McMillin, "Bo" (Alvin N.)
Football
b. Jan. 2, 1895, Prairie Hill, TX
d. March 31, 1952
Known for his speed and ability to pass on the run, McMillin starred as a 5-foot-9, 170-pound quarterback at Centre College of Kentucky from 1919 through 1921. The "Praying Colonels" won 27 of 30 games during that period. McMillin kicked the only field goal of his career to beat the University of Kentucky 3-0 in 1919 and ran 32 yards for a touchdown in Centre's "Upset of the Century" over Harvard, 6-0, in 1921.
McMillin played in the NFL with the Milwaukee Badgers in 1922 and with the Badgers and Cleveland Indians in 1923, coaching Centenary College at the same time. He also coached Centenary in 1924 and had a 26-3-0 record during that period, but he wasn't rehired when the school was threatened with loss of accreditation because McMillin earned more than the college president.
He went on to Geneva College in 1925 and won 22 games while losing 5 and tying 1 in three seasons there, then put together a 29-21-1 record in six years at Kansas State University.
The University of Indiana gave McMillin a 10-year contract in 1934. Despite four losing seasons, he received another 10-year contract in 1944 and guided Indiana to an undefeated season in 1945, when the team won 9 games and tied 1.
McMillin jumped from Indiana to the NFL's Detroit Lions in 1948. He won only 12 games while losing 24 in three seasons before being fired. The Philadelphia Eagles hired him in 1951 but he coached only two regular season games before resigning because he was diagnosed with cancer. He died of a heart attack less than a year later.