What Is 1919 Presbyterian Blue Hose football

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1919 Presbyterian Blue Hose football team represented Presbyterian College during the 1919 college football season, finishing with a 4–3 record under head coach Walter A. Johnson, marking one of the early seasons in the program's history.

Key Facts

The 1919 Presbyterian Blue Hose football team had a final record of 4 wins and 3 losses.
Walter A. Johnson was the head coach during the 1919 season, his second year leading the team.
Presbyterian College was located in Clinton, South Carolina, where the team played its home games.
The Blue Hose competed as an independent team, not affiliated with a conference.
The team played a total of 7 games, facing regional opponents across the Southeast.

Overview

The 1919 Presbyterian Blue Hose football season marked the second year under head coach Walter A. Johnson and one of the formative campaigns in the early history of Presbyterian College athletics. Competing as an independent, the team played a modest seven-game schedule, primarily against regional colleges in the Southeastern United States.

This season reflected the evolving nature of college football in the post-World War I era, with smaller institutions like Presbyterian establishing consistent athletic programs. The Blue Hose nickname, derived from the traditional Scottish Presbyterian dress, underscored the school’s religious heritage and identity.

Record: The team finished the 1919 season with a 4–3 win-loss record, showing moderate improvement from previous years.
Coach:Walter A. Johnson served as head coach for his second consecutive season, helping build foundational structure within the program.
Home games: All home contests were played in Clinton, South Carolina, at the college’s on-campus field, which lacked permanent grandstands at the time.
Schedule strength: The Blue Hose faced a mix of local opponents, including Davidson, Furman, and The Citadel, all established regional programs.
Historical context: The 1919 season occurred just after the end of World War I, a time when college sports were resuming normal operations after wartime disruptions.

How It Works

The structure of early 20th-century college football programs like Presbyterian’s involved limited resources, no formal conference affiliation, and reliance on regional matchups. These teams operated with small rosters, minimal equipment, and part-time coaching staffs, often led by faculty or recent graduates.

Independent Status:Presbyterian competed as an independent in 1919, meaning it was not part of a conference and scheduled games individually.
Recruiting: Players were typically local students with little formal recruitment; athletic scholarships were not yet common.
Gameplay: The team played under standard 1919 NCAA football rules, including a 10-ounce ball and six-man defensive lines.
Season Length: The seven-game season was typical for small colleges at the time, limited by travel costs and academic calendars.
Uniforms: The Blue Hose wore blue hose (socks), a nod to Scottish Presbyterian tradition, giving the team its nickname.
Coaching: Head coach Walter A. Johnson also served in academic or administrative roles, a common practice at small colleges.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 1919 Presbyterian Blue Hose compared to other contemporary teams in terms of structure, competition, and resources:

Team	Record (1919)	Conference	Head Coach	Notable Opponents
Presbyterian Blue Hose	4–3	Independent	Walter A. Johnson	Furman, The Citadel
Notre Dame Fighting Irish	9–0	Independent	Knute Rockne	Army, Nebraska
Harvard Crimson	9–0–1	Independent	Bob Fisher	Yale, Penn
Furman Purple Hurricane	4–4–1	Independent	W.C. Riddick	Presbyterian, Clemson
The Citadel Bulldogs	4–4–1	Independent	William P. Long	Presbyterian, VMI

This table highlights the disparity in resources and national prominence. While powerhouses like Notre Dame and Harvard played nationally recognized schedules, Presbyterian focused on regional competition, reflecting its smaller size and budget. Nevertheless, these games helped build school spirit and athletic tradition.

Why It Matters

The 1919 season is a key piece in understanding the development of college football at smaller institutions and the cultural role of athletics in early 20th-century American education. It reflects how postwar optimism fueled the growth of intercollegiate sports even at modestly sized schools.

Foundation building: The 1919 season contributed to the long-term development of Presbyterian’s football program, which continues today in NCAA Division I.
Regional rivalries: Games against Furman and The Citadel laid the groundwork for enduring regional rivalries in Southern college sports.
Historical significance: As one of the earliest documented seasons, it offers insight into early football strategies and team organization.
Identity formation: The use of the Blue Hose nickname reinforced the college’s Scottish Presbyterian roots and distinct identity.
Educational context: Athletics like football helped small colleges attract students and build community in the early 1900s.
Legacy: Presbyterian now competes in the Big South Conference, tracing its lineage back to early seasons like 1919.

Though not a national powerhouse, the 1919 Blue Hose season remains a meaningful chapter in the history of college football, illustrating how small programs contributed to the sport’s widespread popularity.