By Darin How does a “tenacious little quarterback” from the early 1900s become a legendary figure in both football and international espionage? Ellery Huntington Jr. didn’t just break records at Colgate University; he set the standard for what it meant to be a leader on and off the field. From his historic 85-yard return against Syracuse to his clandestine missions during World War II, Huntington’s life was defined by strategic brilliance and uninhibited courage. Discover the story of the man who literally wrote the book on the first 50 years of the game.
Football Bio
March 11, 1893 – Nashville, Tennessee – Colgate University Quarterback from the 1910 to 1913 era, Ellery Huntington Jr., was born. Ellery was Colgate’s first player to reach All-America status, and the NFF describes him as a tenacious little quarterback who was skilled at making defenses scratch their heads and try to figure him out.
One of Huntington’s crowning moments in college football was his 85-yard kick return against Syracuse. The National Football Foundation inducted Ellery Huntington into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1972. Ellery served his country in both World War I and II, and in between, he spent a couple of seasons as the head coach of his alma mater in 1920 and 1921. In 1940, he wrote a book titled “50 Years of College Football.”
Conclusion
Ellery Huntington Jr. was the quintessential “scholar-athlete” whose impact stretched far beyond the end zone. While his 1913 All-American season put Colgate football on the national map, his commitment to his country during two World Wars solidified his legacy as a true American patriot. Whether he was outmaneuvering defenses on the gridiron or leading military missions in Yugoslavia, Huntington operated with a rare instinct and courage that earned him a permanent seat among the immortals in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1972.
- Consensus First-Team All-American: 1913 (Colgate’s first-ever All-American).
- Walter Camp All-America Team: Selected as quarterback in 1913.
- Colgate Athletics Hall of Honor: Charter member (Inducted 1979).
- Head Coaching Career: Led the Colgate Red Raiders from 1919–1921 (10–10–5 record).
- Author: Published 50 Years of Colgate Football (1940).
- Multi-Sport Star: Captain of the Colgate basketball team and member of the track team.
- Military Distinction: Served as a Field Artillery Captain in WWI and Colonel in the OSS during WWII, leading the military mission to Yugoslavia.
- Academic Excellence: Phi Beta Kappa member and Harvard Law School graduate.
