 Thorp circa 1922 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1884-03-06)March 6, 1884 New York, New York, U.S. |
| Died | July 6, 1942(1942-07-06) (aged 58) Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1903–1904 | Columbia |
| Position(s) | Tackle |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1912–1913 | Fordham |
| 1922–1924 | NYU |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 21–17–4 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| |
Thomas Joseph Thorp (March 6, 1884 – July 6, 1942) was an Americancollege football player and coach, sports writer, and football and horse racing official. He served as the head football atFordham University from 1912 to 1913 andNew York University (NYU) from 1922 to 1924, compiling a career coaching record of 21–17–4.
Thorp was born on March 6, 1884, inManhattan, in the neighborhood known as the Roaring Forties.
Thorp enrolled atColumbia University, where he played at thetackle position for the school's football teams in 1903 and 1904. He was named toWalter Camp's All-America team,[1] and was selected as an All-American in both 1903 and 1904. In October 1905, amid the movement to eradicate professionalism from college football, Columbia's faculty dropped Thorp from the university.The New York Times wrote that Thorp had been "the backbone" of the team and reported that Thorp's expulsion was "the worst blow that Columbia football has received" and a move that "cast the gloom of despair" over the prospects for the Columbia football team in 1905.[2] Upon being expelled from Columbia, Thorp sought admission to Cornell, but he was not able to acquire advance standing. Thorp next went to theUniversity of Virginia, where he was enrolled and played football.[3][4]
In the late 1900s, Thorp was hired as a sports writer for theNew York Journal. He also worked for a time for theNew York American and theNew York World.[1] He continued to work as a journalist until 1936, when he became employed as a full-time official at horse racing tracks.[3] Following his death in 1942, he was remembered as "a bona fide newspaperman, which is to say ... he was an able, news-chasing, news-writing reporter."[5] The Long Island newspaperNewsday annually presents the Tom Thorp Award, which goes to the outstanding high school football player inNassau County.[6]
Thorp was head football coach atFordham University for the 1912 and 1913 seasons, compiling a record of 7–7–2.[7]
Thorp was the 18th head football coach aNew York University (NYU), serving for three seasons, from 1922 to 1924, and compiling a record of 14–10–2.[8] This ranks him fourth at NYU in total wins and third at NYU in winning percentage.[9]
When he was not coaching, Thorp also worked as an official for college football games. He officiated at many of the significant eastern games and was the first easterner to be invited to officiate at aRose Bowl Game. He continued officiating at football games until 1940.[3]
In his later years, Thorp lived inRockville Centre, New York. When pari-mutuel was permitted in New England in 1933, Thorp became employed in the horse racing business.[1] He served as the presiding steward at several race tracks, includingSuffolk Downs, the Pagodas atRockingham Park,Narragansett Park, andTropical Park in Florida.[3] He was also the general manager at the Empire City track inYonkers, New York, for a time.[3] WhenSeabiscuit was matched againstWar Admiral, Thorp was the presiding steward at the race. When post time passed for the race, a crowd of reporters gathered, and it was Thorp who finally delivered the news that "Seabiscuit scratched."[5]
In late June 1942, after presiding over the races at Suffolk Downs, Thorp suffered a heart attack at aBoston hotel; he died a week later at Wyman House inCambridge, Massachusetts.[3] Thorp was unmarried and was survived by his mother and two brothers.[3]
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fordham Maroon(Independent)(1912–1913) | |||||||||
| 1912 | Fordham | 4–4 | |||||||
| 1913 | Fordham | 3–3–2 | |||||||
| Fordham: | 7–7–2 | ||||||||
| NYU Violets(Independent)(1922–1924) | |||||||||
| 1922 | NYU | 4–5 | |||||||
| 1923 | NYU | 6–2–1 | |||||||
| 1924 | NYU | 4–3–1 | |||||||
| NYU: | 14–10–2 | ||||||||
| Total: | 21–17–4 | ||||||||