100 Years of Football

Since their first game in 1923, George School football has been about much more than numbers on a scoreboard.

“The emphasis is education and development of character, not domination of every opponent,” said Stan Sutton, George School’s first football coach. “A boy’s growing and gaining self-confidence becomes the biggest victory.” (Gleeson, 2022)

It has been one hundred years since Coach Stan Sutton led George School in its first football game. In 1923, the newly formed team posted an impressive 4-1 record. They were a very solid defensive team. Offensively, playing the single wing attack, they worked in unison to produce some noteworthy stats. “…the men in brown [school colors were buff and brown at the time] scored 149 points while surrendering 19. They gained 867 yards to the opposition’s 293. They made 43 first downs while allowing only 9.” (Gleeson, 2022)

The team was sustained by a trio of long-term coaches; Stan was followed by Bob Geissinger, who in turn handed the reins to John Gleeson ‘65. Each man spent more than three decades with the program. To date, the team has played 750 games with a record of 292 wins, 429 losses and 29 ties.

Since that first game in 1923, through trials and successes, George School Football has persevered, and has resulted in positive growth and learning experiences for players over the decades. The challenges of competing in a high impact sport, both philosophically and physically remain; so do the long-lasting camaraderie and bonds forged through the experience of George School Football.

Sourced from The Quakerly Gridiron Brothers by John Gleeson and The History of a Quaker Community by Kingdon W. Swayne.