George W. Woodruff
Pennsylvania's Crew Coach 1892-1895
George Washington Woodruff, while an avid rower and proponent of rowing, was more well-known for his career in football as a player and coach and later a politician. Born February 22, 1864 in Dimmock, PA, Woodruff attended Yale University where he was a stellar athlete on the football and track teams. He was a leading player for football and was part of a team that lost only one game. He was a champion in the weight throw for track and field. Woodruff rowed on the crew and was captain in his senior year. After graduation from Yale in 1889, the exclusive Hill School in Pottstown, PA and Penn Charter School in Pennsylvania hired Woodruff as an instructor of athletics. He also coached football at the Penn Charter School.
Woodruff entered the University of Pennsylvania to pursue a law degree in 1892 and became part of the athletic staff as football and crew coach. He taught the Pennsylvania crews the "Bob Cook stroke." This was a huge change for the Penn crew program as they had learned the stroke used by the Ward Brothers, which was controversial and dramatically different from that of Cook. Woodruff saw some success with the crew, but his work with the football team overshadowed any accomplishments with the crew. He introduced innovative strategies and plays like the "guards-back" concept and the "flying interference" play. As time went on, Woodruff could not devote attention to both teams. In 1896, he left the crew behind and served only as Pennsylvania's football coach. Ellis Ward was rehired as crew coach that year.
Woodruff continued as football coach at Pennsylvania until 1901. During this time, the undefeated 1894, 1895, and 1897 teams were recognized as national champions and he had a record of 124-15-2. This was a big accomplishment considering the teams that Pennsylvania faced. Woodruff continued to coach football after leaving Pennsylvania for the next few years, for one season at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1903 and one season at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in 1905.
After leaving coaching and having finished his law degree in 1895, Woodruff practiced law and became involved in politics. His political posts included Finance Clerk in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Attorney General, and Federal Judge for the territory of Hawaii. He was involved in the early conservation movement that developed under President Theodore Roosevelt. He served as chief law officer of the U.S. Forest Service, under his friend and fellow Eli, Gifford Pinchot, who was acting secretary of the interior at that time. Woodruff was responsible for purchasing much of the land that became Pennsylvania's parks and gamelands.
Woodruff passed away March 23, 1934 in Harrisburg, PA. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1963.
Sources about Woodruff:
George Washington Woodruff, 1864-1934, University of Pennsylvania Archives