Kenneth Wilbur Huffine (December 22, 1897 – September 26, 1977) was a professional football player-coach who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1920 until 1925. During that time, he played for the Muncie Flyers, Chicago Staleys and the Dayton Triangles. He was a member of the Staleys' 1921 Championship team. The Staleys were renamed the Chicago Bears in 1922. Ken also played with the independent Fort Wayne Friars in 1920, alongside the legendary Jim Thorpe.[1]
| Date of birth | December 22, 1897 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Hammond, Indiana, U.S. |
| Date of death | September 26, 1977 (aged 79) |
| Place of death | Bradenton, Florida, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Fullback, Head Coach |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
| Weight | 208 lb (94 kg) |
| US college | Purdue |
| Career history | |
| As coach | |
| 1920 | Muncie Flyers |
| As player | |
| 1920 | Muncie Flyers |
| 1920 | Fort Wayne Friars |
| 1921 | Chicago Staleys |
| 1922–1925 | Dayton Triangles |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career stats | |
| |
Prior to playing football professionally, Ken played college football at Purdue University. He was a three-time letterman with the Boilermakers in 1916, 1917 and 1919.[2]
Rough first game
editKen also played in one of the first NFL games as Muncie played the Rock Island Independents on October 3, 1920. While serving as the team's punter, Huffine had three of his punts blocked during the game. The Independents used each blocked punt to score three touchdowns in the first quarter. Rock Island's Ed Shaw blocked Huffine's first attempt and Arnie Wyman picked it up to run 35 yards for the score. Later Huffine got off a successful punt, however the Islanders drove to the Muncie two-yard line, only to fumble. But, when Huffine went into the end zone for yet another punt attempt, Walt Buland broke through to block, and Wyman scored again by falling on the ball in the end zone. As soon as Huffine was called upon to punt again, Shaw and Oak Smith blocked another one. This time Dewey Lyle recovered but stepped out of bounds on the 15-yard line. Rube Ursella then scored for Rock Island shortly after.[1][3]
Personality and traits
editAccording to Henry E. Beck's book Growin' Up With Men And Machines, Ken is described as a "soft spoken man with a hand like a catcher's mitt". He was an educated person as people like being around him. During the conversations Ken would listen to every word spoken to him.[4]
Notes
edit- ^ a b "Forward Into Invisibility" (PDF). PFRA Annual. Professional Football Researchers Association: 1–6. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2010.
- ^ "Purdue Football All-Time Letterwinners - PURDUESPORTS.COM - Purdue Official Athletic Site". purduesports.com. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
- ^ "The First NFL Game(s)" (PDF). The Coffin Corner. 2. Professional Football Researchers Association: 1–4. 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 11, 2012.
- ^ Beck, H.E. (2005). Growin' Up with Men and Machines. Vantage Press. ISBN 9780533151639. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
References
edit- "The First NFL Game(s)" (PDF). The Coffin Corner. 2. Professional Football Researchers Association: 1–4. 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 11, 2012.
- "Forward Into Invisibility" (PDF). PFRA Annual. Professional Football Researchers Association: 1–6. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2010.
