He stated that his ballclub could play up to the same level as the Canton Bulldogs, Massillon Tigers, and Akron Indians, if only he could schedule games with them.

Both Cofall and O'Donnell represented the Tigers at the September 17, 1920 meeting in Canton at the showroom of Ralph Hay's Hupmobile Agency where 10 team leaders created the American Professional Football Association.

To insure its financial viability, the league voted to have each team post a $1000 guarantee against forfeiture during the season.

O'Donnell was unable to provide the money and sold the now-defunct Cleveland franchise to jeweler Samuel Deutsch in 1923.

O'Donnell was the Democratic Party's nominee for state representative in 1946, when he died shortly before the election.