Albert Russel Erskine Trophy

The Albert Russel Erskine Trophy was an annual award presented in the United States from 1929 to 1931 to the college football team recognized as national champions by a group of American sportswriters.^[1][2][3]

Albert Russel Erskine Trophy

Sport	College football
Awarded for	National Championship
Sponsored by	Albert Russel Erskine Studebaker
Country	United States
Presented by	American Sportswriters
History
First award	1929
Editions	3
Final award	1931
First winner	Notre Dame
Most wins	Notre Dame (2) USC (1)
Most recent	USC

Trophy

The Erskine trophy is made of plate silver, in the form of a loving cup with two handles. It is inscribed with the words:

The Albert Russel Erskine Trophy for the National Football Championship as determined by American Sportswriters

The selected national champions for 1929, 1930, and 1931 are inscribed below, with room to spare for subsequent champions.

The trophy was last awarded immediately following the 1932 Rose Bowl.^[3] In later years the trophy was held by the Newport Sports Museum until its closure in 2014, after which the trophy was sold at auction.^[4]

Winners

Season	Team	Head Coach	Record
1929[1][5]	Notre Dame	Knute Rockne	9–0
1930[2]	Notre Dame	Knute Rockne	10–0
1931[3]	USC	Howard Jones	10–1

For 1932, unbeaten Michigan was mentioned as receiving the "Rockne – Erskine trophy" in recognition of their title as national champions.^[6] No winner is engraved upon the Erskine Trophy for 1932.

References

1. Written at South Bend, Indiana. "Football Award will be made at Pittsburgh" (PDF). The Reflector. Vol. VIII, no. 17. Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Central College. February 7, 1930. p. 3. Retrieved May 17, 2022. The Albert Russell [sic] Eskine Trophy, emblematic of the national football championship as determined by 250 sports writers, will be presented to Notre Dame, 1929 winner, at the Pittsburgh–Notre Dame basketball game in this city, February 8.
2. "Notre Dame Receives Erskine Award" (PDF). The Notre Dame Alumnus. Vol. IX, no. 5. South Bend, Indiana: The Alumni Association of the University of Notre Dame. January 1931. p. 169. Retrieved May 17, 2022. Nation's sports writers pick Notre Dame football team as champions by record vote; Trophy awarded in New York January second.
3. "Trojans Get Erskine 1931 Grid Award". Los Angeles Times. January 2, 1932. Retrieved May 17, 2022. Southern California's 21–12 victory over Tulane brought the Trojans the Albert Russell Erskine football trophy and the national grid championship for 1931. Presentation of the trophy was made in front of the Trojan rooting section following the game by William R. Moorehouse, member of the Erskine award board. The Erskine award brought a Studebaker President eight sedan to Coach Howard Jones, an engraved cup to the University of Southern California and a scroll signifying the national championship to the Trojan team.
4. "SCP Auctions Lot #776 — 1929-31 COLLEGE FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY "THE ALBERT RUSSEL ERSKINE TROPHY" HONORING TITLES WON BY NOTRE DAME (1929-30) & USC (1931) AND ACCOMPANYING CERTIFICATE (NSM COLLECTION)". SCP Auctions. December 7, 2014. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022. Presented here is the original silver-plated trophy dubbed "The Albert Russel Erskine Trophy" conceived by Erskine to honor the best team in college football annually.
5. Written at South Bend, Indiana. "Conley Receives Erskine Trophy for University" (PDF). The Notre Dame Scholastic. Vol. LXIV, no. 18. Indianapolis, Indiana: University of Notre Dame. February 7, 1930. Retrieved May 19, 2022. The Erskine trophy was the third given to the Fighting Irish this year, each representing itself to be emblematic of the national football title. The Rissman trophy and the Veteran Athletes Association cup preceded the Erskine Award.
6. "Kipke Named School Head; Matadors To Meet Buffs" (PDF). The Toreador. Vol. VIII, no. 20. Lubbock, Texas: Texas Tech students. February 23, 1933. p. 3. Retrieved May 19, 2022. Under [Kipke's] tuterage the Wolverines won the Big Ten title last fall and were acclaimed 1932 national football champions, receiving the Rockne - Erskine trophy as a significance of that honor.