Biff Jones

Biff Jones
Jones from 1941 Cornhusker
Biographical details
Born(1895-10-08)October 8, 1895
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedFebruary 12, 1980(1980-02-12) (aged 84)
Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S.
Playing career
1915–1917Army
Position(s)Tackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1923–1925Army (Line)
1926–1929Army
1932–1934LSU
1935–1936Oklahoma
1937–1941Nebraska
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1931–1932Army (Asst. AD)
1935–1936Oklahoma
1937–1942Nebraska
1942–1947Army
Head coaching record
Overall87–33–15
Bowls0–1
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 SoCon (1932)
2 Big Six (1937, 1940)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1954 (profile)

Lawrence McCeney "Biff" Jones (October 8, 1895 – February 12, 1980) was an American college football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as a head coach at the United States Military Academy, Louisiana State University (LSU), the University of Oklahoma, and the University of Nebraska, compiling a career coaching record of 87–33–15. Jones was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1954.

Early life

Jones grew up in Washington, D.C. and attended Central High School.[1] He played tackle and guard at the U. S. Military Academy at West Point from 1914 to 1916. He was slated to be captain of the 1917 Army Cadets football team, but early graduation prevented him from playing that year. Jones served as an artillery lieutenant in France during the rest of World War I and after the war was stationed with 6th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Hoyle, Maryland.[2]

Coaching career

Jones returned to West Point in 1923 as an assistant under head football coach John McEwan.[3] When McEwan left for Oregon after the 1925 season, Jones was promoted to head coach.[4] He served for four years as head coach of the Cadet football team, then was assigned by the Army to United States Army Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He returned to West Point in 1931 as assistant athletic director, with the expectation that he would succeed Philip Bracken Fleming the following year.[5] However, Jones decided to return to coaching and in January 1932 signed a contract with Louisiana State University to coach the LSU Tigers football team. He was allowed to retain his rank in the United States Army and served as a Reserve Officers' Training Corps instructor at the school.[6]

Jones was head coach at LSU for three seasons, and led the team to a Southern Conference Championship in 1932.[7] He resigned after the 1934 season after a heated exchange with noted LSU supporter, Louisiana senator Huey P. Long.[8] In the last game of the season, Long was displeased after the team had lost two straight games and was trailing at halftime to Oregon. Long decided to give a motivational speech to the team at halftime, but was turned away by Jones at the locker room door.[9] The ensuing argument ended with Jones declaring to resign, effective at the end of the game.[8] LSU won the game 14–13.

Following his resignation, Jones was a highly-sought coaching candidate.[10] In April 5, 1935, Jones was hired by the University of Oklahoma and the United States Department of War approved his transfer.[11] Jones coached the Oklahoma Sooners during the 1935 and 1936 seasons and taught classes in military science.[12] On November 18, 1936, the Army transferred Jones to the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, which ended his tenure at Oklahoma.[13]

Rather than leave coaching, Jones chose to retire from the Army. He was released from active duty on February 11, 1937, retiring with the rank of major. This allowed him to accept the head coaching position with the Nebraska Cornhuskers.[14] Jones remained at Nebraska for five years a tallied a 28–14–4 mark.[15] He led Nebraska to its first bowl game, the 1941 Rose Bowl, and also coached the second-ever televised college football game.

Later life

In 1942, Jones left Nebraska to become athletic director at West Point.[16] He retired in 1948 and chose to return to the DC area.[1]

Biff Jones died February 13, 1980, at his home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. His wife had died in 1978.[17]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs AP#
Army Cadets (Independent) (1926–1929)
1926 Army 7–1–1
1927 Army 9–1
1928 Army 8–2
1929 Army 6–4–1
Army: 30–8–2
LSU Tigers (Southern Conference) (1932)
1932 LSU 6–3–1 4–0 T–1st
LSU Tigers (Southeastern Conference) (1933–1934)
1933 LSU 7–0–3 3–0–2 2nd
1934 LSU 7–2–2 4–2 4th
LSU: 20–5–6 11–2–2
Oklahoma Sooners (Big Six Conference) (1935–1936)
1935 Oklahoma 6–3 3–2 2nd
1936 Oklahoma 3–3–3 1–2–2 4th
Oklahoma: 9–6–3 4–4–3
Nebraska Cornhuskers (Big Six Conference) (1937–1941)
1937 Nebraska 6–1–2 3–0–2 1st 11
1938 Nebraska 3–5–1 2–3 T–3rd
1939 Nebraska 7–1–1 4–1 2nd 18
1940 Nebraska 8–2 5–0 1st L Rose 7
1941 Nebraska 4–5 3–2 T–2nd
Nebraska: 28–14–4 17–6–2
Total: 87–33–15
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ a b "Biff Jones Out At West Point". The Spokesman-Review. July 29, 1947. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  2. ^ "Biff Jones Chose Coach of the Army Football Team". The Lewiston Daily Sun. January 12, 1926. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  3. ^ "West Point Names Football Coaches". The New York Times. May 8, 1923.
  4. ^ "Name "Biff" Jones As Army Grid Coach". Berkeley Daily Gazette. December 31, 1925. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  5. ^ "Biff Jones To Be New Athletic Director". The Norwalk Hour. July 9, 1931. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  6. ^ "Sport Slants". Times Daily. January 29, 1932. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  7. ^ "LSU Year-by-Year Records" (PDF). lsusports.net. p. 107. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 19, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Vincent 2008, p. 49.
  9. ^ Vincent 2008, p. 48.
  10. ^ "Two Colleges Want Jones". Rochester Evening Journal. December 19, 1934. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  11. ^ "Oklahoma Gets Capt. Biff Jones". Spokane Daily Chronicle. April 5, 1935. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  12. ^ "Lawrence 'Biff' Jones." National Football Foundation Member Biography. Accessed March 10, 2016.
  13. ^ "New Appointment for Biff Jones". Rochester Journal. November 18, 1936. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  14. ^ "Biff Jones To Take Nebraska Gridiron Post". The Portsmouth Times. February 11, 1937. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  15. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original on May 12, 2009. Retrieved October 25, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ "Jones Returns To West Point". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 24, 1942. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  17. ^ "Lawrence (Biff) Jones, 84 Football Star, Coach Dies." Washington Post. February 13, 1980. Accessed March 10, 2016.

Bibliography

  • Vincent, Herb (2008). LSU Football Vault: The History of the Fighting Tigers. Whitman Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-0794824280.