Gil Dobie

{{Short description|American football player and coach (1878–1948)}}

{{Infobox college coach

| name = Gil Dobie

| image = Gil dobie press photo 1937.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Dobie in 1937

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1878|1|21}}

| birth_place = Hastings, Minnesota, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1948|12|23|1878|1|21}}

| death_place = Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.

| alma_mater =

| player_years1 = 1900–1902

| player_team1 = Minnesota

| player_positions = End, quarterback

| coach_sport1 = Football

| coach_years2 = 1906–1907

| coach_team2 = North Dakota Agricultural

| coach_years3 = 1908–1916

| coach_team3 = Washington

| coach_years4 = 1917–1919

| coach_team4 = Navy

| coach_years5 = 1920–1935

| coach_team5 = Cornell

| coach_years6 = 1936–1938

| coach_team6 = Boston College

| coach_sport7 = Basketball

| coach_years8 = 1906–1908

| coach_team8 = North Dakota Agricultural

| overall_record = 182–45–15 (football)
17–5 (basketball)

| bowl_record =

| tournament_record =

| championships = 3 national (1921–1923)
9 Northwest Conference (1908–1916)
1 PCC (1916)

| awards = Amos Alonzo Stagg Award (1948)

| coaching_records =

| CFBHOF_year = 1951

| CFBHOF_id = 1293

}}

Robert Gilmour Dobie (January 21, 1878 – December 23, 1948) was an American college football player and coach. Over a period of 33 years, he served as the head football coach at North Dakota Agricultural College (now North Dakota State University) (1906–1907), the University of Washington (1908–1916), the United States Naval Academy (1917–1919), Cornell University (1920–1935), and Boston College (1936–1938), compiling a career college football head coaching record of {{winning percentage|182|45|15|record=y}}.

Dobie's Cornell teams of 1921, 1922, and 1923 have been recognized as national champions. Dobie was also the head basketball coach at North Dakota Agricultural for two seasons from 1906 to 1908, tallying a mark of 17–5. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1951. Dobie reached 100 career wins in 108 games, which stood as the NCAA record for the fewest games needed to reach 100 wins from 1921 to 2014.

Early life and playing career

Dobie was born in Hastings, Minnesota. He played football as an end and quarterback at the University of Minnesota.

Coaching career

Dobie achieved his greatest success at the University of Washington in Seattle, where he had a {{nowrap|58–0–3}} {{nowrap|record as a head coach.}} During his tenure, Washington had a forty-game winning streak, which is the second longest in NCAA Division I-A/FBS history. His coaching career at Washington also comprised virtually all of Washington's 64-game unbeaten streak — still a college football record.

Dobie then became the 16th head coach for the United States Naval Academy Midshipmen and held that position for three seasons, from 1917 to 1919. His coaching record at the Navy was {{nowrap|18–3.}} This ranks him 14th at the Navy in total wins and first at Navy in winning percentage (.857), as of the end of the 2007 season.[http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/independents/navy/coaching_records.php Navy Midshipmen football coaching records] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214091548/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/independents/navy/coaching_records.php |date=December 14, 2013 }}

After coaching at Navy, Dobie won three national championships with Cornell, in 1921, 1922, and 1923 with Eddie Kaw and George Pfann.{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=afltuC4Mm0QC&pg=PA99 | title=Paper Tiger: An Old Sportswriter's Reminiscences of People, Newspapers, War, and Work| isbn=978-0803259614| last1=Woodward| first1=Stanley| date=April 2007| publisher=U of Nebraska Press}} After his first season, he signed a five-year contract. During his first championship season at Cornell, he collected his 100th career win, doing so in 108 games—an NCAA record that stood until 2014, when Lance Leipold reached the mark in his 106th game at Division III Wisconsin–Whitewater.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/11723353/lance-leipold-wisconsin-whitewater-warhawks-becomes-fastest-coach-100-wins-ncaa-history |title=Lance Leipold fastest to 100 wins |work=ESPN.com |date=October 18, 2014 |access-date=October 19, 2014}} Dobie remains the fastest coach to 100 wins in major-college history. His career coaching record was 182 wins, 45 losses, and 15 ties, a .780 percentage. Of the 33 years he coached, he had 14 undefeated seasons.

At Boston College at least, the best play of the Dobie system was a smash-through tackle.{{Cite web|url=http://newspapers.bc.edu/cgi-bin/bostonsh?a=d&d=bcheights19360501.2.24|title = The Heights, Volume XVI, Number 29 — 1 May 1936 — Boston College Newspapers}} Dobie was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951 as a charter member.

Dobie is buried at Lake View Cemetery in Ithaca, New York.

Head coaching record

=Football=

file:Gil dobie and eddie kaw 1921.jpg

{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = North Dakota Agricultural Aggies

| conf = Independent

| startyear = 1906

| endyear = 1907

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1906

| name = North Dakota Agricultural

| overall = 5–0

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1907

| name = North Dakota Agricultural

| overall = 3–0

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = North Dakota Agricultural

| overall = 8–0

| confrecord =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Washington

| conf = Northwest Conference

| startyear = 1908

| endyear = 1915

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1908

| name = Washington

| overall = 6–0–1

| conference = 3–0–1

| confstanding = 1st{{cite news |title=Review of Northwest Intercollegiate Football |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98544825/the-evening-statesman/ |newspaper=The Evening Statesman |location=Walla Walla, Washington |date=November 27, 1908 |page=4 |access-date=March 27, 2022}}

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1909

| name = Washington

| overall = 7–0

| conference = 4–0

| confstanding = T–1st{{cite news |title=Ranking of College Teams in Northwest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oregon-daily-journal/160379170/ |newspaper=The Oregon Daily Journal |location=Portland, Oregon |date=November 28, 1909 |page=6.4}}

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1910

| name = Washington

| overall = 6–0

| conference = 4–0

| confstanding = 1st{{cite news |title=Ranking of the Teams — Colleges |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-1910-northwest-conf/160782693/ |newspaper=The Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |date=November 27, 1910 |page=S2}}

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1911

| name = Washington

| overall = 7–0

| conference = 4–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1912

| name = Washington

| overall = 6–0

| conference = 4–0

| confstanding = 1st{{cite news |date=December 2, 1912 |title=Idaho Second in N.W. Conference — Final Standings |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-1912-northwest-conf/160209216/ |work=The Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |access-date=December 3, 2024 |page=11 |quote=...ranking next to the five-time champions, the University of Washington.}}

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1913

| name = Washington

| overall = 7–0

| conference = 4–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1914

| name = Washington

| overall = 6–0–1

| conference = 3–0–1

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1915

| name = Washington

| overall = 7–0

| conference = 1–0

| confstanding = T–1st{{cite news |last=Fawcett |first=Roscoe |title=Oregon's Team Is Best Since 1910 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oregonian/160723404/ |newspaper=The Morning Oregonian |location=Portland, Oregon |date=November 22, 1915 |page=12 |access-date=December 11, 2024}}{{cite news |last=Varnell |first=George M. |date=November 20, 1915 |page=14 |title=Most Any Team Can Be Figured Winner — Northwest Conference Champion Must Remain in Doubt |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/spokane-chronicle-1915-northwest-confere/160241942/ |work=Spokane Chronicle |quote=Selecting a championship football team in the northwest this season, in view of the fact that the two undefeated teams, Washington State college and the University of Washington, do not meet on the gridiron, will be some job in itself. Which of the two teams really is deserving of the honor probably always will remain a question.}}

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Washington

| conf = Northwest Conference / Pacific Coast Conference

| startyear = 1916

| endyear = single

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1916

| name = Washington

| overall = 6–0–1

| conference = 2–0–1 / 3–0–1

| confstanding = 1st{{cite news |last=Varnell |first=George M. |author-link=George M. Varnell |title=Football Titles May Be Settled Next Saturday — Pacific Coast and Northwest Conference Honors Hang in the Balance |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/spokane-chronicle-1916-pacific-coast-con/161708583/ |newspaper=Spokane Chronicle |date=November 8, 1916 |page=14}} / 1st

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Washington

| overall = 58–0–3

| confrecord = 31–0–3

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Navy Midshipmen

| conf = Independent

| startyear = 1917

| endyear = 1919

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1917

| name = Navy

| overall = 7–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1918

| name = Navy

| overall = 4–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1919

| name = Navy

| overall = 7–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Navy

| overall = 18–3

| confrecord =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Cornell Big Red

| conf = Independent

| startyear = 1920

| endyear = 1935

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1920

| name = Cornell

| overall = 6–2

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 1921

| name = Cornell

| overall = 8–0

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 1922

| name = Cornell

| overall = 8–0

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 1923

| name = Cornell

| overall = 8–0

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1924

| name = Cornell

| overall = 4–4

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1925

| name = Cornell

| overall = 6–2

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1926

| name = Cornell

| overall = 6–1–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1927

| name = Cornell

| overall = 3–3–2

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1928

| name = Cornell

| overall = 3–3–2

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1929

| name = Cornell

| overall = 6–2

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1930

| name = Cornell

| overall = 6–2

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1931

| name = Cornell

| overall = 7–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1932

| name = Cornell

| overall = 5–2–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1933

| name = Cornell

| overall = 4–3

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1934

| name = Cornell

| overall = 2–5

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1935

| name = Cornell

| overall = 0–6–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Cornell

| overall = 82–36–7

| confrecord =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Boston College Eagles

| conf = Independent

| startyear = 1936

| endyear = 1938

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1936

| name = Boston College

| overall = 6–1–2

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1937

| name = Boston College

| overall = 4–4–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1938

| name = Boston College

| overall = 6–1–2

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Boston College

| overall = 16–6–5

| confrecord =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record End

| overall = 182–45–15

| bowls = no

| poll = no

| polltype =

}}

References

{{Reflist |refs=

{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/spokane-chronicle-december-23-1948-gil/160700787/ |work=Spokane Chronicle |place=Hartford, Connecticut |publication-place=Spokane |agency=Associated Press |title=Dobie, ex-coach at Washington, is dead at 70 |date=December 24, 1948 |page=8}}

{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-gil-dobie-famed-gr/160700962/ |work=Pittsburgh Press |place=Hartford, Connecticut |publication-place=Pittsburgh |agency=United Press |title=Gil Dobie, Famed Grid Coach, Dies |date=December 24, 1948 |page=10}}

{{cite magazine |last=Welch |first=Robert S. |date=Fall 1987 |volume=1 |number=3 |pages=38–45 |title=The Loser Who Won — The Story of the Legendary Gil Dobie |url=https://www.washingtonhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1987-v1-n3-final.pdf |magazine=Columbia |publisher=Washington State Historical Society}}

{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=Derek |title=Dobie, Gilmore (d. 1948) |url=http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3693 |date=March 8, 2002 |website=HistoryLink}}

{{cite news |last=Borland |first=Lynn |date=November 20, 2010 |title=Legendary coach Gil Dobie's only loss at Washington: his legacy |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/uw-huskies/legendary-coach-gil-dobies-only-loss-at-washington-his-legacy/ |work=The Seattle Times |url-access=subscription |access-date=December 8, 2024 |quote=}}

{{cite news |last=Caple |first=Christian |date=April 15, 2020 |title=The curious case of Gil Dobie: Why Washington got rid of a coach who went 59-0-3 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1748501/2020/04/15/gil-dobie-washington-football-coach-history-of-dismissal/ |work=The Athletic |url-access=subscription |access-date=December 10, 2024 |archive-url= |archive-date= |quote=}}

}}