Akron Pros

From 1908 to 1913, the Indians had a reputation of playing more of a style of football seen at the college level than that of the early athletic clubs.

Before the 1912 season, Peggy Parratt, an early football star with the Massillon Tigers, Franklin Athletic Club and the Shelby Blues, joined the Indians.

[6] He made the move after realizing that he could make more money in the large football market that Akron provided.

With Peggy as a player, coach, and owner-manager, the Indians split their series with Shelby and twice defeated Canton, 14–7 and 19–7.

A week later when the Blues returned to Akron, the Indians were prepared with newly recruited talent that was viewed as even superior to that of Shelby's.

However, in 1914, he also employed several former Notre Dame stars, including the legendary Knute Rockne, Howard "Horse" Edwards, "Deke" Jones, and Joe Collins, as well as several Ohio collegiate stars like Ed Kagy, Dwight Wertz, Homer Davidson, Dutch Powell, Frank Nesser, and Ralph "Fat" Waldsmith.

By late season, the entire left side of his Akron Indian line was from Notre Dame.

Despite the win, Canton's captain Harry Turner died when his spine broke during a tackle on Akron fullback Joe Collins.

Turner's death marked the first fatal accident involving a major professional football team in Ohio.

After three seasons, Welch was a player, coach, and manager for Akron, playing against many of professional football's early stars.

However, the Indians lost money despite the presence of one of the country's best breakaway runners, Fritz Pollard, the league's first black player.

[12] The minutes for the September 17, 1920, meeting that formed the APFA, were kept on the stationery of the Akron Pros football team by one of the owners, Art Ranney.

Bob Nash, who played for Massillon in 1919, broke up a Stan Cofall punt resulting in an Akron touchdown and a final score of 7–0.

At the game, Nied and Ranney agreed to sell Bob Nash to Buffalo for $300 and five percent of the gate in the first known player deal between NFL clubs.

However, since the Pros held the best record in the league, they only had to avoid losing a game, while Buffalo and the Decatur Staleys had to win to capture the AFPA Championship.