Royal Alston

Larkin Royal Alston (c. 1888 – date of death unknown) was an American college football coach. He served as the head football coach at the Maryland Agricultural College (now the University of Maryland) in 1910.

Royal Alston
Alston at George Washington in 1908
Biographical details
Bornc. 1888
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Playing career
1908–1909George Washington
Position(s)Tackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1910Maryland
Head coaching record
Overall4–3–1

A native of Louisiana,[1] he was born to Lafayette Volney and Mary (née Cotton) Alston.[2] He attended Lake Charles High School, where he played on the football team for three years. He attended college at the George Washington University where he studied mechanical engineering.[1][3] He played as a tackle on the football team and served as team captain in 1909.[4]

In 1910, the Maryland Agricultural College hired Alston as its head coach. After a 4–0–1 start to the season, Alston held half of the Aggies' starting backs out of the game against the Virginia Military Institute, with the intention of resting them for the following week's game against St. John's. The plan backfired, however, and Maryland lost both games, 8–0 and 6–0, respectively. The Aggies finished the season with a loss to Western Maryland and a 4–3–1 record. Alston did not return to Maryland for a second season as head coach.[4]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Maryland Aggies (Independent) (1910)
1910 Maryland 4–3–1
Maryland: 4–3–1
Total:4–3–1

References
  1. The Cherry Tree, p. 332, Published by the Students at George Washington University, 1908.
  2. Lafayette Volney Alston, RootsWeb, retrieved October 10, 2011.
  3. The Cherry Tree, p. 75.
  4. Morris Allison Bealle, King of American Football: The Story of Football at Maryland Agricultural College, Maryland State College and the University of Maryland: 1890–1952, pp. 64–66, Columbia Publishing Co., Washington, D.C., 1952.
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