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William Stephen “Billy” Wasmund

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William Stephen “Billy” Wasmund

Birth
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA
Death
4 Oct 1911 (aged 23–24)
Austin, Travis County, Texas, USA
Burial
Burial Details Unknown. Specifically: He was buried somewhere in Detroit, Michigan Add to Map
Memorial ID
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William S. "Billy" Wasmund (c. 1887 - October 4, 1911) was an American football player and coach. A native of Pennsylvania, Wasmund attended Lafayette College where he played fullback for the school's college football team for two years. Wasmund's play at Lafayette attracted the attention of Coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Wasmund transferred to Michigan where Yost developed him into a quarterback. Wasmund was the Wolverines' starting quarterback for three years from 1907-1909. In 1910, the University of Texas asked Coach Yost to recommend a coach for the Texas varsity football team, and Waslund was hired on Yost's recommendation. Wasmund led the Longhorns to a 6–2 record in 1910, and he was rehired to return as head coach in 1911. On October 1, 1911, six days before the opening game of the 1911 season, Wasmund fell from the second-story window of the apartment where he was living near the University of Texas campus. Wasmund was rendered unconscious by the fall and received bruises to his hands, arms and hips, a deep gash on the forehead and deep cuts on both legs. He regained consciousness Sunday afternoon, but died three days after his fall. Wasmund was known to be a somnambulist, and it is thought that he walked through the window while sleep-walking. Death resulted from a rupture of the bladder and peritonitis. Wasmund was 24 years old at the time of his death.

William S. "Billy" Wasmund (c. 1887 - October 4, 1911) was an American football player and coach. A native of Pennsylvania, Wasmund attended Lafayette College where he played fullback for the school's college football team for two years. Wasmund's play at Lafayette attracted the attention of Coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Wasmund transferred to Michigan where Yost developed him into a quarterback. Wasmund was the Wolverines' starting quarterback for three years from 1907-1909. In 1910, the University of Texas asked Coach Yost to recommend a coach for the Texas varsity football team, and Waslund was hired on Yost's recommendation. Wasmund led the Longhorns to a 6–2 record in 1910, and he was rehired to return as head coach in 1911. On October 1, 1911, six days before the opening game of the 1911 season, Wasmund fell from the second-story window of the apartment where he was living near the University of Texas campus. Wasmund was rendered unconscious by the fall and received bruises to his hands, arms and hips, a deep gash on the forehead and deep cuts on both legs. He regained consciousness Sunday afternoon, but died three days after his fall. Wasmund was known to be a somnambulist, and it is thought that he walked through the window while sleep-walking. Death resulted from a rupture of the bladder and peritonitis. Wasmund was 24 years old at the time of his death.


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