1923 Rock Island Independents season

National Football League team season March 2026 November 2013 Rock Island Independents 1923 2–3–3 NFL(5–3–3 overall) 12th in NFL Chester Thompson Herb Sies Douglas Park The 1923 Rock Island Independents season was their fourth in the National Football League (NFL). The team failed to improve on their previous output of 4–2–1, winning only two games.1923 Rock Island Independents They finished twelfth in the league. Schedule Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources 1 September 30 Chicago Bears W 3–0 1–0 Douglas Park 3,000+ While Pro Football Reference lists this crowd at 3,500, two local Rock Island sources estimate attendance at 3,000. Recap Art Williams, [Independents Batter Famous Bears, 3 to 0: Sies' Place Kick, Following 15-Yard Penalty on Bruins, Win in Wicked Battle,"] Rock Island Argus, Oct. 1, 1923, p. 12.Pat Patten, "Independents Down Bears, 3–0, by Wonderful Display of Football: Place Kick from 30-Yard Line Decides Contest," Moline Dispatch, Oct. 1, 1923, p. 15."Islanders, 3; Bears, 0," Chicago Tribune, Oct. 1, 1923, p. 27. 2 October 7 Cleveland Indians T 0–0 1–0–1 Douglas Park 3,500 Another estimate has this crowd pegged at "more than 4,000." Recap Art Williams, "Tigers Fight Sies' Team to Scoreless Tie: Independents Threatened by Hard Plunging Ohioans," Rock Island Argus, Oct. 8, 1923, p. 12.Herb Wilson, "Center Smashes Bring 0–0 Score for Cleveland Team: Weakness of Center of Rock Island Line Keeps the Independents on the Defensive Large Share of Game," Davenport Daily Times, Oct. 8, 1923, p. 16.Bob Marion, "Islanders Hold Panhandlers to 0 to 0 Verdict: Cleveland Gains Most Ground But Lacks Punch to Cross Line," Moline Dispatch, Oct. 8, 1923, p. 14. 3 October 14 Rochester Jeffersons W 56–0 2–0–1 Douglas Park 2,500 Recap Art Williams, "Independents Massacre Rochester, 56 to 0: Easterners are Helpless as Islanders Stage a Marathon in Wild Contest of Football," Rock Island Argus, Oct. 15, 1923, p. 14."Independents Swamp Rochester Team: Passes Feature Islanders' Win Over Easterners," Moline Dispatch, Oct. 15, 1923, p. 17. — October 21 Hibbing Miners W 27–7 — Douglas Park ~ 3,000 — Art Williams, "Aerial Route Wins for Independents, 27–7: Hibbing Bores Into Islander Line But Fails in Effort to Check Armstrong's Mastery," Rock Island Argus, Oct. 22, 1923, p. 16. — October 28 at Omaha Olympics W 22–6 — Douglas Park 4,500 — Art Williams, "Independents Down Omaha Olympics, 22–6: Forced to Limit by Stubborn Nebraskans, Skillful Aerial Attack Paves Way to Victory," Rock Island Argus, Oct. 22, 1923, p. 14. 4 November 4 Milwaukee Badgers L 3–14 2–1–1 Douglas Park 2,500 Recap Art Williams, "Milwaukee Humbles Independents, 14 to 3: Line Smashes and Air Attack Bring First Defeat of Season to Green and White Machine," Rock Island Argus, Nov. 5, 1923, p. 14.Pat Patten, "Milwaukee Team Plays Great Game to Defeat Independents 14–3: Islanders Fall Before Badgers in Hard Battle," Moline Dispatch, Nov. 5, 1923, p. 17."Milwaukee Eleven Eliminates Independents in National Pro Grid Race: Badgers Stage Uphill Battle to Trim Locals," Davenport Democrat and Chronicle, Nov. 5, 1923, p. 7. 5 November 11 at Minneapolis Marines T 6–6 2–1–2 Nicollet Park 3,000 Recap Edward G. Walker, "Sies Misses 5 Placekicks but Independents Even with Foe in Closing Half," Davenport Daily Times, Nov. 12, 1923, p. 11.Art Williams, "Marines Hold Independents to a 6–6 Draw: Islanders Pierced Line But Sies' Failure with His Toe Ended Game on Even Terms," Rock Island Argus, Nov. 12, 1923, p. 10. 6 November 18 at Chicago Bears L 3–7 2–2–2 Cubs Park 6,500 Recap 7 November 25 Minneapolis Marines T 6–6 2–2–3 Douglas Park 1,800 Recap Herb Wilson, "Independents Given Great Fright by Gopher Eleven, But Put Over Late Rally: Season Closed with Second 6–6 Tie with Minneapolis," Davenport Daily Times, Nov. 26, 1923, p. 20.Art Williams, "Independents Tie Marines in Last Period: Two Teams Battle to Second 6–6 Score," Rock Island Argus, Nov. 26, 1923, p. 16. — December 2 at Lansing Durant Stars W 7–6 — League Park 2,000+ — "Independents Nose Out Crack Durants, 7–6: Kuehl Grabs a 30-Yard Pass, Giaver Crashes Line to Give Islanders Hard Fought Game," Rock Island Argus, Dec. 3, 1923, p. 14.George S. Alderton, "Durant Stars Lose to Rock Island Eleven, 7–6: Locals Drop First Game in Two Years to Illinois Outfit," Lansing State Journal, Dec. 3, 1923, p. 11."Rock Island Defeats Lansing: Goal After Touchdown Gives Independents 7–6 Win in Hard Game," Moline Dispatch, Dec. 3, 1923, p. 15."Durant Eleven Bows by Point Margin to R.I.: Missed Goal After Touchdowns Spells Defeat for Lansing Team," [Davenport] Quad-City Times, Dec. 3, 1923, p. 5. 8 December 9 at Chicago Bears L 7–29 2–3–3 Cubs Park 6,000 Recap Note: Non-NFL opponents in italics. Standings Roster thumb|center|500px|1923 Rock Island Independents team photo (left to right): top row – Chester Thompson (president of the Rock Island Football Association), Alex Gorgal, Bulger Lowe, Jack Paridon (trainer), Charlie Lungren, Frank DeClerk, J. J. Rimmerman (managing secretary); middle row – Mike Wilson, Duke Slater, Herb Sies (captain / head coach), Lou Kolls, Hank Smith, Joe Burten, Max Kadesky; bottom row – Waddy Kuehl, Bob Phelan, Johnny Armstrong, Bill Giaver. (Note: Fod Cotton and George Thompson not pictured.) References Category:Rock Island Independents seasons Rock Island Independents Rock Island