Neilson Poe (American football)

Neilson Poe

Mayo's Cut Plug football card of Neilson Poe, issued 1894
Date of birth	October 1, 1876
Place of birth	Baltimore, Maryland
Date of death	September 22, 1963(1963-09-22) (aged 86)
Place of death	Princeton, New Jersey
Career information
Position(s)	Halfback
College	Princeton
Career history
As coach
1919–1963	Princeton (Assistant)
As player
1895–1896	Princeton Tigers
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	U.S. Army
Years of service	1917-1918
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	93rd Infantry Division
Battles/wars	World War I Second Battle of the Marne
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross French War Cross

Neilson Poe (October 1, 1876 – September 22, 1963) a.k.a. Net Poe was a football player for the Princeton Tigers. He played in the Princeton backfield in 1895 and 1896, and even later returned to coach football at the school. He was also one of the Poe brothers, six siblings who were celebrated football players at Princeton University from 1882 until 1901. Neilson graduated from Princeton in 1897.

During World War I, Neilson served in the United States Army infantry as a lieutenant. In 1917, at the age of 41, he reported for officers training, located in Plattsburg, New York. In 1918, Neilson took part in the Second Battle of the Marne, during which his commanding officer was killed. During the battle he was wounded, but still took command of his fellow soldiers and safely entrenched them for 24 hours. He suffered a bullet wound to the stomach and several shrapnel wounds. He spent the rest of the war hospitalized and was later awarded the French War Cross and the Distinguished Service Cross.

After the war, he returned to Princeton to serve as an assistant coach from 1919 until his death in 1963. He resided during those years in the Nassau Inn, room 24.