New York Times. 1907-02-25. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  14. ^ Herron, Frank (2007-12-01). "100 Years Ago Today: Dec. 2, 1907 (Monday)". Retrieved 2010-11-23.

Additional sources

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