Time Machine: Moray L. Eby was one of the greats

Editor's note: This is a continuing series of Eastern Iowa sports history 'Time Machine' articles. Mark Dukes worked at The Gazette from 1973 to 1998, the last 14 years as sports editor.

Most college stadiums, arenas and gymnasiums across the country are named after someone. Many names are easily recognizable, but more frequently than not patrons of those structures have little to no idea the background of that person.

Take Moray Leon Eby.

Since 1958, the gymnasium at Coe College has been known as Moray L. Eby Fieldhouse. The facility was constructed in 1929 and for nearly 30 years was known as the Men's Gymnasium.

Who was Moray Eby?

In the eyes of many, he was only one of the greatest football coaches of his era, the early 1900s. After an excellent four-year career playing football at Iowa, followed by a coaching stint there, Eby became the Coe football coach in 1914.

In his first season, he produced what came to be known as the 'Point A Minute' team. The Kohawks scored 294 points in 284 minutes that season. Included were outlandish triumphs over Highland Park of Des Moines, 115-0, and Grinnell College, 85-0.

In an appearance at the local Commercial Club during that first season, Eby talked about his coaching philosophy: 'This fighting proposition has just 'got my goat,'' he said. 'No matter how heavy or well-trained a squad may be, they have got to fight in order to win, and whenever a team loses, but have fought to the last ditch, they can say that they have not lost in vain.'

Eby's teams were 131-77-17 in 29 seasons, including undefeated campaigns in 1920, 1922, 1930 and 1932. The Kohawks won seven Midwest Conference championships under his direction.

Eby didn't shy away from competition, playing the likes of Iowa, Notre Dame, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Purdue during his tenure.

Legendary Notre Dame Coach Knute Rockne once dubbed Eby one of the 10 greatest college football coaches.

A native of Adair, Eby played end and back at Iowa and lettered four years from 1897-1900. The Hawkeyes were 21-8-4 during that span, going 8-0-1 in 1899 (when Eby was captain) and 7-0-1 in 1900. The only blemishes were identical 5-5 ties against the University of Chicago and Northwestern. Iowa posted 12 shutouts over those two campaigns.

Eby once told reporters his greatest thrill as a college player was scoring three touchdowns in the first 15 minutes of a 28-5 Iowa victory over Michigan in 1900.

Eby obtained his law degree from Iowa and figured that would be his life trade. After his assistantship with Iowa football from 1901-1913 — during which time he also had a law practice in Woodbine — Eby arrived in Cedar Rapids fully intent on being a lawyer. But Coe saw otherwise, hiring him as football coach and athletics director in 1914.

Eby served as AD until 1943, one year after his coaching career ended. In the 1950s, he was commissioner of the Iowa Conference.

In November 1958, Eby was elected into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. He died a week after the announcement at age 81. He was to have been formally inducted in December.

Eby also was an early partner in Eby's Sporting Goods, which closed in 2002 after 50 years of operation. During its prime, Eby's was the outfitter for most local high school and college teams and had 10 locations from Omaha to Moline.

Eby Fieldhouse has undergone several renovations and other updates through the years. The latest is a $23 million project currently underway and due to be completed in August 2017. In addition to renovations of Eby Fieldhouse, a new performance area, fitness center and wrestling room will be built. A bridge will connect those facilities across College Drive to the Clark Racquet Center.

Upon completion of the project, the 2,000-seat performance arena will be used by Coe varsity teams. Eby Fieldhouse will be used as a recreational and practice facility.

• Contact Dukes at markdukes0@gmail.com with your thoughts and ideas