Nov. 9, 1912: Carlisle Indian School Beats the West Point Football Team

By Elizabeth Hertzler-McCain

Jim Thorpe kicking a field goal in the November 9, 1912, football game against West Point Academy. Photo from Associated Press, via the New York Times. Source: New York Times Archives

On Nov. 9, 1912, the undefeated Carlisle Indian School football team faced off against the Army football team at the West Point Academy campus in front of a crowd of 3,000 people. Carlsile’s team was captained by two-time Olympic Gold medalist and future NFL Hall of Famer Jim Thorpe, while the Army was led by future president of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

The media, spectators, and the teams themselves could not help but see this game as yet another battle between white Americans and Native Americans, encouraging the use of sport as a proxy for war only 22 years after the infamous Wounded Knee Massacre. 

The New York Times played into this combat-theater element of the game. It began its coverage of the game by stating, “Jim Thorpe and his redoubtable band of Carlisle Indian gridiron stars invaded the plains this afternoon to match their prowess against the moleskin gladiators of Uncle Sam’s Military Academy.” Carlisle’s coach, Pop Warner, also emphasized the violent history between the Army and Native Americans. In a pre-game speech, he reportedly told his athletes to fight back and avenge their people because they were facing Army athletes whose fathers had killed their ancestors and family members. 

The 1912 Carlisle Indian School Football Team and coach Pop Warner. Source: Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Center

Therefore, Carlisle’s 27–6 win over Army reverberated through the U.S. consciousness. The Carlisle athletes gained well-due respect for their athletic performance yet continued to be treated as second-class citizens by the media and general public. The Army’s loss was shocking to white America and challenged some long held racist beliefs about white physical and mental superiority. 

Over one hundred years later, the 1912 Carlisle v. Army game is regarded by some sports fans and scholars as the most important football game ever played.

Story prepared by Zinn Education Project intern Elizabeth Hertzler-McCain.