The Detroit Titans were the college football team which represented the University of Detroit (now University of Detroit Mercy) from 1896 to 1964. The team posted an undefeated season in 1928, staking a claim to a national title. The program was terminated in 1964 for financial reasons.
| Detroit Titans football | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First season | 1896; 128 years ago |
| Last season | 1964; 60 years ago |
| Stadium | University of Detroit Stadium (capacity: 20,000) |
| Location | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| All-time record | 308–204–24 (.597) |
| Claimed national titles | 1 (1928) |
| Colors | Red, white, and blue[1] |
History
editUnder head coach Gus Dorais in 1928, the Titans won all nine of their games. Several years later Parke H. Davis, considered to be a "major selector" by the NCAA, named the 1928 team to a share of the national championship.[2]
From 1922 on, the Titans played their home games at University of Detroit Stadium (also known as U of D Stadium, Titan Stadium, and Dinan Field) near McNichols Road (Six Mile Road) and Fairfield Street on the university's McNichols campus.
The football program had incurred large losses since 1951, and was discontinued after the 1964 season.[3][4] At the time of the sport's termination, university president Rev. Laurence V. Britt stated that the institution "does not currently have and does not foresee any prospects of its having the substantial funds" required to continue the program.[5]
Conference affiliations
editDetroit was both independent and affiliated with the Missouri Valley Conference.[6]
- Unknown (1896–)
- Independent (–1947)
- Missouri Valley Conference (1948–1956)
- Independent (1957–1964)
Championships
editNational championships
editDetroit won its only national championship in 1928, with Parke H. Davis selecting both Detroit and Georgia Tech.[7] The school claims this championship.[8][9]
| Year | Selectors | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | Parke H. Davis | Gus Dorais | 9–0 |
Head coaches
edit| Head Coach | Years | Seasons | Record | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William S. Robinson | 1896–1899 | 4 | 13–5–1 | .700 |
| John C. Mackey | 1900–1901 | 2 | 6–6–0 | .500 |
| Edward J. Ryan | 1902, 1906 | 2 | 7–5–1 | .577 |
| Alfred W. Debo | 1903–1904 | 2 | 6–6–0 | .500 |
| George A. Kelly | 1907, 1909–1910 | 3 | 7–5–2 | .571 |
| Royal R. Campbell | 1911–1912 | 2 | 8–6–1 | .567 |
| George M. Lawton | 1913–1914 | 2 | 6–6–3 | .500 |
| Harry Costello | 1915–1916 | 2 | 4–7–2 | .385 |
| James F. Duffy | 1917, 1919–1922, 1924 | 6 | 43–12–1 | .777 |
| Germany Schulz | 1923 | 1 | 4–3–2 | .556 |
| Gus Dorais | 1925–1942 | 18 | 113–48–7 | .693 |
| Chuck Baer | 1945–1950 | 6 | 35–21–1 | .623 |
| Dutch Clark | 1951–1953 | 3 | 13–17–0 | .433 |
| Wally Fromhart | 1954–1958 | 5 | 19–25–2 | .435 |
| Jim Miller | 1959–1961 | 3 | 18–10–0 | .643 |
| John Idzik | 1962–1964 | 3 | 6–21–1 | .232 |
Notable personnel
edit| Name | Position | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grady Alderman | Lineman | 1950s | Played in NFL, 1960-1974 |
| Sig Andrusking | Guard | 1930s | Played in NFL in 1937 |
| Vince Banonis | Center | 1939-1941 | Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame |
| Dan Boisture | End | 1947-1948 | Head coach at Eastern Michigan, 1967-1973 |
| Lloyd Brazil | Halfback | 1927-1929 | All-American; inducted into Michigan Sports Hall of Fame |
| Walt Cassidy | End | 1920s | Played in NFL, 1924 |
| Walt Clago | End | Played in NFL, 1921-1922 | |
| Bill Dando | Halfback | 1956-1968 | Head coach at Buffalo, 1977-1979 |
| Andy Farkas | Fullback | 1930s | Played for Washington Redskins, 1938-1944 |
| Norm Harvey | Tackle | 1920s | Played in NFL, 1925-1929 |
| Harvey Long | Lineman | 1920s | Played in NFL, 1929-1930 |
| Elmer Madarik | Halfback | 1940s | Played for Detroit Lions 1945-1948 |
| Ted Marchibroda | Quarterback | 1950s | Played and coached in the NFL for over 40 years, 1953-1998 |
| Doug Nott | Halfback | 1930s | Played for Detroit Lions in 1935 |
| Bill O'Neill | Halfback | 1930s | Played for Detroit Lions in 1935 and Cleveland Rams in 1937 |
| Lee Riley | Defensive back | 1950s | Played in NFL and AFL, 1955-1962 |
| Sod Ryan | Tackle | 1920s | Played in NFL from 1929 to 1930 |
| Jim Shorter | Defensive back | 1960s | Played in NFL, 1948-1956 |
| Jack Simmons | Lineman | 1940s | Played in NFL, 1962-1969 |
| Steve Stonebreaker | Linebacker | 1960s | Played in NFL, 1962-1968 |
| Tillie Voss | End | 1920s | Played in NFL, 1921-1929 |
Players in the NFL Draft
editReferences
edit- ^ "University of Detroit Mercy Brand Standards Guide" (PDF). September 15, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
- ^ 2011 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). Indianapolis, IN: The National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2011. pp. 70–75. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
- ^ "Students yip as Detroit drops grid". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 1, 1964. p. 10.
- ^ "Detroit kicks out football, students stage big protest". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. December 1, 1964. p. 41.
- ^ Berry, Jack (1964-12-01). "U-D Football Finally Dies of Neglect". The Detroit Free Press. p. 1-D.
- ^ "Detroit Mercy Titans Football Record By Year". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
- ^ 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. p. 111. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ "2013 Will Be A Season To Remember In Motown". University of Detroit Mercy Athletics.
- ^ "Remembering the 1953 Missouri Valley Conference Champion Detroit Titans". University of Detroit Mercy Athletics.