Bo McMillin

College coach infobox
Name = Bo McMillin


Caption = Bo McMillin in the 1921 Centre vs. Harvard football game
DateOfBirth = January 12, 1895
Birthplace = flagicon|Texas Prairie Hill, Texas
DateOfDeath = Death date and age|1952|3|31|1895|1|12
Sport = Football
College =
Title =
CurrentRecord =
OverallRecord = 140-77-13
Awards =
Championships = Big Ten Conference ("1945")
CFbDWID = 1571
Player = Trigger
Years = 1917; 1919-1921
Team = Centre College
Position = Quarterback
Coach = Trigger
CoachYears = 1922-1924 1925-1927 1928-1933 1934-1947
CoachTeams = Centenary Geneva College Kansas State University Indiana University
FootballHOF = 1951

Alvin Nugent "Bo" McMillin (January 12, 1895 - March 31, 1952) was a Hall-of-Fame college football player, and later successful head coach, who served at both the collegiate and professional levels but who achieved his greatest success at the college level. His legendary "poor mouthing", pronounced in his distinctive Texas drawl, was in sharp contrast to his teams' successes.

Playing career

Early years

McMillin played high school football at North Side High School in Fort Worth, Texas, before beginning a Hall-of-Fame collegiate career at Centre College in Kentucky, under coaches Charley Moran and Robert "Chief" Meyers. McMillin began playing football at Centre in 1917, making a major impact as a freshman when his 17-yard drop kick beat the University of Kentucky. The following year, McMillin missed the season, serving instead in the U.S. Navy during the final year of World War I, then returned to Centre for the first of three consecutive All-American seasons.

1919 and 1920 seasons

In 1919, McMillin was selected to the Walter Camp All-America first team at quarterback, after helping the Praying Colonels to a 9-0 record, including upsets over Indiana University and West Virginia University. In 1920, McMillin garnered second team honors as Centre posted another successful season, albeit including a disappointing 31-14 loss to defending national champion Harvard University.

1921 season

1921 was a most remarkable season for McMillin and Centre College. McMillin was a consensus All-American, and his extraordinary effort against Harvard on October 29 cemented his legend. After the loss the year before, McMillin had promised that Centre would beat Harvard in 1921, despite the fact that the Crimson had not lost since 1918. Then, in front of 43,000 fans, McMillin dashed 32 yards for the lone score of a 6-0 Centre victory, breaking Harvard's 25-game winning streak. MIT students who attended the game to cheer against Harvard tore down the goalposts and hoisted McMillin on their shoulders. For decades afterward, this was called "football's upset of the century."

Coaching career

Centenary College

Building upon his success as a player, McMillin entered the coaching arena, where he spent the next quarter century compiling a mark of 146-77-13. Using a combination of eloquence and determination, the teetotaling McMillin enjoyed nothing but success at the college level, beginning at Centenary College of Louisiana in 1922. Over a three-year period, McMillin lost only three of 28 games.

Geneva College

McMillin's success in Louisiana allowed him to move on to Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, where he was the 13th head college football coach. He held that position for three seasons, from 1925 until 1927. His coaching record at Geneva was 22 wins, 6 losses, and 1 tie. As of completion of the 2007 season, this ranks himsixth at Geneva in total wins and second at Geneva in winning percentage (0.776). [ [http://www.geneva.edu/object/athletics_footballmediaguide.html Geneva College coaching records] ]

Kansas State University

In 1928, McMillin was hired by Kansas State University to replace Hall of Fame coach Charlie Bachman. McMillin coached at Kansas State for six successful years, including an 8-2 season in 1931 [ [http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_game_by_game.php?coachid=1571&year=1931 College Football Data Warehouse] Kansas State University 1931 season results] that vaulted Kansas State to the cusp of the Rose Bowl. Elden Auker, McMillin's all-conference quarterback at Kansas State, wrote in his book "Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms": "McMillin was a great psychologist. He really knew how to give us talks that fired us up... The normal routine for McMillin was to bring us out onto the field to loosen up and then take us back into the locker room for a pep talk. By the time he was through talking, we believed we could take on the world."

Indiana University

McMillin's success at Kansas State propelled him into his most noteworthy achievements at Indiana University. For 14 years, beginning in 1934, McMillin helped elevate the nondescript program to new heights, topped by an undefeated season in 1945. That year marked the first time ever that the Hoosiers had captured the Big Nine Conference. He even enjoyed success at the annual College All-Star game, winning the 1938 and 1946 clashes against the defending NFL champions.

Detroit Lions

Despite having become the school's athletic director and seemingly earning lifetime security with seven years remaining on his most recent contract, the 53-year-old McMillin sought new challenges following the 1947 campaign. He accepted a five-year contract to coach the National Football League's Detroit Lions on February 19, 1948.

However, the coaching success he had always enjoyed disappeared with the Lions, as the team dropped its first five games in 1948 and finished with a 2-10 mark. In addition to the many on-field changes he had implemented, McMillin also briefly changed the team's colors from the now-familiar Hawaiian blue to maroon, similar to the color of his teams at Indiana.

The team also struggled in 1949 at 4-8, but picked up the rights to future star Doak Walker. The team then brought in quarterback Bobby Layne and Heisman Trophy winner Leon Hart the following year. Continued conflict with players, though, led to McMillin's departure after the end of the 1950 NFL season, which saw the Lions finish with a 6-6 record.

Philadelphia Eagles

McMillin then took on the challenge of returning the Philadelphia Eagles to their previous glory when he was hired on February 8, 1951. However, after just two games (both wins), McMillin underwent surgery for what was believed to be ulcer troubles. The verdict was far worse: stomach cancer, which ended his coaching career.

On the final day of March 1952, McMillin suffered a fatal heart attack and was buried days later with many fellow coaches and former player in attendance.

Awards and accolades

In November 1951, in the final months of his life, McMillin was selected for induction in the College Football Hall of Fame for his noteworthy successes as a player. Two months later, McMillin was also awarded the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award for his contributions to the sport by the American Football Coaches Association.

Head coaching record

CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name = Centenary
startyear = 1922
conf = Louisiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association
endyear = 1924CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1922
name = Centenary
overall = 8-1
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
year = 1923
name = Centenary
overall = 10-1
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1924
name = Centenary
overall = 8-1
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = Centenary
overall = 26-3
confrecord = CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name = Geneva
startyear = 1925
conf = Independent
endyear = 1927CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1925
name = Geneva
overall = 6-3
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1926
name = Geneva
overall = 8-2
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1927
name = Geneva
overall = 8-0-1
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = Geneva College
overall = 22-5-1
confrecord = CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name = Kansas State Wildcats
startyear = 1928
conf = Big Six Conference
endyear = 1933CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1928
name = Kansas State
overall = 3-5
conference = 0-5
confstanding = 6th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1929
name = Kansas State
overall = 3-5
conference = 3-2
confstanding = 3rd
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1930
name = Kansas State
overall = 5-3
conference = 3-2
confstanding = 3rd
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1931
name = Kansas State
overall = 8-2
conference = 3-2
confstanding = 3rd
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1932
name = Kansas State
overall = 4-4
conference = 2-3
confstanding = 4th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1933
name = Kansas State
overall = 6-2-1
conference = 4-1
confstanding = 2nd
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = Kansas State
overall = 29-21-1
confrecord = 15-15CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name = Indiana Hoosiers
startyear = 1934
conf = Big Ten Conference
endyear = 1947CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1934
name = Indiana
overall = 3-3-2
conference = 1-3-1
confstanding = T-8th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1935
name = Indiana
overall = 4-3-1
conference = 2-2-1
confstanding = T-3rd
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1936
name = Indiana
overall = 5-2-1
conference = 3-1-1
confstanding = T-4th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1937
name = Indiana
overall = 5-3
conference = 3-2
confstanding = 3rd
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1938
name = Indiana
overall = 1-6-1
conference = 1-4
confstanding = 9th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1939
name = Indiana
overall = 2-4-2
conference = 2-3
confstanding = 8th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1940
name = Indiana
overall = 3-5
conference = 2-3
confstanding = T-6th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1941
name = Indiana
overall = 2-6
conference = 1-3
confstanding = T-7th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1942
name = Indiana
overall = 7-3
conference = 2-2
confstanding = T-5th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1943
name = Indiana
overall = 4-4-2
conference = 2-3-1
confstanding = 4th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1944
name = Indiana
overall = 7-3
conference = 4-3
confstanding = 5th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
year = 1945
name = Indiana
overall = 9-0-1
conference = 5-0-1
confstanding = 1st
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = 4CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1946
name = Indiana
overall = 6-3
conference = 4-2
confstanding = 3rd
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = 20CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1947
name = Indiana
overall = 5-3-1
conference = 2-3-1
confstanding = T-6th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = Indiana
overall = 63-48-11
confrecord = 34-34-6CFB Yearly Record End
overall = 140-77-13 (.637)
bcs =
poll = two
polltype =

External links

* [http://www.geneva.edu/page/athletics Geneva College athletics website]

References

* Auker, Elden (2001). "Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms" (ISBN 1-892049-25-2)
* Goldstein, Richard (1996). "Ivy League Autumns" (ISBN 0-312-14629-9)