Herb Covington

Herbert Hunt "Flash" Covington (October 16, 1902 – January 1, 1990), also called "The Mayfield Flash", was an American football, basketball, and baseball player for the Centre Praying Colonels of Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.

Herb Covington
"Flash" Covington c. 1921
Centre Praying Colonels – No. 15
PositionQuarterback / Running back
ClassGraduate
Career history
CollegeCentre (1921–1924)
Bowl games
High schoolMayfield
Castle Heights
Personal information
Born:(1902-10-16)October 16, 1902
Mayfield, Kentucky
Died:January 1, 1990(1990-01-01) (aged 87)
Aurora, Ohio
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Weight158 lb (72 kg)
Career highlights and awards

Early years

Covington spent a year at Mayfield High and two at Castle Heights Military Academy.[1]

Centre College

Football

Covington was a prominent running back for coaches Charley Moran and Robert L. Myers's Centre Colonels from 1921 to 1924, chosen as a running back on Centre's all-time football team in 1935.[2]

1921

Covington played at halfback during the 6–0 victory over Harvard.[2] Bo McMillin threw a touchdown to Covington in the 1922 Dixie Classic which Centre lost to Texas A&M.

1922

Taking over for McMillin at quarterback the following season,[3] Covington did not miss a minute of play over the next three years.[4] He was selected All-Southern in 1922. That year Covington kicked a then record six straight drop-kicked field goals in the victory over Louisville.[5][6] In a rematch with Harvard, a 24 to 10 loss, "Covington, the Centre quarterback, was responsible for most of the scoring in the game; he kicked Centre's goal from the field, and through Roberts's assistance, made Centre's touchdown; his errors led to the Harvard scores also."[7] He was selected All-American in 1922 by Billy Evans and was on Norman E. Brown's second team.[8] In 1924 he was selected as a third-team All-American by Davis J. Walsh of the International News Service.[9] Athletic trainer Alfred Doneghy said Covington was the best runner Centre ever had.[10]

An account of his six field goal record follows:[11]

"Herb Covington, who has shattered records galore this season through his ground gaining ability, established a world record today for field goals by drop kicks in a single game. Six times he booted the oval over the crossbar, three of them from the 30 yard mark and one from the 41 yard line. The others were from between the 30 and 40 yard marks. The record previously was held by B. W. Tafford, Harvard, and W. H. Eckersall, University of Chicago, jointly with five in a single game. Robertson of Purdue made seven goals in a game with Rose Poly in 1900, but they were all from placement."

1924

Centre defeated Georgia 14 to 7 and Wallace Wade's Alabama and claims a Southern championship.

Marriage

He married Eleanor Blanche McCormick of Senatobia, Mississippi, and was a realtor in Florida.[12]

Coaching career

Covington was coach of the Hillsborough High School Terriers in Tampa in 1925.[13][14] Jimmy Steele was on the team.

References
  1. W. C. Alcock (February 21, 1940). "Sport Scope". The Advocate-Messenger. p. 2. Retrieved May 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. George Trevor (November 25, 1935). "1921 Team Produces Most Stars For Centre's All-Time Eleven". Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved March 24, 2015 – via Google news.
  3. "Centre's Prospects Good For Another Great Team". The Evening Independent. September 11, 1922.
  4. "CentreCyclopedia". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-09-14.
  5. "Covington Sets New Drop Kick Record". The Evening Independent. November 9, 1922. Retrieved March 16, 2015 – via Google news.
  6. "Record Booter". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 4. Retrieved April 21, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Harvard Alumni Bulletin. 25. p. 126.
  8. Norman E. Brown (1922-12-08). "Below Wins Place on 'All-American' Eleven Selected by Prominent Sports Writer: Harry Kipke Named as Year's Best All-Round Man". Capital Times (Madison, WI).
  9. "Davis Walsh Designates His All-American Teams". The Coshocton Tribune. 1924-12-15.
  10. "Retired Centre Athletic Trainer Dies". Park City Daily News. November 29, 1962.
  11. "Weaver, Centre Star, Set Extra Point Mark". The Milwaukee Journal. December 11, 1944.
  12. "She'll Marry Gridiron Hero". Santa Cruz Evening News. December 19, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved May 11, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-09-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. Leo H. Wise (October 28, 1925). "Scouts Appear Very Dubious". The Evening Independent.
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