Ward A. Wescott was an American football player and coach.

Wescott played for the Oconto, Wisconsin town team in 1895 and played a game against the team that would become the Green Bay Packers. Wescott was both a player and trainer, receiving accolades for his abilities to teach the game as well as to play.[1]

Wescott was the second head college football coach for the Carroll College (Wisconsin) Pioneers located in Waukesha, Wisconsin and he held that position for the 1896 season. Preliminary reports predicted a "lively" season.[2]

Wescott's career coaching record at Carroll College was 5 wins, 3 losses, and 2 ties. This ranks him 17th at Carroll College in total wins and 12th at Carroll College in winning percentage.[3] Wescott's players were predicted as promising before the season began.[4]

Controversy was stirred up after a game against Milwaukee East High School on October 17, 1896. Carroll won the game 4-0, but the oppossing team disputed the result.[5] The next season's game was cancelled because Carroll was regularly using "ringers" or players that were brought in to the team from outside the school specifically to win games. [6]

Collaborate on full article...

  1. ^ Before They Were the Packers By Denis J. Gullickson, Carl Hanson
  2. ^ The Milwaukee Journal September 3, 1896
  3. ^ Carroll College/University All-time football results
  4. ^ Chicago Tribune "PREPARING FOR GREAT GAMES AT THE MADISON UNIVERSITY" March 26, 1896
  5. ^ Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel "The Duffel Bag-This Week 100 years ago" October 17, 1996
  6. ^ The Milwaukee Journal "Events on the Gridiron" October 9, 1896