 Camp in 1910 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 7, 1859 New Britain, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | March 14, 1925 (aged 65) New York City, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1876–1881 | Yale |
| Position(s) | Halfback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1888–1892 | Yale |
| 1892, 1894–1895 | Stanford |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 79–5–3 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 3 national (1888, 1891, 1892) | |
| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 1951 (profile) | |
Walter Chauncey Camp (April 7, 1859 – March 14, 1925) was an American college football player and coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". Among a long list of inventions, he created the sport's line of scrimmage and the system of downs.[1] With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football. He attended Yale College, where he played and coached college football. Camp's Yale teams of 1888, 1891, and 1892 have been recognized as national champions. Camp was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach during 1951.
Camp wrote articles and books on the gridiron and sports in general, annually publishing an "All-American" team. By the time of his death, he had written nearly 30 books and more than 250 magazine articles.
The annual Walter Camp Award is named in his honor, recognizing the best all-around collegiate football player.
- ^ Bishop, LuAnn (November 18, 2013). "11 Historic Tidbits About The Game". Yale News. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2017.