University of South Dakota Athletics

T.R. Johnson had a brief but illustrious career at South Dakota. "T.R." started for the 1912 Coyotes and also specialized in the hammer throw in track but then transferred to Syracuse, where he was a two-year regular at tackle (1914-15). South Dakota's 1912 team is considered one of the best South Dakota teams ever. The team lost only to Michigan, 7-6 and shutout Minnesota, 10-0. USD defeated SDSU, 73-6; North Dakota, 44-0, and Creighton University, 68-0, during that spectacular season. The 1915 Syracuse team went 9-1-2 and declined a Rose Bowl berth. Johnson was named on the second unit of at least three newspapers' All-American teams. The Sioux Falls native returned to USD in 1916 as an assistant coach, a point at which he introduced wrestling to Vermillion. After distinguished World War I service, Johnson earned a law degree and practiced in Sioux Falls. He was named a Letterman of Distinction in 1969 by the Syracuse Varisty Club.