1928 Detroit Titans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1928 Detroit Titans football Independent 9–0 Gus Dorais 4th Tom Connell Dinan Field Co-national champion (Davis) The 1928 Detroit Titans football team was an American football team that represented the University of Detroit (now known as the University of Detroit Mercy) as an independent during the 1928 college football season. In their fourth year under head coach and Gus Dorais, the Titans compiled a perfect 9–0 record, shut out seven of nine opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 267 to 27. The team has been recognized as a co-national champion of 1928 by Parke H. Davis.http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2015/FBS.pdf National Poll Rankings National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2015 NCAA Division I Football Records NCAA 108 January 4, 2016 May 21, 2016 http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160521052546/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2015/fbs.pdf dead https://detroittitans.com/news/2013/6/6/WGOLF_0606135413.aspx 2013 Will Be A Season To Remember In Motown University of Detroit Mercy Athletics June 7, 2013 December 13, 2018 December 15, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181215223703/https://detroittitans.com/news/2013/6/6/WGOLF_0606135413.aspx livehttps://detroittitans.com/news/2013/12/20/GEN_1220130937.aspx Remembering the 1953 Missouri Valley Conference Champion Detroit Titans University of Detroit Mercy Athletics December 20, 2013 December 13, 2018 December 15, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181215222537/https://detroittitans.com/news/2013/12/20/GEN_1220130937.aspx live Significant games included victories over Tulsa (19–14), Louisville (46–0), Michigan State (39–0), and Fordham (19–0).1928 Detroit Mercy Titans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football November 23, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/detroit-mercy/1928-schedule.html The team was led by halfback Lloyd Brazil who was selected by Grantland Rice as the first-team utility back on the 1928 All-America college football team.Rice Picks Pommerening and Brazil On Official All-America Team The Detroit Free Press Grantland Rice Associated Press December 14, 1928 25 https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-lloyd-brazil/197882570/ Newspapers.com During the 1928 season, Brazil set a new NCAA major college record with 997 passing yards.Progression of Player Game-Season-Career Statistical Leaders from the Pre-1937 era of College Football From the book: Stars of an Earlier Autumn Tex Noel/1st-N-Goal ©2007 PressBoxPublications http://www.secsportsfan.com/support-files/pre-1937cfbleaders.pdf In 1929, he led the NCAA major colleges with 1,117 rushing yards and also led in total offense.http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv23/CFHSNv23n1d.pdf Archived copy library.la84.org 22 May 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20151126113433/http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv23/CFHSNv23n1d.pdf 26 November 2015 dead Halfback and team captain Tom Connell also starred for the 1928 Titans, ranking as one of the country's leading scorers with 105 points. The 1928 Detroit team was inducted into the Detroit Mercy Titans Hall of Fame in 2023.1928 Football Team DetroitTitans.com May 19, 2026 https://detroittitans.com/honors/detroit-mercy-titans-hall-of-fame/1928-football-team/145/kiosk The team played its home games at Dinan Field on Six Mile Road in Detroit. Schedule Eastern September 29 w DePaul Dinan Field Detroit, MI 39–0 Aerial Plays and Runs Enable Detroit University To Beat DePaul, 39 to 0 Detroit Free Press September 30, 1928 II-1, II-16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3704097/aerial-plays-and-runs-enable-detroit/ Newspapers.com October 6 w y Tulsa McNulty Park Tulsa, OK 19–14 University of Detroit Defeats Tulsa In Sweltering Heat By 19 to 14 Score: Doraismen Win In Last Period Detroit Free Press October 7, 1928 18, 22 https://freep.newspapers.com/clip/3704056/university_of_detroit_defeats_tulsa_in/ October 13 w Louisville Dinan Field Detroit, MI 46–0 Second Period Onslaught Enables Titans To Crush Louisville, 46 to 0: Attack Shatters Southerners' Line Detroit Free Press W. W. Edgar October 14, 1928 19, 22 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121129392/second-period-onslaught-enables-titans/ Newspapers.com October 20 w Loyola (LA) Dinan Field Detroit, MI 27–0 15,000 Varied attack of University of Detroit brings defeat to Loyola, 27 to 0 Detroit Free Press W. W. Edgar October 21, 1928 39 https://freep.newspapers.com/clip/3703960/varied_attack_of_university_of_detroit/ April 12, 2021 Newspapers.com October 27 w y Dayton Dayton, OH 7–0 5,000 Detroit Beats Dayton 7-0 Dayton Daily News Carl Finke October 28, 1928 1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121128797/detroit-beats-dayton-7-0/ Newspapers.com November 3 w Saint Louis Dinan Field Detroit, MI 38–0 University of Detroit Starts Late But Beats St. Louis Eleven, 38 to 0 Detroit Free Press W. W. Edgar November 4, 1928 19 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121130424/university-of-detroit-starts-late-but/ Newspapers.com November 10 w Michigan State Dinan Field Detroit, MI 39–0 November 17 w y Fordham Polo Grounds New York, NY 7–0 5,000 Fordham Flivvers To Detroit, 19-0 New York Daily News Noel Busch November 18, 1928 74 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121129777/fordham-flivvers-to-detroit-19-0/ Newspapers.com December 1 w Georgetown Dinan Field Detroit, MI 33–13 30,000 U. of D. Defeats Georgetown in Season Finale, 33 to 13: Third Period Rush by Titans Crushes Hilltopper Eleven Detroit Free Press W. W. Edgar December 2, 1928 18 https://freep.newspapers.com/clip/3703815/u_of_d_defeats_georgetown_in_seasons/ Season summary DePaul On September 29, the Titans opened their season by defeating DePaul, 39–0, at Dinan Field in Detroit. It was the first meeting between the Detroit and DePaul football programs. The Titans scored two touchdowns in the first quarter beginning with a 33-yard touchdown run by Lloyd Brazil. They added one touchdown in the second and three in the fourth. On the final drive, substitute guard Chuck Masacek intercepted a pass and returned it 65 yards for the final points. At Tulsa On October 6, the Titans defeated Tulsa, 19–14, in 90 degree heat with high humidity in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Golden Hurricane, which went on to win the Missouri Valley Conference championship, took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. The Titans scored their first touchdown on a double pass play, as fullback Ed Maloney threw the ball across the line of scrimmage to end Nate Goodnow who then shot the ball back across the field to a wide open halfback Lloyd Brazil who ran for a long touchdown. The kick for extra point was blocked and Tulsa led, 7-6. A fumble by Maloney set up a second Tulsa touchdown on a run by Chet Benefiel, and the Golden Hurricane held onto a 14-13 lead going into the fourth quarter. Detroit center Merril Lardner lept high in the air to intercept a Tulsa pass to set up the game-winning drive. Halfback and captain Tom Connell scored the winning touchdown on a six-yard run. Louisville On October 13, the Titans defeated Louisville, 46–0, at Dinan Field in Detroit. The Titans starters played only in the second quarter and tallied four touchdowns in that span. The Titans reserves played most of the game. Louisville was limited to three first downs in the game, compared to 23 for the Titans. Halfback Tom Connell scored two touchdowns and kicked three extra points. Quarterback Les Vachon also scored two touchdowns. Lloyd Brazil ran for a touchdown and threw for another. Fullback Jerry White also scored a touchdown. Loyola On October 20, the Titans defeated Loyola of New Orleans, 27–0, before a crowd of more than 15,000 at Dinan Field. This was the same Loyola team that played a close game with Notre Dame two weeks earlier. W.W. Edgar of The Detroit Free Press credited the play of tackle Harvey Long with playing "the best game of his meteoric career", repeatedly breaking through the line to stop plays behind the line, and being "a stone wall on defense." At Dayton On October 27, the Titans defeated Dayton, 7–0, in Dayton's homecoming game. Halfback and team captain Tom Connell scored the game's only touchdown in the first quarter. The game was played in drizzling rain on a soggy and slippery field that handicapped the offense of both teams. Aside from the work of Connell, W.W. Edgar of The Detroit Free Press described the game as "a drab affair in which neither team played up to the accepted standard."Touchdown In First Period Enables Titans To Defeat Dayton Team, 7 to 0: Connell Gives Dorais Eleven Single Count Detroit Free Press W. W. Edgar October 28, 1928 19, 21 https://freep.newspapers.com/clip/3703919/touchdown_in_first_period_enables/ Saint Louis On November 3, the Titans defeated Saint Louis, 38–0, at Dinan Field in Detroit. It was the Titans' eighth straight victory over the Billikens dating back to 1920. The Titans tallied three touchdowns in the second quarter, one in the third, and two in the fourth. A brawl broke out between the players in the third quarter in which "several impromptu knockdowns were scored" before the officials restored order. Michigan State On November 10, the Titans defeated Harry Kipke's Michigan State Spartans, 39–0, at Dinan Field in Detroit. Halfbacks Lloyd Brazil and Tom Connell each scored two touchdowns in the game.Three Long Runs Help University of Detroit To Vanquish Michigan State, 39-0: Spartans Helpless Before Dorais Men Detroit Free Press W. W. Edgar November 11, 1928 19 https://freep.newspapers.com/clip/3703682/three_long_runs_help_university_of/ At Fordham On November 17, the Titans defeated Fordham, 19–0, before a crowd of 5,000 at the Polo Grounds in New York City. Tom Connell scored three touchdowns (two in the second quarter and one in the third) and kicked an extra point, accounting for all 19 Detroit points. W. W. Edgar of The Detroit Free Press described the Titans as a "red-jerseyed hurricane" that "whirled Fordham's football machine into a badly twisted mass of ruins."Connell Scores Three Touchdowns, As Detroit Beats Fordham Team, 19-0: Varied Attack of Titan Team Dazzles Enemy (part 1) Detroit Free Press W. W. Edgar November 18, 1928 21 https://freep.newspapers.com/clip/3703769/connell_scores_three_touchdowns_as/Fordham Loses to the University of Detroit Eleven by 19-0 at Polo Grounds The New York Times November 18, 1928 https://www.nytimes.com/1928/11/18/archives/fordham-loses-to-the-university-of-detroit-eleven-by-190-at-polo.html Georgetown On December 1, the Titans defeated Georgetown, 33–13, before a crowd of 30,000, the largest ever at Detroit's Dinan Field. Lou Little's Georgetown team came into the game having compiled an 8–1 record, including victories over Duke, West Virginia, NYU, and Fordham. Detroit's victory over the Hoyas capped an undefeated season. In his final game for the Titans, halfback Tom Connell returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, scored two more touchdowns in the second half, kicked three extra points, and finished the season with 105 points scored. Nathan Goodnow and Ed Maloney also scored touchdowns for the Titans. Detroit supporters carried Connell and Lloyd Brazil off the field in celebration of the victory. Players Arthur Anderson, tackle Eddie Barbour, quarterback John Bossenberger, tackle Lloyd Brazil, left halfback, Flint, Michigan Neil Brown, end Harry Buckman, guard Tommy Burns, halfback Tom Connell, right halfback and captain, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin James Dolance, guard Joe Friske, halfback Nate Goodnow, end Hart, tackle Francis Kenney, guard Kendry, guard Merril Lardner, center Harvey Long, guard/tackle Jay Maley, quarterback Ed Maloney, fullback Joe Marcero Chuck Masacek, guard Arthur Massucci, tackle Sam Merriman, halfback Ray Navin, end Bill O'Halloran, guard Vincent Olshove, end Anthony Petz, center Francis "Benny" Phelan, end Gus Rihlin, tackle/guard Charles Roney, center John Ryan, tackle Billy Storen, reserve halfback Les Vachon, quarterback Jerry White, fullback Herman Young, end Firmin Zettel, fullback/halfback Mullins and Nanry Dropped as Coach Dorais Makes Final Cut In Titan Squad The Detroit Free Press September 20, 1928 17 https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-ud-titans-football/197896016/ Newspapers.com References External links Video of 1928 Detroit Titans team banquet Detroit Category:Detroit Titans football seasons Category:College football national champions Category:College football undefeated seasons Detroit Titans football Detroit Titans football