Sam Francis (American football)

NFL player
Name=Sam Francis


DateOfBirth=birth date|1913|10|26
Birthplace=Dunbar, Nebraska, United States
DateOfDeath=death date and age|2002|4|23|1913|10|26
Deathplace=Springfield, MO
College=Nebraska
Position=Halfback
DraftedYear=1937
DraftedRound=1/ Pick 1
Awards=
Honors=
Records=
years=1937-1938
1939
1939-1940
teams=Chicago Bears
Pittsburgh Pirates
Brooklyn Dodgers
Stats=y
DatabaseFootball=FRANCSAM01
CollegeHOF=30112 Harrison F. "Sam" Francis (October 26, 1913 - April 23, 2002) was an American football player in the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where, in 1936, he was the first runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. [ [http://www.huskerj.com/cfb_hof.htm College Football Hall of Fame Inductees ] ] He was the first overall selection in the 1937 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He played in the NFL for four years with the Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Brooklyn Dodgers before leaving to serve in the Army during World War II. Francis was also an exceptional athlete in track and field and placed fourth in the shot put at the 1936 Summer Olympics. [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/news/2002/12/29/2002_deaths_ap/ CNNSI.com - More Sports - 2002 Notable Sports Deaths - Sunday December 29, 2002 05:03 PM ] ]

Coaching career

Francis was the 21st head football coach for the Kansas State Wildcats in Manhattan, Kansas and he held that position for the 1947 season. His overall coaching record at Kansas State was 0 wins, 10 losses, and 0 ties. This ranks him30th at Kansas State in terms of total wins and 31st at Kansas State in terms of winning percentage. [ [http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/big12/kansas_state/coaching_records.php Kansas State Coaching Records ] ]

Although in recent years Kansas State Football has experienced success, for many years it was considered a failure as a college football program. This gives Francis the dubious distinction of being the coach with the worst record at possibly the worst football school of all time, until the advent of the Bill Snyder era at Kansas State. Francis was the only coach to lose every game that he coached. Kansas State coach Ira Pratt did not win any games during his one season as coach, but did successfully tie and end up 0-1-1. [ [http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_game_by_game.php?coachid=1900&year=1896 Coaching Records Game by Game ] ]

For his one and only season as a head coach, he was outscored 283 points to 71, and had three games where Kansas State team was held to no score. The closest game a loss by 2 points against University of New Mexico at home and the most lopsided defeat was 0-55 against longtime rival University of Kansas. [ [http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_game_by_game.php?coachid=807&year=1947 Coaching Records Game by Game ] ]

References