George R. Smith Deweys Football
| George R. Smith Deweys football | |
|---|---|
| First season | 1898; 128 years ago[1] |
| Last season | 1925 |
| Location | Sedalia, Missouri |
| Stadium | On Campus (Name Unknown) (capacity: Unknown) |
| Conference | Missouri Valley Conference for black schools |
| Colors | Purple and White |
| Bowl record | 1–0–0 (1.000) |
| National championships | |
| Claimed | 0 |
| Conference championships | |
| 1 | |
The George R. Smith Deweys football program represented George R. Smith College in college football and competed in NCAA football under various conferences. The Deweys colors were purple and white. George R. Smith College fielded a team from 1898 to 1925 when the college burned down. At least one championship was claimed by the Deweys. In 1903, the Deweys beat the Lincoln Institute Tigers in the championship game of Missouri.[2][3]The team folded in 1925 after a fire destroyed the University thus ending it.
The Dewey's were a part of the Missouri Valley Conference for black schools. This conference included: Lincoln Institute of Jefferson City, Western University of Quindaro, Kansas, and the Kansas Industrial and Educational Institute of Topeka, Kansas, and Langston University of Oklahoma. Other members of the conference included large black high schools such as Lincoln Academy in Kansas City, Missouri, and Sumner High School in Kansas City, Kansas. [4]
The Dewey's lone championship came in 1903 in a 17-0 victory of their rival, The Lincoln University of Jefferson City. (now known as Lincoln University) The game was said by spectators to be, "brutal and controversial." That game is one of the only accounts of George R. Smith Football still known today. There is very little information on the team due to it being a small college in a small town that wasn't very successful and many news papers didn't write on their accomplishment because it was a black college. That is also why many other things about the Deweys such as their Staduim name and former head coaches.
Championships
| Year | Conference | Coach | Overall record | Conference record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | Missouri Valley Conference for black schools |
N/A |
1–0*
*because the record is unknown |
1–0*
*because the record is unknown |
| Total conference/regional championships: | 1 | |||
References
- ^ "Lincoln Institute vs. Sedalia". The Daily Tribune. Jefferson City, Missouri. December 3, 1898. p. 3. Retrieved October 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Minor Games". The St. Louis Republic. St. Louis, Missouri. November 22, 1903. p. 32. Retrieved March 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "George R. Smith College Sedalia, Missouri 1888-1925". Lost Colleges.
- ^ "George R. Smith College". lost-colleges. Retrieved 2026-03-11.