Dennis Mahan Michie (2005) - Hall of Fame

Dennis Mahan Michie

Induction:
2005
Class:
1893

Considered the "Father of Army Football," Dennis Michie served as team captain and head coach of the Black Knights' first football team in 1890. Michie convinced a group of Navy students to issue a "challenge" to West Point officials for a football game, and he later persuaded Academy leadership to accept the challenge, laying the foundation for what has become one of the nation's classic grid rivalries.

Michie served as team captain in 1891 when the Black Knights opened the season with the program's initial victory, a 10-6 verdict over Fordham, and later avenged their 1890 loss to Navy with a 32-16 trouncing of the Midshipmen.

Upon graduation, Michie remained at the Academy, directing Army to a 3-1-1 record as head football coach in the fall of 1892. Michie, who had reached the rank of captain, was killed in action on San Juan Hill in 1898 during the Spanish-American War.