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Earl Abell

Tackle

Inducted 1973

Date of Birth

5/29/1892

Birthplace

Portage, WI

School

Colgate University (1912-1915)

Bio

They called him "Tuffy", and Colgate's Earl Abell lived up to the name. The broad-shouldered, tackle was well suited to play the reckless, bruising brand of football in the pioneer years of the game. Ellery Huntington, a teammate on the 1913 team, remembered Abell as being, "remarkably fast. He broke through like a streak to spill the play before it formed. Abell was fast enough to play end." Tuffy was as versatile as he was huge, often handling Colgate kicking and punting chores. He drop-kicked a field goal from the 41-yard line in a 1915 game against Yale. That same season, Abell captained the Colgate team and gained first-team All-America recognition. The Maroon finished with five victories in six games. The 1915 team shut out five opponents and scored 107 points against R.P.I. During Earl's playing career, Colgate had a 21-6-2 record. Abell returned to Colgate as an assistant coach in 1925 and as a head coach in 1928. Abell ended his collegiate career coaching at the University of Virginia the following two seasons.