Dickinson System

Trophies

Rissman Trophy

The original Dickinson System prize was the Rissman Trophy, named after Chicago clothing manufacturer Jack F. Rissman, 'a trophy to go to the team which would be scientifically picked by the Dickensen [sic] system of rating (later replaced by the Associate Press poll)'.

The Rissman Trophy was permanently awarded to Notre Dame following their third Dickinson title in 1930.

Rockne Trophy

Following the retirement of the Rissman Trophy and the death of Knute Rockne in early 1931, the second Dickinson trophy was named the Knute Rockne Intercollegiate Memorial Trophy.

Minnesota retired the Rockne Trophy after winning their third Dickinson title in 1940.

Methodology

An explanation for the mathematical calculations was usually given as part of the story of the season ending rankings. In 1927, an Associated Press story about the "national football championship" for that year noted that "Scores of 96 football teams were compiled by Dr. Dickinson in seven football conferences, including an Eastern group of 25 leading teams regarded for convenience as a conference... The Dickinson system awards 30 points for a victory over a strong team, and 20 for victory over a weak team. Defeats count half as much as victories [15 pts vs. strong team, 10 pts vs. weak team], and ties are considered as games half won and half lost [22.5 points vs. strong, 15 vs. weak]. Dividing this total by the number of games played gives the final rating." Professor Dickinson later added another variable, a "sectional rating" which provided for different points in games where the teams were from different sections of the country.

Annual rankings

References

References

1. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-urbana-daily-courier-rissman-offers/116805956/ "Illini Fourth in Dickinson's National Rank"], ''The Urbana (IL) Daily Courier'', October 17, 1925, p.6 ("Prof. Frank G. Dickinson broadcast his 1924 national championship football ratings out of Chicago last night. He was invited to talk at the "WHT" radio station... Notre Dame, generally accepted as the national champion following its all-conquering season, proved to be the leading eleven in Dickinson's method.")
2. Herschel Nissenson ''Tales From College Football's Sidelines'' (Sports Publishing LLC, 2001), p93.
3. "Before the AP poll, the Dickinson System ruled college football rankings | NCAA.com".
4. (Feb 25, 1926). "Retail clothiers meet next month". Grand Island (Neb.) Independent.
5. (Feb 24, 1926). "Thinks women spend too much of family purse". Niles (Mich.) Daily Star.
6. Wallace, Francis. (1960). "Knute Rockne". Doubleday & Company, Inc..
7. "Irish National Championships". University of Notre Dame Athletics.
8. "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-the-dickenson-sy/169725957/Dickinson Rating Gives Illini Title]— National Championship Trophy Presented to Big Ten Winners at Alumni Football Dinner", ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'', December 4, 1927, p.38
9. "ILLINOIS BEST FOOTBALL TEAM OF YEAR," ''[[Syracuse Herald-Journal. The Syracuse Herald]]'', Dec. 4, 1927, p23
10. "Dickinson Discovers Gophers Are Nation's Best Football Eleven," ''[[Vidette Times. The Vidette-Messenger]]'' (Valparaiso,IN), Dec. 3, 1940, p6
11. Dickinson, Frank G.. (February 1941). "Dickinson's Football Ratings — from Grange to Harmon". What's What Publishing Company.
12. Dickinson, Frank G.. (January 8, 1926). "Dickinson Football Rating System: Dartmouth Declared National Champion". The Pantagraph.
13. (January 24, 1926). "National Dickinson Football Ratings". The Honolulu Advertiser.
14. (December 17, 1926). "Stanford Eleven Adjudged Best: Navy Ranks Second Under Dickinson System of Rating Teams". The Morning Post.
15. (December 4, 1927). "Illinois Rated As America's Champs: Dr. Dickinson of Illinois Devises Rating System for Grid Teams". The Morning Call.
16. (December 9, 1928). "Trojans Rated as Leading College Team in Country". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
17. (December 2, 1929). "National Trophy to Notre Dame". The Miami Herald.
18. (December 7, 1930). "Notre Dame Wins National Title by Dickinson System". Messenger-Inquirer.
19. (December 13, 1931). "Dickinson Gives Title to Trojans". Monroe Morning World.
20. (December 11, 1932). "Michigan Gets Rockne Trophy as U.S. Champ". The Daily Argus-Leader.
21. (December 10, 1933). "Dickinson Picks Michigan: Trojans Rated Sixth In Grid Title Listings". The Pasadena Post.
22. (December 9, 1934). "Dickinson Rates Minnesota Team As Best in U.S.". The Salt Lake Tribune.
23. (December 10, 1935). "So. Methodist Rated No. 1 by Dickinson". Chicago Tribune.
24. (December 9, 1936). "Gophers Get No. 1 Rating". The Wilkes-Barre Record.
25. (December 12, 1937). "Dickinson Rates Pitt Greatest". The Pittsburgh Press.
26. (December 6, 1938). "Notre Dame Rated First". The Baltimore Sun.
27. (December 12, 1939). "Southern Cal Is Rated First". The Billings Gazette.
28. (December 3, 1940). "Dickinson Likes Minnesota, Too". The Hastings Daily Tribune.