M. S. Bennett

M. S. Bennett

Biographical details
Born	(1881-04-10)April 10, 1881 Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	December 26, 1964(1964-12-26) (aged 83) Bristol Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1900–1903	Penn
Basketball
1900–1904	Penn
Position(s)	End (football)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1914–1921	Haverford
1923–1928	Sewanee
Basketball
1919–1921	Haverford
1924–1926	Sewanee
Baseball
1917–1921	Haverford
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1923–1930	Sewanee
Head coaching record
Overall	39–54–10 (football) 2–29 (baseball)

Michael Smith Bennett (April 10, 1881 – December 26, 1964) was an American college football, college basketball, and college baseball player, coach, athletics administrator, dentist, and politician.

Early life

Bennett was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, near Willow Grove and Fitzwatertown, on April 10, 1881. He was one of the eight children, the fourth son, of Elias Roland Bennett and Catherine Carolan. His father came from a family of Bucks County farmers. Elias served during the Civil War in the 1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment and deserted after the Grand Review to marry Catherine Carolan, the daughter of a blacksmith. His mother Catherine Carolan was born in County Meath, Ireland, and came to the U.S. at age four in 1847 aboard the Patrick Henry. Michael was named for his mother's brother, a blacksmith and horseshoer in Dreshertown, Feltonville and Franklinville, respectively. ^{[1] [2]}

Dentistry, athletics, politics

Bennett graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1905. ^[3] He practiced dentistry most of his life in the Olney neighborhood of Philadelphia.

He married Lucy A. Stumpf and they had two sons: Michael John Bennett, M.D., and George Penniman Bennett, M.D.

He played college football, baseball and basketball for the Penn Quakers. Afterward, he coached football at Mercersburg Academy and Chestnut Hill College. Later, he was named the director of athletics and head football coach at Sewanee: The University of the South. ^{[4] [5]}

Bennett served on the Philadelphia City Council from 1916 to 1917 and was elected in 1917 as a Republican to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He did not seek reelection in 1918. ^[6]

In 1929, he visited the Mexican president to promote American collegiate football. ^[7]

Bennett died on December 26, 1964. ^[8]

Head coaching record

Football

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Haverford (Independent)(1914–1921)
1914	Haverford	3–3–1
1915	Haverford	5–3
1916	Haverford	5–0–3
1917	Haverford	1–5–2
1918	No team—World War I
1919	Haverford	2–4–1
1920	Haverford	1–5–1
1921	Haverford	1–5–1
Haverford:		18–25–9
Sewanee Tigers (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1923)
1923	Sewanee	5–4–1	3–2	9th
Sewanee Tigers (Southern Conference / Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1924)
1924	Sewanee	6–4	3–2 / 2–1	T–6th / T–6th
Sewanee Tigers (Southern Conference)(1925–1928)
1923	Sewanee	4–4–1	1–4	T–16th
1926	Sewanee	2–6	0–5	22nd
1927	Sewanee	2–6	1–4	20th
1928	Sewanee	2–7	0–5	21st
Sewanee:		21–29–1	9–23
Total:		39–54–10

References

1. Michael Smith Bennett, Death Certificate, Pennsylvania, US Death Certificates, 1906-1970, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
2. Carolan, Michael Charles (January 29, 2025). "How My Ancestors Began Their American Dream". Medium. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
3. Maxwell, W. J., ed. (1922). General Alumni Catalogue of the University of Pennsylvania, 1922. University of Pennsylvania. General Alumni Society. p. 713.
4. "Harry Harman May Coach Sewanee Football Eleven". Reading Times. January 23, 1930. p. 20. Retrieved February 18, 2016– via Newspapers.com.
5. "Gridiron Taking Place Bull Ring". Madera Tribune. February 20, 1929.
6. "Michael Smith Bennett". Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
7. "Mexico's President Thanks U.S. Coach". The New York Times . January 22, 1929. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved March 10, 2025.
8. "Dr. M. S. Bennett, 83; Retired Dentist, Coach". Philadelphia Daily News . Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. December 29, 1964. p. 48. Retrieved June 5, 2020– via Newspapers.com .

External links

• M. S. Bennett at Find a Grave