Detroit Titans football

The Detroit Titans were the college football team which represented the University of Detroit (now University of Detroit Mercy) from 1896 to 1964. The team posted an undefeated season in 1928, staking a claim to a national title. The program was terminated in 1964 for financial reasons.

Detroit Titans football
First season	1896; 128 years ago
Last season	1964; 60 years ago
Stadium	University of Detroit Stadium (capacity: 20,000)
Location	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
All-time record	308–204–24 (.597)
Claimed national titles	1 (1928)
Colors	Red, white, and blue[1]

History

Under head coach Gus Dorais in 1928, the Titans won all nine of their games. Several years later Parke H. Davis, considered to be a "major selector" by the NCAA, named the 1928 team to a share of the national championship.^[2]

From 1922 on, the Titans played their home games at University of Detroit Stadium (also known as U of D Stadium, Titan Stadium, and Dinan Field) near McNichols Road (Six Mile Road) and Fairfield Street on the university's McNichols campus.

The football program had incurred large losses since 1951, and was discontinued after the 1964 season.^[3][4] At the time of the sport's termination, university president Rev. Laurence V. Britt stated that the institution "does not currently have and does not foresee any prospects of its having the substantial funds" required to continue the program.^[5]

Conference affiliations

Detroit was both independent and affiliated with the Missouri Valley Conference.^[6]

• Unknown (1896–)
• Independent (–1947)
• Missouri Valley Conference (1948–1956)
• Independent (1957–1964)

Championships

National championships

Detroit won its only national championship in 1928, with Parke H. Davis selecting both Detroit and Georgia Tech.^[7] The school claims this championship.^[8][9]

Year	Selectors	Coach	Record
1928	Parke H. Davis	Gus Dorais	9–0

Head coaches

Main article: List of Detroit Titans head football coaches

Head Coach	Years	Seasons	Record	Pct.
William S. Robinson	1896–1899	4	13–5–1	.700
John C. Mackey	1900–1901	2	6–6–0	.500
Edward J. Ryan	1902, 1906	2	7–5–1	.577
Alfred W. Debo	1903–1904	2	6–6–0	.500
George A. Kelly	1907, 1909–1910	3	7–5–2	.571
Royal R. Campbell	1911–1912	2	8–6–1	.567
George M. Lawton	1913–1914	2	6–6–3	.500
Harry Costello	1915–1916	2	4–7–2	.385
James F. Duffy	1917, 1919–1922, 1924	6	43–12–1	.777
Germany Schulz	1923	1	4–3–2	.556
Gus Dorais	1925–1942	18	113–48–7	.693
Chuck Baer	1945–1950	6	35–21–1	.623
Dutch Clark	1951–1953	3	13–17–0	.433
Wally Fromhart	1954–1958	5	19–25–2	.435
Jim Miller	1959–1961	3	18–10–0	.643
John Idzik	1962–1964	3	6–21–1	.232

Notable personnel

Name	Position	Years	Notes
Grady Alderman	Lineman	1950s	Played in NFL, 1960-1974
Sig Andrusking	Guard	1930s	Played in NFL in 1937
Vince Banonis	Center	1939-1941	Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame
Dan Boisture	End	1947-1948	Head coach at Eastern Michigan, 1967-1973
Lloyd Brazil	Halfback	1927-1929	All-American; inducted into Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
Walt Cassidy	End	1920s	Played in NFL, 1924
Walt Clago	End		Played in NFL, 1921-1922
Bill Dando	Halfback	1956-1968	Head coach at Buffalo, 1977-1979
Andy Farkas	Fullback	1930s	Played for Washington Redskins, 1938-1944
Norm Harvey	Tackle	1920s	Played in NFL, 1925-1929
Harvey Long	Lineman	1920s	Played in NFL, 1929-1930
Elmer Madarik	Halfback	1940s	Played for Detroit Lions 1945-1948
Ted Marchibroda	Quarterback	1950s	Played and coached in the NFL for over 40 years, 1953-1998
Doug Nott	Halfback	1930s	Played for Detroit Lions in 1935
Bill O'Neill	Halfback	1930s	Played for Detroit Lions in 1935 and Cleveland Rams in 1937
Lee Riley	Defensive back	1950s	Played in NFL and AFL, 1955-1962
Sod Ryan	Tackle	1920s	Played in NFL from 1929 to 1930
Jim Shorter	Defensive back	1960s	Played in NFL, 1948-1956
Jack Simmons	Lineman	1940s	Played in NFL, 1962-1969
Steve Stonebreaker	Linebacker	1960s	Played in NFL, 1962-1968
Tillie Voss	End	1920s	Played in NFL, 1921-1929

Players in the NFL Draft

Main article: List of Detroit Titans in the NFL draft

References

1. "University of Detroit Mercy Brand Standards Guide" (PDF). September 15, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
2. 2011 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). Indianapolis, IN: The National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2011. pp. 70–75. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
3. "Students yip as Detroit drops grid". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 1, 1964. p. 10.
4. "Detroit kicks out football, students stage big protest". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. December 1, 1964. p. 41.
5. Berry, Jack (1964-12-01). "U-D Football Finally Dies of Neglect". The Detroit Free Press. p. 1-D.
6. "Detroit Mercy Titans Football Record By Year". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
7. 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. p. 111. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
8. "2013 Will Be A Season To Remember In Motown". University of Detroit Mercy Athletics.
9. "Remembering the 1953 Missouri Valley Conference Champion Detroit Titans". University of Detroit Mercy Athletics.

External links

• University of Detroit Football Collection