Walter Koppisch  Walter Frederic Koppisch (June 6, 1901 – November 5, 1953) was an American football halfback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Buffalo Bisons and New York Giants. He attended Columbia University. At 23 years old, Koppisch, a local celebrity and high school football star, was named the head coach of the Buffalo Bisons, making him among the youngest head coaches in NFL history. Koppisch is considered one of the earliest busts in the NFL, having spectacularly failed to meet the high expectations of him in his lone season in Buffalo, although the expectations may have been unwarranted due to changes outside of his control. Koppisch was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981. While playing high school ball at Masten Park High, now City Honors School, in Buffalo, New York, he led his team to three consecutive Harvard Cup championships, which denoted Buffalo city champions. Upon graduation, Koppisch went on to star at Columbia University, where he captained the Lions for three seasons. While playing Columbia's backfield, Koppisch was teammates with, future New York Yankee, Lou Gehrig. In 1924 he was received All-American honors by Walter Camp. In September 1925, it was announced that Koppisch would be returning to Buffalo to coach the Buffalo Bisons. He was only 23 years-old at the time, making him one of the youngest head coaches in NFL history. However, the newly established New York Giants, were seeking a well-known player which they could build a team around, and Walter's was the top name on their list. According to Harry March, in his book "" (the accuracy of which is disputed), the Giants stopped pursuing Koppisch at the request of the Bisons. While expectations were high for the Bison in 1925, the reality was that the team needed to undergo a rebuilding process. Many of the team's top players from the previous season had left the team. These players included mainstays Tommy Hughitt, Benny Boynton, Pete Calac, and Eddie Kaw. Upon assuming the job of coach, Koppisch implemented the same system that was in use at Columbia University, by coach Frank "Buck" O'Neill, with himself as the offense's focal point. Meanwhile, the new players consisted of stand-out collegians, but not one of them an All-American. At one point the "Buffalo Evening News" reported on several leaks, concerning the Bisons roster.