Roy Lee 'Father' Lumpkin was a running back who played college ball at Georgia Tech. In 1929 (during his sophomore season), Lumpkin led what were then called the Golden Tornados to an undefeated record capping it off with a victory over California in the Rose Bowl. Lumpkin left Georgia Tech and joined the Portsmouth Spartans in 1929. He became the star of the original Spartans and continued his career with the team as they moved to Detroit. Lumpkin earned a reputation for being a fantastic blocker- and for also being one of the last players in the NFL to agree to wear a helmet.

Coach Clark was hired in 1931 by Spartan owner and team manager Harry N. Snyder. Clark succeeded Harold Griffen (the Spartans second head coach), who led the team to a pedestrian 5-6-3 record and eighth in the standings out of eleven NFL teams. Clark would run the Spartans for three successful seasons before he and the franchise moved to Detroit. He stayed with the team, though, and coached them to the NFL Championship in 1935.