Kirk Newell was born on November 4, 1890 in Dadeville, Alabama to James Wesley Newell and Mary Ella Wise.
Auburn University
Newell was a prominent member of Mike Donahue's football teams which over his four years from 1910 to 1913, accumulating a win–loss–tie record of 24–4–2 (.833) and outscored opponents 639 to 111. He was a member of an All-time Auburn Tigers football team selected in 1935, put at quarterback,[2] as well as on coach Donahue's all-time Auburn team.[3] At Auburn, he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha. He was nominated though not selected for an Associated Press All-Time Southeast 1869-1919 era team.[4]
1913
He was captain of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) champion 1913 team. which has been selected as a national champion by various selectors retroactively. Newell gained 1,707 yards that year, 46% of the team's entire offensive output;[5] and 5,800 yards rushing, 350 yards receiving, and 1,200 yards on punt returns for his career.[6] One writer claims "Auburn had a lot of great football teams, but there may not have been one greater than the 1913-1914 team."[7]
1920
Newell later coached on the Auburn football team upon graduation, and for a short time in the 1920s.
First World War
Newell received the Distinguished Service Award for his service in the First World War.[1] According to David Housel, while in France Newell laid on top of a hand grenade set to explode on a group of people he knew, taking the brunt of the explosion himself. Newell was severely wounded after the act of selflessness.[8] 36 pieces of scrap iron were removed from his body.[9]
He also played football during the war, as the quarterback on the Camp Gordon team in 1917.
^. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014.
^"Mike Donahue Names All-Time Auburn Football Team". The Tuscaloosa News. January 10, 1933.
^"U-T Greats On All-Time Southeast Team". Kingsport Post. July 31, 1969.
^Henderson, Jeremy (August 21, 2013). "Football rankings guru Richard Billingsley says Auburn should claim century-old crown: 'My national championship for Auburn in 1913 is a very valid national championship'".
^Kelly Kazek (2011). Hidden History of Auburn. The History Press. pp. 58–61.
^"Was Auburn's 1913 Billingsley National Championship team the school's best squad ever?".
^Dick Jemison (October 23, 1918). "Kirke Newell Throws Self On Exploding Hand Grenade". Atlanta Constitution. p. 14. Retrieved September 15, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame profile
February 16, 2023
kirk, newell, james, kirk, runt, newell, november, 1890, january, 1967, american, football, baseball, player, auburn, tigers, auburn, university, lettered, four, years, both, well, once, each, basketball, track, soccer, inducted, into, alabama, sports, hall, f. James Kirk Runt Newell November 4 1890 January 15 1967 was an American football and baseball player for the Auburn Tigers of Auburn University He lettered four years in both as well as once in each of basketball track and soccer He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 1 Kirk NewellNewell cropped from 1913 team pictureAuburn TigersPositionHalfback QuarterbackPersonal informationBorn 1890 11 04 November 4 1890Dadeville Alabama USDied January 15 1967 1967 01 15 aged 76 Birmingham Alabama USWeight150 lb 68 kg Career historyCollegeAuburn 1910 1913 Career highlights and awardsSIAA championship 1910 1913 All Southern 1912 1913 Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Contents 1 Early years 2 Auburn University 2 1 1913 2 2 1920 3 First World War 4 References 5 External linksEarly years EditKirk Newell was born on November 4 1890 in Dadeville Alabama to James Wesley Newell and Mary Ella Wise Auburn University EditNewell was a prominent member of Mike Donahue s football teams which over his four years from 1910 to 1913 accumulating a win loss tie record of 24 4 2 833 and outscored opponents 639 to 111 He was a member of an All time Auburn Tigers football team selected in 1935 put at quarterback 2 as well as on coach Donahue s all time Auburn team 3 At Auburn he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha He was nominated though not selected for an Associated Press All Time Southeast 1869 1919 era team 4 1913 Edit He was captain of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association SIAA champion 1913 team which has been selected as a national champion by various selectors retroactively Newell gained 1 707 yards that year 46 of the team s entire offensive output 5 and 5 800 yards rushing 350 yards receiving and 1 200 yards on punt returns for his career 6 One writer claims Auburn had a lot of great football teams but there may not have been one greater than the 1913 1914 team 7 1920 Edit Newell later coached on the Auburn football team upon graduation and for a short time in the 1920s First World War EditNewell received the Distinguished Service Award for his service in the First World War 1 According to David Housel while in France Newell laid on top of a hand grenade set to explode on a group of people he knew taking the brunt of the explosion himself Newell was severely wounded after the act of selflessness 8 36 pieces of scrap iron were removed from his body 9 He also played football during the war as the quarterback on the Camp Gordon team in 1917 References Edit a b ASHOF Profile Tulane University Football Program The Greenie Auburn vs Tulane Archived from the original on December 23 2014 Mike Donahue Names All Time Auburn Football Team The Tuscaloosa News January 10 1933 U T Greats On All Time Southeast Team Kingsport Post July 31 1969 Henderson Jeremy August 21 2013 Football rankings guru Richard Billingsley says Auburn should claim century old crown My national championship for Auburn in 1913 is a very valid national championship Kelly Kazek 2011 Hidden History of Auburn The History Press pp 58 61 Ethan Brady Auburn s 1913 Undefeated Team PDF Was Auburn s 1913 Billingsley National Championship team the school s best squad ever Dick Jemison October 23 1918 Kirke Newell Throws Self On Exploding Hand Grenade Atlanta Constitution p 14 Retrieved September 15 2015 via Newspapers com External links EditAlabama Sports Hall of Fame profile Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kirk Newell amp oldid 1095198051, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
