Clark A. Schrontz was a professional
American football player. In 1902 he won a championship in the
first National Football League (NFL) with the
Pittsburgh Stars. A year later he was a member of the
Franklin Athletic Club football team that was considered the "best in the world". He also won the
1903 World Series of Football, held at
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...
, with the Franklin Athletic Club.
Schrontz then spent the next several seasons with the
Massillon Tigers of the
Ohio League. In 1905 the Tigers promoted him to the position of "field captain". In 1906, he was convinced by
Blondy Wallace, coach of the
Canton Bulldogs
The Canton Bulldogs were a professional American football team, based in Canton, Ohio. They played in the Ohio League from 1903 to 1906 and 1911 to 1919, and the American Professional Football Association (later renamed the National Football Leag ...
to join the Bulldogs. That season Canton played Massillon in a two game home-and-home series to determine the 1906 Ohio League championship. While Canton won the first game of the series, Massillon won the second game (and under rules determined by both team) the championship. Canton was later accused of
throwing the championship in a betting scandal.
Prior to his professional career Clark played three years at
end while attending
Washington and Jefferson College. He had a reputation as being one of the fastest men to get down the field during a
punt. The football team adopted a poodle as their mascot, naming it "Schrontzie" in Clark's honor.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schrontz, Clark
Year of birth missing
Year of death missing
American football ends
Bethany Bison football coaches
Canton Bulldogs (Ohio League) players
Franklin Athletic Club players
Massillon Tigers players
Pittsburgh Stars players
Washington & Jefferson Presidents football players