Sam P. McBirney

Sam McBirney
Born	(1877-08-08) 8 August 1877 Chetopa, Kansas, U.S.
Died	20 January 1936(1936-01-20) (aged 58) Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Banker, football coach
Years active	Late 1890s–1936 (banking), 1908–1916 (coaching)
Known for	Coaching Tulsa Golden Hurricane football; co-founding Tulsa's Bank of Commerce

Sam Pendleton McBirney (August 8, 1877 – January 20, 1936) was a notable figure in both banking and American football coaching. He guided the Tulsa Golden Hurricane football squad during the 1908 season and again from 1914 through 1916. His 1916 team achieved an undefeated record, amassing a remarkable total of 566 points while conceding only 40, making it the highest-scoring college football team in the 1916 college football season. McBirney is often hailed as one of the pioneering figures in Oklahoma football history. In addition to his sports career, he co-established Tulsa's Bank of Commerce in 1904 and held the position of vice president until his passing in 1936.

Early years

McBirney was born in Chetopa, Kansas as the fourth child of Reverend Hugh McBirney and Susan Mark McBirney, who were immigrants from County Tipperary, Ireland. Reverend McBirney dedicated three decades to serving a Methodist Episcopal congregation in southern Kansas.

Baseball and football player

Before relocating to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1897 to manage an independent baseball team, McBirney earned recognition as a skilled baseball player throughout southeastern Kansas. His brother, James H. McBirney, also pitched for Tulsa’s team. Both brothers were reportedly brought in as "ringers" to enhance Tulsa’s baseball lineup.

In addition to baseball, McBirney participated actively in American football within Tulsa, playing on a regional semi-professional team described as "rough-and-ready," which competed extensively across the surrounding areas.

Banking career

During the late 1890s, both McBirney brothers worked as bookkeepers at the Tulsa Banking Company. Following a reorganization that introduced outside majority ownership in 1904, Sam and James McBirney partnered with two other investors to establish the Bank of Commerce (which later became the National Bank of Commerce) in Tulsa. Sam initially served as cashier before advancing to vice president, while his elder brother assumed the presidency. The institution expanded to become Tulsa’s largest bank and played a significant role in supporting the city’s development.

1908 season

After Henry Kendall College moved to Tulsa in 1908, McBirney offered his services as a volunteer football coach. That year, the team did not engage in intercollegiate contests but faced primarily local high school teams and one club from Hawaii. They outpaced their opponents by scoring 80 points against 43 but concluded the season with a 2–3 record.

University of New Mexico

In September 1909, McBirney accepted the head coaching position for the University of New Mexico’s football team. However, after six weeks he returned to Tulsa, leaving Hamilton H. Conwell and Hugh J. Collins responsible for coaching the final game against New Mexico A&M.

1910 season

McBirney resumed coaching at Kendall College in 1910, guiding the football team to a 2–1–1 record that season.

Tulsa High School

Following his initial coaching stint in 1908, McBirney returned to his banking career but maintained an enthusiasm for football by taking charge of the Tulsa High School team. His squad achieved an undefeated record in 1913, claimed an unofficial Oklahoma state championship, and secured a commanding 27-6 victory over Henry Kendall College.

1914 and 1915 seasons

In 1914, local business leaders persuaded McBirney to return as head coach at Kendall College, which had approximately 100 students and limited experience with intercollegiate competition. Over three seasons under his leadership, Kendall evolved into a leading football program. The 1914 squad posted a 6-2 record, amassing 261 points while allowing only 48. They played competitively against Oklahoma State (losing narrowly by 13-6) and Oklahoma (26-7).

The following year’s team improved further to a 6-1-1 record, including a tie with Oklahoma State and a close defeat by Oklahoma with a score of 14-13. Against other opponents, they dominated by outscoring them 244-19 overall with decisive victories such as Eastern Oklahoma State (62-0), Northeastern State (55-0), and Southwestern Oklahoma State (45-7). McBirney’s commitment was remembered by his daughter Mary who noted her frequent attendance at games despite challenging weather conditions.

1916 season

By the year 1916, Kendall College's student body had expanded to 400 individuals. McBirney successfully lobbied for the appointment of a dedicated physical education instructor and assistant coach, resulting in the recruitment of Francis Schmidt from Arkansas City High School—who would later be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Under McBirney's leadership as head coach and Schmidt's support as assistant, the 1916 Tulsa football squad completed an impeccable 10-0 season, outpacing their adversaries by a combined score of 566 to 40. This offensive dominance made them the highest scoring college team nationwide that year. Memorable triumphs included overwhelming wins against Missouri-Rolla (117–0), St. Gregory (82–0), Ozarks (81–0), and Haskell Institute (46–0). Standout athletes featured John Young, who attracted attention from University of Michigan’s Fielding H. Yost, and Ivan Grove, who led the nation in scoring with 196 points.

The team’s pioneering short passing strategy and inventive play designs garnered widespread acclaim across the country. A remarkable instance was Grove completing twelve consecutive passes during a single drive. Additionally, they employed the "tower play," where Grove threw a touchdown pass while a teammate perched on another player's shoulders—a maneuver that was prohibited the following season. This tactical approach later influenced coaching innovations at TCU under Dutch Meyer and Sammy Baugh.

A defining moment for Kendall was their 16-0 victory over the undefeated Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, which ended Oklahoma’s 18-game winning streak and marked the first occasion an Oklahoma institution defeated the Sooners. This achievement greatly elevated Tulsa football’s national reputation.

After this triumphant season, McBirney stepped down from coaching to dedicate himself fully to his banking career. He had selected Schmidt as his replacement; however, Schmidt served in World War I before returning to guide Kendall through back-to-back undefeated seasons in 1919 and 1920, eventually advancing to prominent coaching positions at Arkansas, TCU, and Ohio State.

Inspirational director for Oklahoma Sooners

Upon retiring from coaching, McBirney took on a role as an "inspirational" director, offering support to Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bennie Owen ahead of significant matchups.

Developer of early Tulsa skyscrapers

The prosperity of the National Bank of Commerce allowed the McBirney brothers to form the McBirney Investment Company, with James serving as president and Sam as treasurer. This enterprise was responsible for constructing two of Tulsa’s early high-rise buildings: a seven-story Bank of Commerce structure erected in 1923 at 10 East Third Street, and the ten-story McBirney Building completed in 1928 at Main and Third Streets.

Aunt Chick

Nettie McBirney, Sam’s wife, achieved national fame beginning in 1935 as a syndicated newspaper columnist writing under the name Aunt Chick, specializing in culinary guidance. When McBirney learned about her widespread popularity, he humorously remarked that her fame might trigger a bank run.

The couple married in 1913 and had four children: Susan Bush, Williams, Samuel, and Mary Megan Bryan.

Death

In January 1936, McBirney passed away at age 58 in Tulsa after enduring a lengthy illness. The Associated Press honored him as "one of the fathers of football in Oklahoma."

See also

• List of college football head coaches with non-consecutive tenure