Elmer Oliphant shatters expectations and records, dominating multiple sports to become a gridiron icon at both Purdue and Army. Known for his versatility and unyielding drive, this legendary halfback rewrote the scoring books and established a legacy of athletic excellence that remains unmatched. Discover the story of the man who forced West Point to design a brand-new athletic letter just to accommodate his achievements.
Football Bio
July 9, 1892 – Bloomfield, Indiana – Elmer Oliphant was a halfback who played for both Purdue, as a walk-on, and Army.
Elmer Oliphant, according to UPI, had the nickname βCatchy.β Elmer won an unprecedented 7 letters while at Purdue and then added 17 more as a cadet at West Point!
The standout athlete played basketball, baseball, and track in addition to football and even tried his hand at boxing. In fact, he is the first person ever to have won letters in four different sports for the Army.
His gridiron exploits were great even before he played in the college ranks. Catchy once scored 60 points in one high school game in a 128-0 romp as his Linton High squad dispatched rival Sullivan High School in football!
Oliphant went to Purdue and set a scoring record there, too, when he put up 43 points against Rose Poly in a 1912 tilt that set a Boilermaker record in the 91-0 triumph.
Elmer finished with 135 career points at Purdue and added 300 more with Army, and he was named to the All-America team twice.
Elmer Oliphant received the great honor of being selected for inclusion in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.
Elmer stayed in the Army for four more years, and after his discharge, he played one season professionally with the Buffalo All-Americans and then coached two seasons at Union College in New York.
Elmer Oliphant defines the term “multi-sport athlete” through his staggering accomplishments on and off the field. By setting scoring records that stand the test of time, he secures his eternal legacy in college football history. His induction into the College Football Hall of Fame cements his status as a legendary halfback who fundamentally reshaped early collegiate sports.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1955.
- 2Γ Consensus All-American (Football): 1916, 1917.
- Army Sports Hall of Fame: Inaugural inductee in 2004.
- Purdue Athletics Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1997.
- Helms Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1953.
- Historic Multi-Sport Letterman: The first athlete to letter in four major sports at both Purdue and West Point.
- Purdue Single-Game Record: Scored 43 points against Rose Poly in 1912.
- Army Single-Season Record: Scored 125 points in the 1917 season.
- Army Single-Game Record: Scored 45 points in a single game in 1916.
- FWAA Early-Day All-Time All-America Team: Selected for the 1869β1919 era.