Elmer Layden-Fullback

*Elmer Francis Layden
*Born May 4, 1903 in Davenport, Iowa
*He attended Davenport High School (Now Davenport Central High School)
*Considered one of the best backfields in college football history
*Layden was the fastest out of the Four Horsemen and boasted a 10-second speed in the 100-yard dash
*He was married to the former Edith Davis on October 25, 1926.
*Layden was a solid, competent coach, he was subjected to criticism during his later years at Notre Dame. Critics felt that his teams played too conservatively and lacked scoring punch. Consequently it was felt that they lost games they should have won.
*After leaving the NFL, he embarked on a successful business career in Chicago
*Layden died in 1973 at the age of 70.

*Football Career
*Fullback for Notre Dame College and in the Four Horsemen formation
*Named an All-American during his senior year
*Layden culminated his collegiate career in the 1925 Rose Bowl against Stanford, returning two interceptions for touchdowns in Notre Dame's 27-10 victory.
*Layden served as head football coach at Columbia College (Dubuque, Iowa) in 1925-26, where he compiled an 8-5-2 record.
*From 1927 to 1933 he was head coach at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, going 48-16-6 and winning the 1933 season's Festival of Palms Bowl (a precursor to the Orange Bowl) on New Year's Day, 1934.
*In 1934, he became head coach and athletic director at Notre Dame, a few years after his legendary mentor Knute Rockne was killed in a plane crash.
*Layden lead the Irish for seven years and posted an overall 47-13-3 docket.
*His 1935 squad posted one of the greatest wins in school history by rallying to defeat Ohio State, 18-13.
*His 1938 team finished 8-1, losing only to USC in the season finale. This loss cost them a possible consensus national championship, but the Dickinson System named the team national champion.
*Layden left Notre Dame in Feb. 1941 to become the Commissioner of the National Football League (NFL) until 1946
*He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951 as a charter member.
*Layden coached at his alma mater for seven years and compiled a 47-13-3 record.