Louis J. Salmon

Infobox Person
name = Louis "Red" Salmon


birth_date = birth date|1880|6|10|mf=y
birth_place = Syracuse, New York
death_date = death date and age|1965|9|27|1880|6|10|mf=y
death_place = Liberty, New York

Louis J. "Red" Salmon (June 10, 1880 – September 27, 1965) is considered to be the first outstanding fullback for the University of Notre Dame football team. He was the first "Fighting Irish" player to win an All-American mention,cite web | url = http://www.irishlegends.com/Pages/outofbounds/outofbounds2.html | title = Irish Legends | publisher = Irishlegends.com | accessdate = 2007-03-07] and some sports historians argue that he served as the team's "de facto" coach during the 1902-1903 season.cite book
last = Sperner
first = Murray
coauthors =
title = Shake Down the Thunder: The Creation of Notre Dame Football
year = 1993
publisher = Henry Holt and Company
location = New York
pages = p. 29] This honor, however, is often accorded to teammate James Farragher.cite web | url = http://www.irishlegends.com/Pages/outofbounds/outofbounds2.html | title = Irish Legends | publisher = Irishlegends.com | accessdate = 2007-03-07] Both men are widely credited as acting head coaches in official histories of the "Fighting Irish" football team, and Salmon is recognized as head coach during the 1903-1904 season.cite web | url = http://www.irishlegends.com/Pages/outofbounds/outofbounds2.html | title = Irish Legends | publisher = Irishlegends.com | accessdate = 2007-03-07]

Playing career

Born in Syracuse, New York, Salmon made his mark in collegiate football in 1903, when (as a senior) he scored 105 points. His career record of 36 touchdowns remained a school standard until 1985.cite web | url = http://www.collegefootball.org?famersearch.php?id=19 | title = College Football Hall of Fame | publisher = Collegefootball.org | accessdate = 2007-03-06] At six feet and three inches, and 230 pounds, Salmon was a force to be reckoned with on the gridiron.cite web | url = http://www.collegefootball.org?famersearch.php?id=19 | title = College Football Hall of Fame | publisher = Collegefootball.org | accessdate = 2007-03-06] As one writer observed: "The alabaster-skinned Salmon has been described as both a slasher and a smasher, a colorful way of saying he would run right over you if he could not run around you".cite web | url = http://www.irishlegends.com/Pages/outofbounds/outofbounds2.html | title = Irish Legends | publisher = Irishlegends.com | accessdate = 2007-03-07] Moreover, in an era when a wet pigskin might weigh as much as 14 pounds, Salmon averaged 30 yards with his punts.cite web | url = http://www.irishlegends.com/Pages/outofbounds/outofbounds2.html | title = Irish Legends | publisher = Irishlegends.com | accessdate = 2007-03-07] In 1903, Salmon was named to Walter Camp's third All-America team.cite web | url = http://www.collegefootball.org?famersearch.php?id=19 | title = College Football Hall of Fame | publisher = Collegefootball.org | accessdate = 2007-03-06]

Coaching career and legacy

During the 1903-1904 season, Salmon served officially as head coach of the "Fighting Irish". He presided over a lackluster season of 5-4, and as one writer has commented, "The team needed Salmon on the field, not on the sidelines".cite web | url = http://www.irishlegends.com/Pages/outofbounds/outofbounds2.html | title = Irish Legends | publisher = Irishlegends.com | accessdate = 2007-03-07] After graduating with a degree in engineering, the former sports hero rarely returned to campus and underplayed his outstanding athletic career.cite web | url = http://www.irishlegends.com/Pages/outofbounds/outofbounds2.html | title = Irish Legends | publisher = Irishlegends.com | accessdate = 2007-03-07] Nevertheless, he would be remembered as one of collegiate football's "greats". Louis "Red Salmon was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1971.cite web | url = http://www.collegefootball.org?famersearch.php?id=19 | title = College Football Hall of Fame | publisher = Collegefootball.org | accessdate = 2007-03-06]

References

Related Web Sites

* [http://www.irishlegends.com/Pages/herbs/herbsarticle10.html Notre Dame Legends]