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Which U.S. Presidents Did Not Play Football in College?

 
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A look at the athletic backgrounds of U.S. Presidents.

description: An American flag waving in the wind with a football lying on the ground in front of it.

Football has long been a popular sport in the United States, with college football being a major part of the culture. However, not all U.S. Presidents have been athletes, let alone football players. In this article, we will take a look at which U.S. Presidents did not play football in college.

It's no secret that college football brings in a lot of revenue for universities across the country. "The value of us, President [Michael] Crow and I, is even though we ... revenue from the College Football Playoff, bowl games and the NCAA..." said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott. While some presidents may have been tempted to play for their schools in order to bring in more revenue, not all of them were interested in the sport.

"I've said it many times before: While college football is my ... Pac-12 presidents are high and mighty about academics, and U.S. News..." said former Arizona State University President Michael Crow. Crow was not a football player in college, but he certainly understood the value of the sport for his university.

Some U.S. Presidents, such as Dwight D. Eisenhower, were more interested in other sports. "It's definitely different than coaching football," admitted former PGA Tour player and current golf coach, Jim Maloney. "You're not calling plays and you can't coach them on the course..." Eisenhower was an avid golfer and even had a putting green installed at the White House during his presidency.

Other U.S. Presidents, like Jimmy Carter, were not athletes at all. Carter grew up on a farm and was one of 13 kids in his family. He was one of six brothers to play college basketball, but he did not play football.

There have been a few U.S. Presidents who were football players in college, including Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan. Ford played football at the University of Michigan and even turned down offers to play professionally in order to attend law school. Reagan played football at Eureka College in Illinois and was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.

Another U.S. President who played football in college was Ohio State's Howard "Hopalong" Cassady. "He is in the Ohio State Athletic and College Football halls of fame. ... Armstead has served as a football clock operator at not only the..." Cassady went on to have a successful career in the NFL, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1955.

So, in observance of Presidents' Day (Feb. 20)--not-so-ironically one of the most crowded days on the mountain--here's a lighthearted look at which U.S. Presidents did not play football in college. While it may not have been their sport of choice, they all had other talents and skills that helped shape their presidencies.

To get an idea of the value of such Pac-12 rivalries, CBS Sports found the top 20-rated Pac-12 conference games (not involving USC and/or...). While football may not have been their sport, some U.S. Presidents certainly understood the value of athletics and competition.

In other news, Eastern Washington University's football team will be playing Oklahoma State in their next NIT game. Former Eastern football player Samson Ebukam is also moving on to the Indianapolis Colts.

Finally, Rice University's Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, is a former Rice football player who is featured in this article. Ikenna Enechukwu, another former Rice football player, is also highlighted.

Labels:
u.s. presidentsfootballcollegeathleticsrevenueculturedwight d. eisenhowerjimmy cartergerald fordronald reaganohio statepac-12eastern washington universityrice university

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