Detroit Titans football
The Detroit Titans were the college football team representing what was then known as the University of Detroit (now the University of Detroit Mercy) from 1896 to 1964. In 1928 under Gus Dorais, the team finished with a record of 9-0-0. 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]
| Detroit Titans football | |
|---|---|
| First season | 1896 |
| Stadium | University of Detroit Stadium (Capacity: 20,000) |
| Location | Detroit, Michigan |
| All-time record | 308–204–24 (.597) |
| Claimed national titles | 1 (1928) |
| Colors | Red, White, and Blue[1] |
From 1922 to the end of the university's football program in 1964 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 Rd. (Six Mile Rd.) and Fairfield St. on the university's McNichols campus. After the 1964 season, the program, which had incurred large losses since 1951, was discontinued. 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.[3]
Conference affiliations
Detroit was both independent and affiliated with the Missouri Valley Conference.[4]
- Unknown (1896–)
- Independent (–1947)
- Missouri Valley Conference (1948–1956)
- Independent (1957–1964)
Championships
National championships
Detroit won its only national championship in 1928, with Parke H. Davis selecting both Detroit and Georgia Tech.[5] The school claims this championship.[6][7]
| Year | Selectors | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | Parke H. Davis | Gus Dorais | 9–0 |
Head coaches
| 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
| 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
References
- "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.
- 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.