John Webster Thomas
John Webster Thomas - 1923
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born |
February 13, 1900 Ocheyedan, Iowa |
| Died | August 19, 1977 (aged 77) |
| Playing career | |
| 1919-1920 | Jamestown |
| 1921-1923 | Chicago |
| Position(s) | Fullback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1927-1929 | Haskell (backfield) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
|
1921,1923 All-Big Ten 1922 All-American |
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1921,1923 All-Big Ten
John Webster Thomas (February 13, 1900 – August 19, 1977) was an American football player and coach. He played college football as a fullback at the University of Chicago from 1921 to 1923 under Amos Alonzo Stagg.
Prior to 1919 he enlisted in the United States Army Air Service in World War I. In 1919 and 1920 he played for Jamestown College in North Dakota and was chosen All-State fullback both years.
In 1921 he transferred to the University of Chicago under Amos Alonzo Stagg as a sophomore. He wore numbers 2 and 5. In 1921 he was picked by many writers to their All-Big Ten Conference team citing him as the driving force behind the Chicago road victory (9–0) over Princeton that year. That game was the first Western triumph over an Eastern powerhouse and was a primary stimulus in college football becoming a national game.
In 1922, Walter Camp picked him as his 1st team Fullback in his Junior year. Of Thomas, Camp wrote:
"John Thomas of Chicago has that rare art of carrying through his charge with his feet still under him, ready for a further drive. When he strikes, he strikes hard, but he has still a later thrust of power so that the ordinary check in a line does not stop his forward progress. He would be the most dashing of the three in this All-American backfield (*). His work shone in other games but it was particularly brilliant in the Princeton game. It is safe to say he did far more against the Princeton line in effective
(*) Camp refers to his 1922 backfield selections: Thomas, Eddie Kaw of Cornell, and Harry Kipke of Michigan.
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