Born May 5, 1895 in Cleveland, Ohio was a man that touched different aspects of early pro football, and made an impact, Stan Cofall.
Cleveland native Stan Cofall made his mark at the University of Notre Dame as a player before the Great War. He later played with the Massillon Tigers in the mythical Ohio League. Stan would leave the game of football for two seasons to bravely serve his country during World War I. Upon his return to civilian life, Cofall would help create the Cleveland Indians football franchise along with Jimmy O'Donnell. The two Tigers founders attended the August 20, 1920, meeting as one of four teams represented in Ralph Hay's office in Canton to seriously discuss the organization of professional teams. Almost a month later, a follow-up meeting would have more attendees on September 17 in Hay's Hupmobile Showroom and organized under the American Professional Football Association (APFA) name, and again, Cofall, alongside O'Donnell, was in attendance. The group would rebrand as the National Football League two years later. Cofall even served as the vice president of the APFA alongside the face of the newly constructed League, President Jim Thorpe, in 1920.
Cofall was the centerpiece player and manager of the Cleveland team for the first part of the 1920 season. In late October, after a disastrous 0-2-1 start for the Tigers and a 0-7 loss to the nearby Akron Pros, O'Donnell fired Cofall for poor results. Soon after, a brutal courtroom battle commenced over the club's ownership, as Cofall claimed he and O'Donnell were partners in the Cleveland football venture. Cofall claimed he was signed to manage, play, and coach the Cleveland Tigers, and in addition to his $350 per week salary, the former Fighting Irish star would also receive 25% of the gate.
Rumors soon swirled that Cofall and perhaps a handful of Cleveland Tigers would sign on elsewhere to play ball, including the Rock Island Independents. This whisper did not come to fruition, nor did any rumors of Cofall joining another APFA team.
Within a few weeks, Cofall's name was on the Union Club of Phoenixville roster, giving him his first taste of pro football life in Eastern Pennsylvania. The Phoenixville team was among the most successful professional teams that most people have never heard of.
The height of the Phoenixville team was in 1920, when two local football squads, the Phoenixville Athletic Club and the rival Union Club team, merged to become a powerhouse. Besides Cofall, the newly created Union Club of Phoenixville had roster signings of players that included: Lud Wray (co-founder of the Philadelphia Eagles along with Bert Bell); Pro Football Hall of Famer Fritz Pollard, Lou Little, Heine Miller, Fats Eyrich, Bodie Weldon, Swede Youngstrom, Earl Potteiger, Butch Stagna, and Ockie Anderson.
***insert image of Cofall Nov 25, 1920 Image Stan Cofall of Union Club of Phoenixville
***insert QR code for Union Club of Phoenixville podcast episode
That 1920 Union Club squad finished with an 11-0 record, defeating a local rival from Frankford who would become the NFL Yellow Jackets franchise.
The following year in 1921, Stan played briefly alongside former Cleveland teammate Charles Brickley for the shortlived New York Brickley Giants team before coming to Pottsville in 1922.
He coached the Pottsville Maroons to the Anthracite League Championship in 1924.
