Hall of Fame
Position: Quarterback
Years: 1908-1911
Place of Birth: Cleveland, OH
Date of Birth: Sep 06, 1890
Place of Death: Los Angeles, CA
Date of Death: May 27, 1980
Height: 5-9
Weight: 150
High School: Cleveland, OH (East Tech HS)
Bill Sprackling was Brown University's original "Defiant One". A peppery field general, Sprackling frequently chided his teammates over missed assignments and teased opponents with his refusal to don helmet and pads. This, from a man with matinee-idol features and a fragile-appearing 150-pounds over a 5-9 frame. George Trevor, the Ivy League historian, saw him as an "eye-dazzler in the open field, a flashy punt-handler and bulls-eye passer. In addition, he could drop-kick field goals from nearly mid-field under pressure. As a quarterback, he was a marvel at calling plays, picking out soft spots in the defense of an opponent unerringly." His most famous play was a 110-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Brown's 21-8 upset of Carlisle in 1909. Sprackling's finest hour came in 1910 when Brown shut out Yale, 21-0, the Bruins' first victory over the Elis. That day, Sprackling kicked three field goals, completed five passes for 180 yards and a touchdown, gained 36 yards in nine rushes, returned 13 punts for 150 yards and five kickoffs for 90 yards.
