Jones played and coached with the Vanderbilt Commodores as team captain for three seasons from 1890 to 1892, compiling a record of 8–5.

Jones, captain and fullback of the 1890 Vanderbilt Commodores football team, recalled the meeting which beget the game.

William Lofland Dudley called for a meeting of the Athletic Association, after Peabody had issued a challenge to play a contest on Thanksgiving Day.

[5] In front of some 150 students in the gymnasium, Dudley explained that if the challenge were met, a new era of athletics would be created with the game of football.

From his Kansas City law office many years later Jones remembered: "There followed a general discussion of the whole situation.

The difficulties, particularly the shortness of time for preparation, and the fact that regular football had not been theretofore played at Vanderbilt at all, were dealt upon.

Finally, P. M. (Pat) Estes, then of St. Louis, made a motion to the effect that the challenge be accepted and that E. H. Jones be authorized and directed to organize and captain a team for the occasion.

"On August 1, 1893, Jones moved to Kansas City, Missouri and entered the law office of W. C. Scarritt.

They had six children, Elliott Scarritt, Russell Houghton, Paul Jones, Winthrop G., Charles S. and Mrs. Donald Clark.