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John Kilpatrick

End

Inducted 1955

Date of Birth

6/15/1889

Birthplace

New York, NY

School

Yale University (1908-1910)

Bio

The Princeton Tigers were a phenomenal football team in 1910 and heavy favorites to beat Yale when the Bulldogs came to play in the next-to-last game of the season. Princeton was unbeaten, untied, and unscored-upon. With the Tigers leading, 3-0, Yale end John Kilpatrick gathered in a pass from Art Howe at the Princeton 23 and carried home for the winning touchdown, worth five points in those days. The victory gave Yale one of the greatest upsets in its' history and a final 6-2-2 record. However, it was the year before, 1909, that the Bulldogs had their best season. Called the greatest defensive unit in school history, that club won all ten games and held each of its opponents scoreless. Kilpatrick was given consensus All-America recognition for his role in the most impressive campaign, an honor he received in 1910 as well. Kilpatrick was a tough blocker who was a terror on down-field plays. He was also a highly competent receiver who - as he did in the upset of Princeton - frequently managed to come up with the big play. During Kilpatrick's three varsity seasons, Yale rolled to a 23-3-3 record. Later, Kilpatrick served for many years as president of New York City's famed Madison Square Garden.