Crowley, "Jim" (James H.)
Football
b. Sept. 10, 1902, Chicago, IL
d. Jan. 15, 1986
The right halfback in Notre Dame's famous "Four Horsemen" backfield, Crowley played high school football in Green Bay, where his coach was "Curly" Lambeau, founder and long-time coach of the Packers. Crowley entered Notre Dame in 1921. He led the team in scoring in 1924, when he was named an All-American. During his three years as a starter, he averaged 6.3 yards per rushing attempt.
Nicknamed "Sleepy Jim" by Knute Rockne because of his heavy-lidded eyes, Crowley had a reputation for a quick and often caustic wit. Rockne, a native of Norway, once criticized him for missing an assignment during practice and asked rhetorically, "What's dumber than a dumb Irishman?" Crowley responded, "A smart Norwegian."
Crowley played pro football briefly with Green Bay and the Providence Steam Roller in 1925. He became head coach at Michigan State in 1929 and had a 22-8-3 record in four seasons there, then went to Fordham in 1933.
Fordham had became a major football school under Frank Cavanaugh and Crowley kept the tradition going. His 1937 team was undefeated but tied once in 8 games. His last two teams both went to major bowls, losing to Texas A & M 13-12 in the 1941 Cotton Bowl and defeating Missouri 2-0 in the 1942 Sugar Bowl.
Crowley was the first commissioner of the All-America Football Conference when it was organized in 1945, but he resigned in 1947 to become part owner and co-coach of the league's Chicago Rockets. He left the team after winning only 1 of 14 games that season.
As a college coach, Crowley had a record of 78 wins, 21 losses, and 10 ties, a .761 winning percentage.