imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:1920 American Professional Football Association season by team to :Category:1920 APFA season by team per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

2025-03-20T23:12:34Z

Moving Category:1920 American Professional Football Association season by team to Category:1920 APFA season by team per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

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{{Short description|National Football League team season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox NFL team season
| team = Rochester Jeffersons
| year = 1920
| record = 6–3–2 overall 0–1 APFA
| league_place = 6th in APFA
| owner = [[Leo Lyons (American football)|Leo Lyons]]<ref>{{Harvnb|Western New York Committee|2007|p=1}}</ref>
| coach = [[Jack Forsyth]]
| stadium = Baseball Park
| playoffs = 
}}

The '''1920 Rochester Jeffersons season''' was the [[Rochester Jeffersons|franchise]]'s inaugural season in the [[National Football League|American Professional Football Association]] (APFA) and thirteenth as an [[American football]] team. The Jeffersons entered 1920 coming off a six-win, two-loss, two-tie (6–2–2) record in the [[New York Pro Football League]] (NYPFL) where it lost the championship game to the [[Buffalo (1920s NFL teams)|Buffalo Prospects]]. Several representatives from another professional football league, the [[Ohio League]], wanted to form a new national league, and thus the APFA was created.

Ownership, roster, and coaching nearly stayed the same for the 1920 season. The team opened the season with a 10–0 victory over the non-APFA All-Buffalo. The only time the Jeffersons played a game against an APFA team was week six, when they lost to the Buffalo All-Americans. The team ended with a 6–3–2 record, which was good enough for them to finish sixth place in the final standings. The sportswriter Bruce Copeland compiled the 1920 [[All-Pro]] list, but no players from the Jeffersonss were on it. As of 2012, no player from the 1920 Rochester Jeffersons has been enshrined in the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].

The Jeffersons' 66–0 defeat of Fort Porter remains the largest regular season [[shutout]] victory in league history, albeit being against a non-league team.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://operations.nfl.com/media/nppjkdp1/2023-record-and-fact-book.pdf|publisher=[[National Football League]]|date=2023|title=2023 NFL Record and Fact Book|page=297}}</ref>

== Offseason ==
The Rochester Jeffersons finished 6–2–1 in their [[1919 Rochester Jeffersons season|1919 season]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://profootballarchives.com/1919rochj.html | title=1919 Rochester Jeffersons | work=The Pro Football Archives | publisher=Maher Sports Media | access-date=October 22, 2012}}</ref> It lost the NYPFL championship to the [[Buffalo All-Americans]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Crippen|2001|p=3}}</ref> After the 1919 season, representatives of four [[Ohio League]] teams—the [[Canton Bulldogs]], the [[Cleveland Tigers (NFL)|Cleveland Tigers]], the [[Dayton Triangles]], and the [[Akron Pros]]—called a meeting on August 20, 1920, to discuss the formation of a new league. At the meeting, they tentatively agreed on a [[salary cap]] and pledged not to sign college players or players already under contract with other teams. They also agreed on a name for the circuit: the American Professional Football Conference.<ref>{{Harvnb|PFRA Research|1980|pp=3–4}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Siwoff|Zimmber|Marini|2010|pp=352–353}}</ref> They then invited other professional teams to a second meeting on September 17.

At that meeting, held at Bulldogs owner [[Ralph Hay]]'s [[Hupmobile]] showroom in Canton, representatives of the [[Rock Island Independents]], the [[Muncie Flyers]], the [[Decatur Staleys]], the [[Racine Cardinals]], the [[Massillon Tigers]], the [[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]], and the [[Hammond Pros]] agreed to join the league. Representatives of the All-Americans and [[Rochester Jeffersons]] could not attend the meeting, but sent letters to Hay asking to be included in the league.<ref name="nflbday4">{{Harvnb|PFRA Research|1980|p=4}}</ref> Team representatives changed the league's name slightly to the American Professional Football Association and elected officers, installing Jim Thorpe as president.<ref name="nflbday4" /><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1920/09/19/113313269.pdf | title=Thorpe Made President | newspaper=The New York Times| date=September 19, 1920 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f8MWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OiEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3568,5105560&dq=gridders&hl=en | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711044518/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f8MWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OiEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3568,5105560&dq=gridders&hl=en | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 11, 2012 | title=Organize Pro Gridders; Choose Thorpe, Prexy | newspaper=[[The Milwaukee Journal]] | date=September 19, 1920 | page=24 }}</ref> Under the new league structure, teams created their schedules dynamically as the season progressed, so there were no minimum or maximum number of games needed to be played.<ref>{{Harvnb|Peterson|1997|p=74}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Davis|2005|p=59}}</ref> Also, representatives of each team voted to determine the winner of the APFA trophy.<ref name="ohio">{{Cite news | last=Price | first=Mark | date=April 25, 2011 | url=http://www.ohio.com/news/searching-for-lost-trophy-1.204246 | title=Searching for Lost Trophy | newspaper=[[Akron Beacon-Journal]] | access-date=June 23, 2012}}</ref>

==Regular season==

Scheduling for the Jeffersons was extremely ad hoc. Little over two weeks before the start of the 1920 season, team manager [[Leo Lyons|Leo V. Lyons]] was still putting out feelers for a "good heavyweight opponent" for the home opener.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-rochester-jeffersons-se/165042821/ "Football,"] ''Buffalo News,'' Sept. 15, 1920, p. 22.</ref> Gene Dooley and his "All-Buffalo" squad met the call but were not heavy enough to go toe-to-toe, falling 10–0 to the Jeffs on a rainy Sunday afternoon in Rochester's Baseball Park.<ref name=Heave>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-jeffs-to-heave-for-all/165043125/ "Jeffs to Heave for All-Buffalo Team,"] ''Buffalo News,'' Oct. 4, 1920, p. 19.</ref>

The Rochester Jeffersons were essentially a regional team, playing local opponents, with 10 of their 11 games in Rochester. The Red Eleven's solitary road game was played in [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] — a little over 70 miles away. The Jeffs played opponents solely from upstate New York, including grid squads from Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, [[Tonawanda, New York|Tonawanda]], and [[Utica, New York|Utica]] — the last-mentioned being the furthest distance away from Rochester, about 135 miles.

Following the Jeffs' second game of the season, a frolicking 66–0 smash up of a lesser opponent, four Rochester fans approached head coach [[Jack Forsyth]] and asked permission to organize a Jeffs rooters' club.<ref name=Rooters>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-football-fans-for/164963555/ "Football Fans Form Jeff Rooters' Club: Big Red Eleven Will Take on Utica Kaysees,"] ''Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,'' Oct. 14, 1920, p. 30.</ref> Forsyth approved the plan, leaving the details to be worked out by the interested fans themselves, while agreeing to serve as treasurer.<ref name=Rooters />

== Schedule ==

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Rochester Jeffersons|year=1920|border=2}}"| Game
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Rochester Jeffersons|year=1920|border=2}}"| Date
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Rochester Jeffersons|year=1920|border=2}}"| Opponent
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Rochester Jeffersons|year=1920|border=2}}"| Result
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Rochester Jeffersons|year=1920|border=2}}"| Record
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Rochester Jeffersons|year=1920|border=2}}"| Venue
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Rochester Jeffersons|year=1920|border=2}}"| Attendance
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Rochester Jeffersons|year=1920|border=2}}"| Recap
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Rochester Jeffersons|year=1920|border=2}}"| Sources
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 1
| October 3
| ''[[All-Buffalo]]''
| '''W''' 10–0
| 1–0
| [[Bay Street Ball Grounds|Rochester Baseball Park]]
| 2,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192010030rch.htm Recap]
| <ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-jeffs-too-much-fo/165037663/ "Jeffs Too Much for Windy City Football Team: Big Red Eleven Gets Off to 10–0 Victory,"] ''Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,'' Oct. 4, 1920, p. 22.</ref><ref name=Heave />
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 2
| October 10
| ''[[Fort Porter]]''
| '''W''' 66–0
| 2–0
| Rochester Baseball Park
|
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192010100rch.htm Recap]
| <ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-jeffersons-trounc/165038096/ "Jeffersons Trounce Fort Porter Eleven: Service Team Badly Drubbed by Lyons's Outfit, 66–0,"] ''Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,'' Oct. 11, 1920, p. 22.</ref>
|-style="background:#ffc"
! 3
| October 17
| ''[[Utica Knights of Columbus]]''
| '''T''' 0–0
| 2–0–1
| Rochester Baseball Park
|
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192010100rch.htm Recap]
| <ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-utica-kaysees-and/165038455/ "Utica Kaysees and Jeffs Play Scoreless Tie: Visitors Give Read Team Great Battle,"] ''Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,'' Oct. 18, 1920, p. 22.</ref>
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 4
| October 24
| ''[[Syracuse Stars (football)|Syracuse Stars]]''
| '''W''' 21–7
| 3–0–1
| Rochester Baseball Park
|
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192010240rch.htm Recap]
| <ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-jeffs-trounce-syr/165038696/ "Jeffs Trounce Syracuse Team: Reds Come Through After Delayed Awakening,"] ''Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,'' Oct. 25, 1920, p. 23.</ref>
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 5
| October 31
| at [[1920 Buffalo All-Americans season|Buffalo All-Americans]]
| '''L''' 6–17
| 3–1–1
| [[Canisius University|Canisius Villa]]
| 7,500
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192010310bff.htm Recap]
| <ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-smoother-teamwork/165038943/ "Smoother Teamwork Enables Crack Buffalo Professional Eleven to Beat Jeffs, 17–6,"] ''Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,'' Nov. 1, 1920, p. 23.</ref>
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 6
| November 7
| ''[[Utica Knights of Columbus]]''
| '''W''' 27–7
| 4–1–1
| Rochester Baseball Park
|
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192011070rch.htm Recap]
| <ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-jeffs-subdue-utic/165039218/ "Jeffs Subdue Utica Kaysees in Hard-Fought Affair, 27–7: Big Red Line Smears Attack of Visitors, Blocked Punts Netting Two Touchdowns,"] ''Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,'' Nov. 8, 1920, p. 21.</ref>
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 7
| November 14
| ''[[Tonawanda Kardex|All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks]]''
| '''L''' 0–6
| 4–2–1
| Rochester Baseball Park
| "largest since opening day"
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192011140rch.htm Recap]
| <ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-all-tonawanda-def/165039539/ "All-Tonawanda Defeats Jeffs in Tight Game: Fumble on Ten Yard Line Decides Encounter,"] ''Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,'' Nov. 15, 1920, p. 21.</ref>
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 8
| November 21
| ''[[Rochester Scalpers]]''
| '''W''' 16–0
| 5–2–1
| Rochester Baseball Park
| "largest of season"
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192011210rch.htm Recap]
| <ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-aerial-attack-giv/165039827/ "Aerial Attack Gives Jeffs Two Touchdowns in Annual Engagement with Scalpers: Fifteenth Warders Fight Hard, But Break Before Onrush of Heavier Opponents,"] ''Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,'' Nov. 22, 1920, p. 22.</ref>
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 9
| [[NFL on Thanksgiving Day|November 25]]
| ''[[All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks]]''
| '''L''' 3–14
| 5–3–1
| Rochester Baseball Park
| 2,500
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192011250rch.htm Recap]
| <ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-all-tonawanda-cou/165040480/ "All-Tonawanda Counts for Second Straight Win Over Jefferson Football Eleven,"] ''Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,'' Nov. 26, 1920, p. 31.</ref>
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 10
| November 28
| ''[[Rochester Scalpers]]''
| '''W''' 7–6
| 6–3–1
| Rochester Baseball Park
| "good-sized crowd"
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192011280ros.htm Recap]
| <ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-early-start-enabl/165040739/ "Early Start Enables Jeffs to Defeat Scalpers in Hot Fight for Gridiron Honors,"] ''Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,'' Nov. 29, 1920, p. 21.</ref>
|-style="background:#ffc"
! 11
| December 5
| at ''[[Rochester Scalpers]]''
| '''T''' 0–0
| 6–3–2
| [[Edgerton Park Arena]]
|
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192012050ros.htm Recap]
| <ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-jeffersons-and-sc/165040973/ "Jeffersons and Scalpers Stage Scoreless Game: Ragged Football Features Closing Encounter,"] ''Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,'' Dec. 6, 1920, p. 21.</ref>
|-style="background:#ffc"
|-
| colspan="10" | '''Note:''' Non-APFA opponents in ''italics.'' Thanksgiving Day: November 25.
|}
<ref>{{Harvnb|Western New York Committee|2007|pp=2–9}}</ref>

==Standings==
[[File:AllAmericans-Jeffersons-ad-201031.jpg|thumb|right|360px|The Jeffs played only one road game, traveling 75 miles to play the Buffalo All-Americans ("Professionals") on the field of Canisius University. About 7,500 fans turned out, generating far and away the biggest gate of the year.]]
{{1920 APFA standings}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|35em}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite journal|last=Crippen |first=Ken |year=2001 |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/23-05-910.pdf |title=1919 Buffalo Prospects |journal=The Coffin Corner |publisher=Professional Football Researchers Association |volume=23 |issue=5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022112115/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/23-05-910.pdf |archive-date=October 22, 2012 }}
* {{Cite book | last=Davis | first=Jeff | title=Papa Bear, The Life and Legacy of George Halas | publisher=McGraw-Hill | year=2005 | isbn=0-07-146054-3 | url=https://archive.org/details/papabear00jeff }}
* {{Cite journal|last=Hogrogian |first=John |year=1984 |title=1920 All-Pros |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/06-01-173.pdf |journal=The Coffin Corner |publisher=Professional Football Researchers Association |volume=6 |issue=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808122855/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/06-01-173.pdf |archive-date=August 8, 2014 }}
* {{Cite book | last=Peterson | first=Robert | year=1997 | title=Pigskin: The Early Years of Pro Football | publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] | isbn=0-19-507607-9 | url=https://archive.org/details/pigskinearlyyear00pete_0 }}
* {{Cite journal|author=PFRA Research |year=1980 |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/02-08-038.pdf |title=Happy Birthday NFL? |journal=The Coffin Corner |publisher=Professional Football Researchers Association |volume=2 |issue=8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817020602/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/02-08-038.pdf |archive-date=August 17, 2011 }}
* {{Cite book | last1=Quirk | first1=James | last2=Fort | first2=Rodney | year=1997 | title=Pay Dirt: The Business of Professional Team Sports | publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] | isbn=9780691015743 | url=https://archive.org/details/paydirtbusinesso00quir }}
* {{Cite book | last1=Siwoff | first1=Seymour | last2=Zimmber | first2=Jon | last3=Marini | first3=Matt | year=2010 | title=The Official NFL Record and Fact Book 2010 | publisher=[[National Football League]] | isbn=978-1-60320-833-8}}
* {{Cite web | author=Western New York Committee | date=January 8, 2007 | url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/WNY/1920_Rochester_Jeffersons.pdf | title=1920 Rochester Jeffersons | publisher=Professional Football Researchers Association | access-date=November 23, 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

== External links ==
* Crippen, Ken (July 27, 2009). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20130217114444/http://www.twobillsdrive.com/buffalo-bills-history/articles/the_rochester_jeffersons_take_the_national_stage_part_1/ The Rochester Jeffersons Take to the National Stage (Part 1)]". Two Bills Drive. Retrieved March 14, 1920.

{{1920 APFA season by team}}
{{Rochester Jeffersons seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1920 Rochester Jeffersons Season}}
[[Category:Rochester Jeffersons seasons]]
[[Category:1920 APFA season by team|Rochester Jeffersons]]
[[Category:1920 in sports in New York (state)|Rochester]]

1920 Rochester Jeffersons season - Revision history

imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:1920 American Professional Football Association season by team to :Category:1920 APFA season by team per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy