Rochester Jeffersons
A rag-tag group of teenagers formed a football outfit in Rochester, New York after the turn of the 20th century. A 1925 report dates this founding to 1898. The squad played on a field located on Jefferson Avenue and adopted that name for their team. Around 1908 Leo Lyons joined as a player and soon began managing finances. Within two years he promoted the club on a full-time basis. For its first decade the Jeffs faced other amateur and semi-pro teams from upstate New York. They played against the Rochester Scalpers and the Oxfords during those early years. By 1916 they had won the New York State championship title. The team grew stronger between 1914 and 1917 with opponents from Buffalo and Syracuse.
Leo Lyons stood inside a Hupmobile showroom in Canton Ohio in 1920. He became an original member of the newly formed American Professional Football Association there. This meeting is recognized by the NFL as the founding of what would become the National Football League. Two years later the league changed its name to the National Football League. Rochester was one of the few cities to secure a franchise spot at that initial gathering. The city remained more interested in its thriving sandlot football circuit than professional play. Local fans preferred seeing neighborhood boys compete rather than distant professionals. This preference shaped the future struggles of the organization significantly.
At the end of October 1917 Lyons arranged a match against the Canton Bulldogs. Jim Thorpe starred for the visiting squad known as the country's greatest team. Thorpe's players crushed the Jeffersons with a score of 41, 0. The audacity of challenging such a superior team won Lyons and his club notoriety despite the decisive loss. The game provided early fame even though the result was lopsided. It demonstrated the gap between local talent and national stars. The event remains a key moment in the team's history.
The team finished its last four seasons without a single league win from 1922 through 1925. Poor attendance caused financial mismanagement that crippled operations. Fans would rather see local boys play than watch blowouts or losses. By 1922 the on-field product could annihilate local teams but lost to NFL opponents. Without a consistent draw at the gate finances suffered badly. The inability to recruit top talent led to further decline. Leo Lyons dumped virtually all his assets into the team. His house faced foreclosure because of these financial failures. The franchise became a traveling team during 1924 and 1925.
John Barsha played for the team starting in 1920. He was born Abraham Barshofsky and lived from 1898 to 1976. Two-time First Team All Pro Doc Alexander joined the squad from 1921 to 1924. Hal Clark served as a player during the 1920-1925 editions. Elmer Oliphant appeared in the 1920 edition of the team. Bill Kellogg was a member of the 1925 roster. An unsuccessful last-ditch effort tried to lure Red Grange to Rochester. He instead signed with the Chicago Bears. These figures represented the franchise during its professional tenure.
The team suspended operations after the 1925 NFL season ended. It remained technically suspended for 1926 and 1927 before expiring in 1928. Lyons stayed on with the NFL as an unofficial historian after the folding. Rochester never again hosted an NFL franchise of its own. Since 2000 the Buffalo Bills have taken up residence in Pittsford for training camps. The Jeffersons remain a founding member of the National Football League despite their early struggles. Their history offers insight into the challenges of early professional sports.
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Common questions
When was the Rochester Jeffersons football team founded?
A 1925 report dates the founding of the Rochester Jeffersons to 1898. The rag-tag group of teenagers formed a football outfit in Rochester, New York after the turn of the 20th century.
Who managed finances for the Rochester Jeffersons and when did he start?
Leo Lyons joined as a player around 1908 and soon began managing finances. Within two years he promoted the club on a full-time basis.
What happened during the match between the Rochester Jeffersons and Canton Bulldogs in October 1917?
Jim Thorpe starred for the visiting Canton Bulldogs squad which crushed the Jeffersons with a score of 41 to 0. This game provided early fame despite the decisive loss and demonstrated the gap between local talent and national stars.
Why did the Rochester Jeffersons fold their franchise in 1928?
Poor attendance caused financial mismanagement that crippled operations from 1922 through 1925. Leo Lyons dumped virtually all his assets into the team and his house faced foreclosure because of these failures before the franchise expired in 1928.
Which players represented the Rochester Jeffersons during its professional tenure?
John Barsha played starting in 1920 while Two-time First Team All Pro Doc Alexander joined from 1921 to 1924. Hal Clark served as a player during the 1920-1925 editions and Elmer Oliphant appeared in the 1920 edition.