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{{Short description|American football player and coach (1893–1969)}}
{{For|those of a similar name|Bob Higgins (disambiguation){{!}}Bob Higgins}}
{{For|those of a similar name|Bob Higgins (disambiguation){{!}}Bob Higgins}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Bob Higgins
| name = Bob Higgins
| image = Bob Higgins.jpg
| image = Bob Higgins.jpg
| caption =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1894|11|24}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1893|11|24}}
| birth_place = [[Corning (city), New York|Corning, New York]]
| birth_place = [[Corning (city), New York|Corning, New York]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1969|6|6|1894|11|24}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1969|6|6|1893|11|24}}
| death_place = [[State College, Pennsylvania]]
| death_place = [[Bellefonte, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| sport = [[American football|Football]]
| current_team =
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1914–1917
| current_title =
| player_team1 = [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]]
| current_record =
| player_years2 = 1919
| player_team2 = [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]]
| player_years3 = 1920–1921
| player_team3 = [[Canton Bulldogs]]
| player_positions = [[End (gridiron football)|End]]
| coach_years1 = 1920
| coach_team1 = [[West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats football|West Virginia Wesleyan]]
| coach_years2 = 1922–1924
| coach_team2 = [[West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats football|West Virginia Wesleyan]]
| coach_years3 = 1925–1927
| coach_team3 = [[Washington University Bears football|Washington University]]
| coach_years4 = 1928–1929
| coach_team4 = [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]] (assistant)
| coach_years5 = 1930–1948
| coach_team5 = [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]]
| overall_record = 123–83–16
| overall_record = 123–83–16
| bowl_record = 1–0–1
| bowl_record = 1–0–1
| tournament_record =
| awards = [[1915 College Football All-America Team|All-American, 1915]]<br>[[1916 College Football All-America Team|All-American, 1916]]<br>[[1919 College Football All-America Team|All-American, 1919]]
| championships =
| championships =
| CFbDWID = 1061
| awards =
* 2× Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1915 College Football All-America Team|1915]], [[1919 College Football All-America Team|1919]])
| player_years = 1914–1916, 1919<br/>1920–1921
| coaching_records =
| player_teams = [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]]<br/>[[Canton Bulldogs]]
| CFBHOF_year = 1954
| player_positions = [[End (American football)|End]]
| CFBHOF_id = 1596
| coach_years = 1920, 1922–1924<br/>1925–1927<br/>1928–1929<br/>1930–1948
| coach_teams = [[West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats football|West Virginia Wesleyan]]<br/>[[Washington University Bears football|Washington University]]<br/>[[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]] (assistant)<br/>[[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]]
| CFBHOF_year = 1954
| CFBHOF_id = 30144
}}
}}
'''Robert A. Higgins''' (November 24, 1894 – June 6, 1969) was an [[American football]] player and coach. He played [[college football]] at [[Pennsylvania State University]], where he was a three-time [[College Football All-America Team|All-America]], and then with professionally with the [[Canton Bulldogs]] in 1920 and 1921. Higgins served as the head football coach at [[West Virginia Wesleyan College]] (1920, 1922–1924), [[Washington University in St. Louis]] (1925–1927), and [[Pennsylvania State University]], compiling a career [[college football]] record of 123–83–16. He was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] as a coach in 1954.
'''Robert A. Higgins''' (November 24, 1893 – June 6, 1969) was an [[American football]] player and coach. He played [[college football]] at [[Pennsylvania State University]], where he was a three-time [[College Football All-America Team|All-America]], and then with professionally with the [[Canton Bulldogs]] in 1920 and 1921. Higgins served as the head football coach at [[West Virginia Wesleyan College]] (1920, 1922–1924), [[Washington University in St. Louis]] (1925–1927), and [[Pennsylvania State University]], compiling a career [[college football]] record of 123–83–16. He was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] as a coach in 1954.


==Playing career==
==Playing career==


===Collegiate===
===Collegiate===
[[File:111-SC-153740 89th Division football team wins championship match from St. Nazaire team, final score 13-0. Parc des Princes, Auteuil, Paris, Seine, France (cropped).jpg|thumb|230px|left|89th Division team, Higgins in front row at left]]
Higgins played at [[Penn State University|Penn State]] from 1914 to 1916, and was named an [[All-America]]n in 1915. After spending [[World War I]] in the service, he returned to captain [[Penn State University|Penn State]], earning All-America honors again in 1919. In a 20–0 victory over [[University of Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh]] that season, Higgins caught a pass from Walter Hess and turned it into a thrilling 92-yard [[touchdown]] and was immortalized in [[Knute Rockne]]'s "Great Football Plays."
Higgins played at [[Penn State University|Penn State]] from 1914 to 1917, and was named an [[All-America]]n in 1915. During [[World War I]], he left Penn State to serve as a U.S. Army officer in France. As part of the occupation force after the Armistice, Higgins played right end for the [[89th Infantry Division (United States)|89th Division]] squad that won the AEF football championship in March 1919.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theworldwar.org/sites/default/files/2022-01/wwi-kansas-history-football.pdf |title=Kansas Football "Over There" |first=Doran L. |last=Cart |date=Autumn 2006 |volume=29 |issue=3 |pages=194–199 |magazine=Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains |access-date=August 7, 2024}}</ref> After being discharged, he returned to captain [[Penn State University|Penn State]], earning All-America honors again in 1919. In a 20–0 victory over [[University of Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh]] that season, Higgins caught a pass from Walter Hess and turned it into a thrilling 92-yard [[touchdown]] and was immortalized in [[Knute Rockne]]'s "Great Football Plays."


===Professional===
===Professional===
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==Coaching career==
==Coaching career==
Higgins coached four seasons at [[West Virginia Wesleyan College|West Virginia Wesleyan]] (1920, 1922–1924), and three seasons at [[Washington University in St. Louis]]. He returned to Penn State in 1928, first as an assistant coach, before becoming [[head coach]] in 1930. He served as head coach there for the next 19 seasons. He led the [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Nittany Lions]] to only the second unbeaten season in the school's history, culminating in a tie versus [[Southern Methodist University]] in the 1948 [[Cotton Bowl Classic]]. It marked only the second time that Penn State had played in a [[bowl game]].
Higgins coached four seasons at [[West Virginia Wesleyan College|West Virginia Wesleyan]] (1920, 1922–1924), and three seasons at [[Washington University in St. Louis]]. He returned to Penn State in 1928, first as an assistant coach, before becoming [[head coach]] in 1930. He served as head coach there for the next 19 seasons. He led the [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Nittany Lions]] to only the second unbeaten season in the school's history, culminating in a tie versus [[Southern Methodist University]] in the [[1948 Cotton Bowl Classic]]. It marked only the second time that Penn State had played in a [[bowl game]].


Ill health forced Higgins' retirement after the 1948 season, but he remained at Penn State as a special assistant in the [[Physical Education]] Department until his retirement in November 1951. His overall coaching record was 123–83–16. He was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1954.
Ill health forced Higgins' retirement after the 1948 season, but he remained at Penn State as a special assistant in the [[Physical Education]] Department until his retirement in November 1951. His overall coaching record was 123–83–16. He was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1954.


==Family==
==Family==
Higgins was a brother of [[Margaret Sanger]], famed campaigner for [[birth control]], [[family planning]] and [[Reform movement|social reform]].<ref name=margaret_sanger_obit>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19660906&id=n8VOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ggEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7379,6408540|title=Margaret Sanger obituary|date=1966-09-06|accessdate=2014-07-27|publisher=''[[Toledo Blade]]''}}</ref> His youngest daughter Nancy married James J Dooley Jr, who was a second team All American Center in 1952 at Penn State. Their son James J Dooley III also played football at Penn State from 1979 to 1981 . Their other son Peter Dooley was on the Cross Country and Track & Field team at Penn State from 1982-84. Bob Higgin's eldest grandson, Robert Lyford, son of Higgins eldest daughter Mary Ann, played basketball at Penn State during the late 1960s.
Higgins was a brother of [[Margaret Sanger]], famed campaigner for [[birth control]], [[family planning]] and [[Reform movement|social reform]].<ref name=margaret_sanger_obit>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19660906&id=n8VOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ggEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7379,6408540|title=Margaret Sanger obituary|date=September 6, 1966|access-date=July 27, 2014|newspaper=[[Toledo Blade]]}}</ref> His youngest daughter, Nancy married, James J. Dooley Jr., who was a second-team All-American center in 1952 at Penn State. Their son, James J. Dooley III, played football at Penn State from 1979 to 1981. Their other son, Peter Dooley, was on the cross country and track and field teams at Penn State from 1982 to 84. Higgin's eldest grandson, Robert Lyford, son of Higgins eldest daughter Mary Ann, played basketball at Penn State during the late 1960s.


His daughter, Virginia ("Ginger"), married [[All-America]]n [[Guard (American football)|guard]] and fellow [[College Football Hall of Fame]] inductee, [[Steve Suhey]].<ref name=ginger_suhey_obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/ginger-suhey-matriarch-of-penn-state-first-family-of-football-dies,942430/|title=Ginger Suhey, Matriarch of Penn State First Family of Football, Dies|date=2011-11-23|accessdate=2014-06-01}}</ref> He is the maternal grandfather of [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]] standouts Paul Suhey and Larry Suhey and former [[Chicago Bears]] [[fullback (American football)|fullback]], [[Matt Suhey]]. More recently, Paul's son Kevin and Matt's son Joe have played for the Nittany Lions. The Higgins-Suhey family has been called the "first family of Penn State football", with 90 years of involvement with the program.<ref name=ginger_suhey_obit></ref>
Higgins' daughter Virginia ("Ginger") married [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] [[Guard (gridiron football)|guard]] and fellow [[College Football Hall of Fame]] inductee [[Steve Suhey]].<ref name=ginger_suhey_obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/ginger-suhey-matriarch-of-penn-state-first-family-of-football-dies,942430/|title=Ginger Suhey, Matriarch of Penn State First Family of Football, Dies|date=November 23, 2011|access-date=June 1, 2014|archive-date=June 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605051610/http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/ginger-suhey-matriarch-of-penn-state-first-family-of-football-dies,942430/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He is the maternal grandfather of [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]] standouts Paul Suhey and Larry Suhey and former [[Chicago Bears]] [[Fullback (gridiron football)|fullback]], [[Matt Suhey]]. More recently, Paul's son, Kevin, and Matt's son, Joe, have played for the Nittany Lions. The Higgins-Suhey family has been called the "first family of Penn State football", with 90 years of involvement with the program.<ref name=ginger_suhey_obit />


==Head coaching record==
==Head coaching record==
{{CFB Yearly Record Start |type = coach |team = |conf = no |bowl = |poll = AP}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = AP }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
|name = [[West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats football|West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats]]
| name = [[West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats football|West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats]]
| conf = Independent
|startyear = 1920
|conf = no
| startyear = 1920
|endyear = single
| endyear = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1920 college football season|1920]]
| name = West Virginia Wesleyan
| overall = 4–4–1
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = West Virginia Wesleyan |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1920|overall =4–4–1}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
|name = [[West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats football|West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats]]
| name = [[West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats football|West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats]]
| conf = Independent
|startyear = 1922
|conf = no
| startyear = 1922
|endyear = 1924
| endyear = 1924
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1922 college football season|1922]]
| name = West Virginia Wesleyan
| overall = 8–2
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1923 college football season|1923]]
| name = West Virginia Wesleyan
| overall = 3–4–1
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1924 college football season|1924]]
| name = [[1924 West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats football team|West Virginia Wesleyan]]
| overall = 9–2
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname = [[1925 Dixie Classic|Dixie Classic]]
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = West Virginia Wesleyan |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1922|overall =8–2}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = West Virginia Wesleyan |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1923|overall =3–4–1}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = West Virginia Wesleyan |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1924|overall = 9–2
|bowloutcome = W|bowlname = [[Dixie Classic (bowl game)|Dixie Classic]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
|name = West Virginia Wesleyan
| name = West Virginia Wesleyan
|overall = 24–12–2
| overall = 24–12–2
|confrecord =
| confrecord =
}}
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
|name = [[Washington University Bears football|Washington University Bears]]
| name = [[Washington University Bears football|Washington University Pikers/Bears]]
| conf = [[Missouri Valley Conference]]
|startyear = 1925
|conf = no
| startyear = 1925
|endyear = 1927
| endyear = 1927
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1925 college football season|1925]]
| name = [[1925 Washington University Pikers football team|Washington University]]
| overall = 2–5–1
| conference = 1–4–1
| confstanding = 9th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1926 college football season|1926]]
| name = [[1926 Washington University Bears football team|Washington University]]
| overall = 1–7
| conference = 0–6
| confstanding = 10th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1927 college football season|1927]]
| name = [[1927 Washington University Bears football team|Washington University]]
| overall = 5–2–2
| conference = 2–2–1
| confstanding = T–5th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Washington University |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1925|overall = 2–5–1}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Washington University |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1926|overall = 1–7}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Washington University |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1927|overall = 5–2–2}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
|name = Washington University
| name = Washington University
|overall = 8–14–3
| overall = 8–14–3
|confrecord =
| confrecord = 3–12–2
}}
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
|name = [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State Nittany Lions]]
| name = [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State Nittany Lions]]
| conf = Independent
|startyear = 1930
|conf = no
| startyear = 1930
|endyear = 1948
| endyear = 1948
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1930 college football season|1930]]
| name = [[1930 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 3–4–2
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1931 college football season|1931]]
| name = [[1931 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 2–8
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1932 college football season|1932]]
| name = [[1932 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 2–5
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1933 college football season|1933]]
| name = [[1933 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 3–3–1
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1934 college football season|1934]]
| name = [[1934 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 4–4
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1935 college football season|1935]]
| name = [[1935 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 4–4
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1936 college football season|1936]]
| name = [[1936 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 3–5
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1937 college football season|1937]]
| name = [[1937 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 5–3
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1938 college football season|1938]]
| name = [[1938 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 3–4–1
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1939 college football season|1939]]
| name = [[1939 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 5–1–2
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1940 college football season|1940]]
| name = [[1940 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 6–1–1
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1941 college football season|1941]]
| name = [[1941 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 7–2
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1942 college football season|1942]]
| name = [[1942 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 6–1–1
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 19
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1943 college football season|1943]]
| name = [[1943 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 5–3–1
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1944 college football season|1944]]
| name = [[1944 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 6–3
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1945 college football season|1945]]
| name = [[1945 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 5–3
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1946 college football season|1946]]
| name = [[1946 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 6–2
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1947 college football season|1947]]
| name = [[1947 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 9–0–1
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname = [[1948 Cotton Bowl Classic|Cotton]]
| bowloutcome = T
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 4
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1948 college football season|1948]]
| name = [[1948 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| overall = 7–1–1
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 18
| ranking2 = no
}}
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1930|overall = 3–4–2}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1931|overall = 2–8}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1932|overall = 2–5}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1933|overall = 3–3–1}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1934|overall = 4–4}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1935|overall = 4–4}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1936|overall = 3–5}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1937|overall = 5–3}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1938|overall = 3–4–1}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1939|overall = 5–1–2}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1940|overall = 6–1–1}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1941|overall = 7–2}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = 19 |ranking2 = no
|year = 1942|overall = 6–1–1}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1943|overall = 5–3–1}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1944|overall = 6–3}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1945|overall = 5–3}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = |ranking2 = no
|year = 1946|overall = 6–2}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = 4 |ranking2 = no
|year = 1947|overall = 9–0–1
|bowloutcome = T|bowlname = [[Cotton Bowl Classic|Cotton]]}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry |name = Penn State |conference = no |ranking = 18 |ranking2 = no
|year = 1948|overall = 7–1–1}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
|name = Penn State
| name = Penn State
|overall = 91–57–11
| overall = 91–57–11
|confrecord =
| confrecord =
}}
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
{{CFB Yearly Record End
|overall = 123–83–16
| overall = 123–83–16
|bcs = no
| bowls = no
|poll =
| poll =
|polltype = Rankings from final [[AP Poll]]
| polltype = Rankings from final [[AP Poll]]
|hiddencols = 5
| legend = no
|legend = no
}}
}}


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* [[List of College Football Hall of Fame inductees (coaches)]]
* [[List of College Football Hall of Fame inductees (coaches)]]
* [[Penn State Nittany Lions football under Bob Higgins]]


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
* {{College Football HoF|1596}}
* {{cfbhof|id=30144|name=Bob Higgins}}
* {{Find a Grave|60335972}}
* {{CFBCR|1061|Bob Higgins}}


{{navboxes|list=
{{Authority control|VIAF=6981982|LCCN=no/96/009091}}
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{{West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats football coach navbox}}
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{{Washington University Bears football coach navbox}}
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{{1915 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1915 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1919 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1919 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}

{{Persondata
| NAME = Higgins, Bob
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Higgins, Robert A.
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American football player
| DATE OF BIRTH = November 24, 1894
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Corning, New York
| DATE OF DEATH = June 6, 1969
| PLACE OF DEATH = State College, Pennsylvania
}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Higgins, Bob}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Higgins, Bob}}
[[Category:1894 births]]
[[Category:1893 births]]
[[Category:1969 deaths]]
[[Category:1969 deaths]]
[[Category:American football ends]]
[[Category:Canton Bulldogs players]]
[[Category:Canton Bulldogs players]]
[[Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football coaches]]
[[Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football coaches]]
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[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:American military personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:People from Steuben County, New York]]
[[Category:People from Corning, New York]]

Latest revision as of 21:07, 7 August 2024

For those of a similar name, see Bob Higgins.

Bob Higgins
Biographical details
Born(1893-11-24)November 24, 1893
Corning, New York, U.S.
DiedJune 6, 1969(1969-06-06) (aged 75)
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Playing career
1914–1917Penn State
1919Penn State
1920–1921Canton Bulldogs
Position(s)End
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1920West Virginia Wesleyan
1922–1924West Virginia Wesleyan
1925–1927Washington University
1928–1929Penn State (assistant)
1930–1948Penn State
Head coaching record
Overall123–83–16
Bowls1–0–1
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1954 (profile)

Robert A. Higgins (November 24, 1893 – June 6, 1969) was an American football player and coach. He played college football at Pennsylvania State University, where he was a three-time All-America, and then with professionally with the Canton Bulldogs in 1920 and 1921. Higgins served as the head football coach at West Virginia Wesleyan College (1920, 1922–1924), Washington University in St. Louis (1925–1927), and Pennsylvania State University, compiling a career college football record of 123–83–16. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1954.

Playing career

[edit]

Collegiate

[edit]
89th Division team, Higgins in front row at left

Higgins played at Penn State from 1914 to 1917, and was named an All-American in 1915. During World War I, he left Penn State to serve as a U.S. Army officer in France. As part of the occupation force after the Armistice, Higgins played right end for the 89th Division squad that won the AEF football championship in March 1919.[1] After being discharged, he returned to captain Penn State, earning All-America honors again in 1919. In a 20–0 victory over Pittsburgh that season, Higgins caught a pass from Walter Hess and turned it into a thrilling 92-yard touchdown and was immortalized in Knute Rockne's "Great Football Plays."

Professional

[edit]

In 1920 and 1921, Higgins played end for the Canton Bulldogs of the National Football League.

Coaching career

[edit]

Higgins coached four seasons at West Virginia Wesleyan (1920, 1922–1924), and three seasons at Washington University in St. Louis. He returned to Penn State in 1928, first as an assistant coach, before becoming head coach in 1930. He served as head coach there for the next 19 seasons. He led the Nittany Lions to only the second unbeaten season in the school's history, culminating in a tie versus Southern Methodist University in the 1948 Cotton Bowl Classic. It marked only the second time that Penn State had played in a bowl game.

Ill health forced Higgins' retirement after the 1948 season, but he remained at Penn State as a special assistant in the Physical Education Department until his retirement in November 1951. His overall coaching record was 123–83–16. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.

Family

[edit]

Higgins was a brother of Margaret Sanger, famed campaigner for birth control, family planning and social reform.[2] His youngest daughter, Nancy married, James J. Dooley Jr., who was a second-team All-American center in 1952 at Penn State. Their son, James J. Dooley III, played football at Penn State from 1979 to 1981. Their other son, Peter Dooley, was on the cross country and track and field teams at Penn State from 1982 to 84. Higgin's eldest grandson, Robert Lyford, son of Higgins eldest daughter Mary Ann, played basketball at Penn State during the late 1960s.

Higgins' daughter Virginia ("Ginger") married All-American guard and fellow College Football Hall of Fame inductee Steve Suhey.[3] He is the maternal grandfather of Penn State standouts Paul Suhey and Larry Suhey and former Chicago Bears fullback, Matt Suhey. More recently, Paul's son, Kevin, and Matt's son, Joe, have played for the Nittany Lions. The Higgins-Suhey family has been called the "first family of Penn State football", with 90 years of involvement with the program.[3]

Head coaching record

[edit]
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs AP#
West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats (Independent) (1920)
1920 West Virginia Wesleyan 4–4–1
West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats (Independent) (1922–1924)
1922 West Virginia Wesleyan 8–2
1923 West Virginia Wesleyan 3–4–1
1924 West Virginia Wesleyan 9–2 W Dixie Classic
West Virginia Wesleyan: 24–12–2
Washington University Pikers/Bears (Missouri Valley Conference) (1925–1927)
1925 Washington University 2–5–1 1–4–1 9th
1926 Washington University 1–7 0–6 10th
1927 Washington University 5–2–2 2–2–1 T–5th
Washington University: 8–14–3 3–12–2
Penn State Nittany Lions (Independent) (1930–1948)
1930 Penn State 3–4–2
1931 Penn State 2–8
1932 Penn State 2–5
1933 Penn State 3–3–1
1934 Penn State 4–4
1935 Penn State 4–4
1936 Penn State 3–5
1937 Penn State 5–3
1938 Penn State 3–4–1
1939 Penn State 5–1–2
1940 Penn State 6–1–1
1941 Penn State 7–2
1942 Penn State 6–1–1 19
1943 Penn State 5–3–1
1944 Penn State 6–3
1945 Penn State 5–3
1946 Penn State 6–2
1947 Penn State 9–0–1 T Cotton 4
1948 Penn State 7–1–1 18
Penn State: 91–57–11
Total: 123–83–16

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Cart, Doran L. (Autumn 2006). "Kansas Football "Over There"" (PDF). Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains. Vol. 29, no. 3. pp. 194–199. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  2. ^ "Margaret Sanger obituary". Toledo Blade. September 6, 1966. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Ginger Suhey, Matriarch of Penn State First Family of Football, Dies". November 23, 2011. Archived from the original on June 5, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
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