National Football Foundation

When Joseph McKenney graduated from Brighton High School in 1923, he was invited to the Harvard Club by his principal. There he was presented with a $1,000 scholarship and McKenney, who grew up close to Harvard Stadium and was a former Crimson mascot, accepted it without telling his parents. When his mother read about his going to Harvard in the Boston Post, she told him that he must go to a Catholic school or go to work.

McKenney played quarterback and punter for Boston College and was team captain during their undefeated 1926 season. He was the first four-year starting quarterback in Boston College history. He was an assistant coach under D. Leo Daley in 1927 before being promoted to head coach. During McKenney's tenure as head coach, one of Boston College's biggest rivals was Fordham, coached by College Football Hall of Famer and McKenney's coach at Boston College, Frank Cavanaugh. McKenney's tenure at Boston College ended when he resigned to accept the higher paying post of associate director of physical education of Boston Public Schools. His replacement was John McNamara, his classmate and assistant coach.

McKenney also served as a linesman for college football games from 1936-45 and was a member of the Metropolitan District Commission from 1938-48. While with the MDC, he sold the land now occupied by Alumni Stadium to Boston College. When the stadium opened in 1957, McKenney was the master of ceremonies. McKenney has the distinction of being the only person in American college history to serve as captain of his football team, head coach of his football team, elected president of his college's alumni association and receive an honorary degree from the school. He died in 1995 at the age of 90.