Fred Norcross Fred Stephenson " Norky " Norcross , Jr . ( July 14 , 1884 – April 4 , 1965 ) was an American football player and coach and mining engineer . He was the quarterback for the University of Michigan from 1903 to 1905 , leading the team to a 33 – 1 – 1 record in three seasons , including national championships in 1903 and 1904 . Norcross was the head football coach Oregon State University , then known as Oregon Agricultural College , from 1906 to 1908 . After retiring from football , Norcross worked in the mining industry for more than 40 years , holding positions in British Columbia , Cuba , New Mexico , Mexico , New York , and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan . He also served as a Major in the U . S . Army , 27th Engineers during World War I . Early years . Norcross was born in Menominee in Michigan ' s Upper Peninsula in July 1884 . His father , Fred S . Norcross , Sr . , was a native of Maine . His mother , Addie Maria ( Knowles ) Norcross , was also a native of Maine . At the time of the 1900 United States Census , Norcross was living with his parents and grandfather in Menominee . His grandfather ' s occupation was listed as " capitalist , " and his father ' s as " co - treasurer . " University of Michigan . Norcross played football at Michigan from 1903 – 1905 . While at Michigan , Norcross played quarterback for the legendary Fielding H . Yost . In his three seasons as a player , the Wolverines were 33 – 1 – 1 and claimed national championships in 1903 and 1904 . Norcross was named the team captain in 1905 . Collegiate coaching . At the conclusion of his playing career , Norcross came to Corvallis , Oregon to become the head football coach at Oregon Agricultural College . Oregon Agricultural had begun their search for a coach in April , and settled late in the summer on Norcross , their third choice . This decision , however , turned out very well for the school . In his three seasons as the head coach from 1906 to 1908 , Norcross posted an overall record of 14 – 4 – 3 . In his first 72 quarters as coach , his team only gave up 4 points , a field goal in the final game of the 1906 season . The 1907 season was by far his best and possibly the school ' s best ever . The team went 6 – 0 , scored 137 points , gave up no points , and won the unofficial championship of the Western United States after beating St . Vincent ' s College , 10 – 0 , in Los Angeles , California . This " perfect " season has never , and most likely will never be repeated . Mining business . After one year as a college football coach , Norcross began a lengthy career in the mining business . At the time of the 1910 United States Census , Norcross was living in Wilkeson , Washington . His occupation was listed as a mining engineer working for a mine . From April 1912 to December 1917 , Norcross lived in Greenwood and later Princeton , British Columbia . He worked at mining areas in British Columbia , Mexico and New Mexico . During World War I , from 1917 to 1919 , Norcross served as a Major in the U . S . Army , 27th Engineers . In May 1921 , he applied for a passport to allow him to travel to Panama and Nicaragua as a mine examiner . He was employed at the time by the Goodrich Lockhart Company to examine some mining property in the company ' s interests . At the time of the 1930 United States Census , Norcross was living in Plandome , New York . His occupation was listed as a mining engineer . In 1939 , Norcross was working as a mining superintendent in Cristo , Oriente , Cuba . Norcross later became vice president of the Freeport Sulphur Co . He retired in approximately 1956 . Family , death and posthumous honors . Norcross was married to Elizabeth Evans Jackman on November 6 , 1923 in Menominee , Michigan . They had two children , Fred III , and Robert Jackman . Norcross adopted Elizabeth ' s child Mary Margaret Lloyd ( from her previous marriage to Frank Crosskil Lloyd ) . In April 1965 , Norcross died at age 81 at the University Hospital in Ann Arbor , Michigan . He was survived by his wife and two sons . His funeral was held in Menominee . Norcross was inducted into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame in 1972 .