1922 Oorang Indians season

Sports season March 2026 July 2018 Oorang Indians 1922 3–6 (NFL)(5–8 overall) 11th NFL Walter Lingo Jim Thorpe Lincoln Park<rf>(Marion, Ohio) none true The 1922 Oorang Indians season was their inaugural season in the National Football League (NFL). The team was organized by legendary back Jim Thorpe and featured a Native American roster, a feature which allowed aggressive promotion of games. Practicing in tiny La Rue, Ohio, the team played all but one of its contests on the road, its one "home" game taking place in neighboring Marion, Ohio.Tom Bennett, et al., The NFL's Official Encyclopedic History of Professional Football. New York: Macmillan, 1977; p. 19. The Indians finished the 1922 season with a record of 3–6, eleventh best in the league.1922 Oorang Indians Background The team's name, Oorang Indians, is the object of some confusion. The name was adopted due to the sponsorship of the team by Walter Lingo, proprietor of Oorang Kennels of La Rue, Ohio. Lingo was a dog breeder and sportsman, specializing in the perfection of champion Airedale Terriers. Lingo was attracted to the fellowship of some of the leading celebrities of his era, including baseball players Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker, athletic legend Jim Thorpe, boxer Jack Dempsey, and actor Gary Cooper — all of whom he was known to hunt with, together with his dogs.Greg Isabel, "Walter Lingo," Baron von Aliff, baron-von-aliff.home.att.net In June 1922, Lingo purchased a franchise in the fledgling National Football League for $100. Lingo acted as the team's business manager and tapped his friend Jim Thorpe to organize, recruit, and star on the team. Together the two perfected the idea of establishing an all-Native American team and touring the squad almost exclusively — generating publicity for Lingo's kennels while covering expenses through collection of appearance guarantees. Spending so much time on the road and placing tight demographic limits on team membership makes it difficult to field a competitive team. However, the presence of Thorpe notwithstanding. Oorang battled to a record of 3 wins and 6 losses in 1922, playing just one game at home in Marion. Their second season, 1923, would prove even worse and would be their last in the NFL. Schedule Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources 1 October 1 at Dayton Triangles L 0–36 0–1 Triangle Park ~5,500 The Troy Daily News has the crowd as "between five and six thousand. Recap "Dayton's Triangles Easily Best Thorpe's Indians in Gem City: Oorang Indians Unable to Score Single Point in Opening Battle," Troy Daily News, Oct. 2, 1922, p. 4."Triangles Swamp Indians: Cantons Next For Triangles; Beat Indians," Dayton Daily News, Oct. 2, 1922, p. 8. 2 October 8 Columbus Panhandles W 20–6 1–1 Lincoln Park 1,200 Recap — October 11 at Ohio Cranes W 20–6 — Seccaium ParkBucyrus, Ohio 100 — Willis, Walter Lingo, Jim Thorpe, and the Oorang Indians, p. 130. 3 October 15 at Canton Bulldogs L 0–14 1–2 Lakeside Park 5,100+ The Canton Daily News reported an attendance of between 7,000 and 8,000, but NFL historian Chris Willis has the figure at "more than 5,100 paying fans." Recap Willis, Walter Lingo, Jim Thorpe, and the Oorang Indians, p. 131. — October 22 at Indianapolis Belmonts W 33–0 — Washington Park 2,000 — Willis, Walter Lingo, Jim Thorpe, and the Oorang Indians, p. 134. 4 October 29 at Akron Pros L 0–62 1–3 Elks' Field 3,000 Recap 5 November 5 at Minneapolis Marines L 6–13 1–4 Nicollet Park 4,000 Recap Willis, Walter Lingo, Jim Thorpe, and the Oorang Indians, p. 138. 6 November 12 at Chicago Bears L 6–33 1–5 Cubs Park 3,300 Recap "Chicago Bears Tame Indians: Thorpe's Eleven Handed 33 to 6 Defeat," Decatur Review, Nov. 13, 1922, p. 10."Bears Win from Thorpe's Indians by 33–6 Margin: Old Jim Himself Gets in Against Ex-Staleys in Final Quarter," Decatur Herald, Nov. 13, 1922, p. 8.Willis, Walter Lingo, Jim Thorpe, and the Oorang Indians, p. 139. 7 November 19 at Milwaukee Badgers L 0–13 1–6 Athletic Park 6,500 Recap 8 November 26 at Buffalo All-Americans W 19–7 2–6 Buffalo Baseball Park 3,000 Recap 9 November 30 at Columbus Panhandles W 18–6 3–6 Neil Park 3,000 Recap Willis, Walter Lingo, Jim Thorpe, and the Oorang Indians, p. 142. — December 3 at Lansing Durant All-Stars L 0–29 — Pattengill Stadium 5,000 — Willis, Walter Lingo, Jim Thorpe, and the Oorang Indians, p. 144–145. — December 9 at Baltimore Pros L 0–7 — Venable Stadium < 5,000 — Don Riley, "Redskins Bow to Paleface: Thorpeless Oorangs Fall Before Baltimore Pros, 7 to 0," Baltimore Sun, Dec. 10, 1922, p. 20. Note: Non-NFL opponent in italics. Thanksgiving Day: November 30. Standings Roster The following individuals saw action in at least one NFL game for the Oorang Indians in 1922."1922 Oorang Indians Roster & Players," Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com The number of games in which each player appeared follows in parentheses. Linemen Alex Bobidosh (1) Fred Broker (1) Elmer Busch (9) Pete Calac (9) Dick Deer Slayer (2) Xavier "Red Fang" Downwind (5) Bob Hill (6) Buck Jones (2) Nick Lassa (9) Joe Little Twig (2) Ted Lone Wolf (5) Stillwell Saunooke (9) Ted St. Germaine (5) Baptiste Thunder (1) C.B. Winneshiek (5) Backs Reggie "Laughing Gas" Attache (8) Lo Boutwell (8) Joe Guyon (9) Ed Nason ("Running Deer") (4) Jim Thorpe (5) References 35em Further reading Whitman Robert 1984 Jim Thorpe and the Oorand Indians: NFL's Most Colorful Franchise The Hubbard Co Willis, Chris (2017). Walter Lingo, Jim Thorpe, and the Oorang Indians: How a Dog Kennel Owner Created the NFL's Most Famous Traveling Team. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. Category:Oorang Indians seasons Oorang Indians Oorang Indians Oorang Indians