Bob Adkins (1917-1997)
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Blocking Back/Defensive End/Guard/Linebacker—(Marshall) Green Bay Packers 1940-41,1945
Adkins played on the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team from the fall of 1936 through the fall of 1939 and graduated in 1940. In Green Bay, at 6-foot-1 and 210 to 225 pounds, Adkins was one of the heavier players on the Green Bay squad. He played for 2½ years before the war, enlisting just before Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1941, and for another 2½ years after the war. Still in the Army when he returned, he was given a weekend pass from his post in New Castle, Pennsylvania, to play with the team. A broken leg suffered in a game in 1946 caused Adkins to quit the game.
Frankie Albert (1920-2002)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back—(Stanford) St. Mary’s Pre-flight Air Devils 1942; Los Angeles Bulldogs 1945 (PCFL); San Francisco 49ers (AAFC/NFL) 1946-52; Coach—San Francisco 49ers 1956-58 [All-American 1940-41, College Football Hall of Fame 1956, AAFC Player of the Year 1948, #1 Punting 1949]
Frankie Albert taught me a lot, however. He was a master magician as a quarterback in terms of ball handling and leading the football team on the field. He was always very sure of himself. When you start talking about quarterbacks, you have to remember how different it was then from today. Today the plays are sent in from the sideline. We had to do a lot of faking, a lot of trickery, and we had to get in the huddle and run the offense; we had to be thinking about what we were going to be doing the down after this as well as this down and make the decisions ourselves. And Albert was probably the best quarterback I saw play in terms of this. I don’t mean to say he could play quarterback in the NFL today—he probably couldn’t because he didn’t throw the ball that well. But in that period he was a true leader. He had what a lot of others didn’t have—he could fake and bootleg and punt, and he was a great team leader. I’m disappointed he’s not in the Hall of Fame.
Y. A. Tittle
Y. A. Tittle
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/albt55.jpeg?1612823096)
While Frankie Albert possessed immense physical abilities, his success partly stems from being in the right place at the right time. In 1939, Albert had a mediocre sophomore season playing tailback in Stanford's single-wing offense. His play was so poor that he considered quitting the Stanford squad. The following year, Stanford hired Clark Shaughnessy as the head coach. Known as the "Father of the T Formation," Shaughnessy saw that Albert was an excellent ball handler and passer whose skills were well suited to playing quarterback in his revolutionary "T" formation. Stanford set an NCAA record for improvement in 1940 going from a 1-7-1 record in 1939 to a perfect 10-0 mark in 1940. The 1940 season included a 21-13 victory over Nebraska in the Rose Bowl and a number two national ranking. The 1940 team featured fellow Hall of Fame members Hugh Gallarneau and Chuck Taylor. Albert received All-America recognition in both his senior and junior seasons. Known for his ball handling abilities, Albert was often termed as a "magician" and is said to have perfected the bootleg play. Following graduation, Albert served in the Navy during World War II, then launched an All-Pro career with the San Francisco Forty-Niners. Albert stood 5-9 in height, weighed 166, and was a left-handed passer. Against Nebraska in the Rose Bowl he completed a 41-yard touchdown pass, kicked 3 extra points, and had an 85-yard punt. He played for the San Francisco 49ers in 1946-52 and was the 49ers head coach from 1956-58.
Hub “Deadeye” Barker (1918-1994)
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Blocking Back/Linebacker—(Arkansas) New York Giants 1942-45
Lou "Fats" Barle (1916-1996)
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Blocking Back/Defensive Back/Linebacker—(Duluth State Teachers) Detroit Lions 1938, Cleveland Rams 1939, Cincinnati Bengals (AFL) 1939 [also played in the NBL, 1939-42]
I was only a sub.
Lou Barle
Lou Barle
Sammy Baugh (1914-2008)
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Quarterback/Tailback/Defensive Back—(TCU) Washington Redskins 1937-52; Coach—New York Jets 1960-61, Houston Oilers 1964 [All-American 1935-36, College Football Hall of Fame 1951, #1 Passing 1937,1940,1943,1947,1949, #1 Punting 1940-43, All-Pro 1937,1940,1942-43,1945,1947-48, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1963]
In '37, there wasn't really any protection whatsoever for a man throwing a pass. The other team could go after you until the whistle blew. In other words, you'd complete a pass to a fellow out in the flat and he'd take off running, back and forth across the field maybe, and the rushers would be going after the passer all the while. In those days, they'd want to put the quarterback on the ground regardless, even though he's got nothing to do with the play by that time. Mr. [George Preston] Marshall got the rule changed so that they had to lay off the quarterback after he threw the ball . . . . before that, hell, they'd chase you all over the field, maybe 30 yards, until they got their hands on you.
Sammy Baugh
Sammy Baugh
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/sambau55.jpeg?1611519576)
"Slingin'" Sammy Baugh was the first of the great glamour players to give tremendous impetus to the modern passing game. Aided by the slimmer football developed in 1934, Baugh threw 587 passes in his three varsity seasons for 39 touchdowns and nearly two miles in yardage. In an era when 10 passes in a game was considered extravagant, Baugh threw as many as 40 passes in some games. Baugh was also an excellent punter, who as a professional would lead the league four times. During a 3-2 TCU victory over LSU in the Sugar Bowl, Baugh punted 14 times for a 48 yard average, placing many kicks inside the Tiger five yard line. Baugh gained All America status in 1935 and repeated as a consensus All- America in his 1936 senior season. On New Year's Day of 1937 Texas Christian played in the first Cotton Bowl defeating Marquette 16-6. As a professional with the Washington Redskins, he played on five division and two league championship teams. As a passer he led the league six times and still holds many NFL passing records. In addition to being a great passer and punter, Baugh was also a superior defensive player as he led the NFL in interceptions in 1943.
Keith Beebe (1921-1998)
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Blocking Back/Defensive Back—(Occidental) New York Giants 1944
It was during my studies for the divinity degree at Princeton Theological Seminary, that I played for the Giants.
H. Keith Beebe, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore, Nov. 11, 1994
H. Keith Beebe, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore, Nov. 11, 1994
Angelo "The Arm" Bertelli (1921-1999)
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Quarterback—(Notre Dame) Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1946, Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1947-48 [All-American 1943, Walter Camp Award 1943, Heisman Trophy 1943, College Football Hall of Fame 1972, #1 NFL Draft Choice 1944]
I was a fourth-string tailback on the freshman [Notre Dame] team and a terrible runner and there were three varsity tailbacks coming back the next year. Then Leahy became our coach. He remembered what he had had at Boston College, a passing quarterback in Charlie O'Rourke, and I went from seventh string to first string overnight.
Angelo Bertelli
Angelo Bertelli
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Angelo Bertelli, the "Springfield Rifle," played in only six games during the 1943 season, yet won the Heisman Trophy. They were calling him the greatest passer in Notre Dame history as Bertelli completed 69 percent of his passes for 10 touchdowns. The Irish rolled up some impressive scores that season and averaged 43 points a game in the season's first six contests. Notre Dame finished 9-1 losing only to the Great Lakes Naval Station 19-14 in the final 30 seconds of play, yet they retained their number one ranking and the national championship. Just prior to the seventh game of the season Bertelli was called into service with the Marine Corps where he served as an officer at Iwo Jima and Guam. Angelo was an instant sensation at Notre Dame as he was second in the Heisman voting as a sophomore tailback. When the Irish switched to the T formation in his junior season, Bertelli became the team's quarterback and won the first of his two All-American awards. In a game against Stanford he completed 10 consecutive passes and threw for four touchdowns. Following military service he played with the Los Angeles Dons and Chicago Rockets in the All-American Football Conference in 1946-1948. A knee injury ended his playing career. Bertelli was assistant coach with Herman Hickman at Yale in 1951-1952. He moved to Clifton, New Jersey, operated a successful beverage distributing chain, sponsored and coached junior football teams, and for 12 years, 1956-1967, broadcast Princeton football games on radio.
Marty Brill (1906-1973)
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Quarterback/Halfback—(Penn/Notre Dame) Frankford Legion 1931-32, McAdoo Panthers 1932, Clifton Heights (Independent) 1932, Marty Brill's All-Stars 1932; Coach—Staten Island Stapletons 1931 [All-American 1930]
Phil "Tibby" Bunnell (1903-1991)
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Quarterback—(Yale) 1924-26 [captain of football and swimming team]
Tom Burnette (1915-1994)
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Blocking Back/Linebacker—(North Carolina) Pittsburgh Pirates 1938, Philadelphia Eagles 1938
I hold longest punt record at U.N.C.—85 yd.
Tom Burnette
Tom Burnette
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George "Bad News" Cafego (1915-1998)
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Quarterback/Tailback/Defensive Back/Halfback—(Tennessee) Brooklyn Dodgers 1940,1943, Newport News Builders (Dixie League) 1941, Eastern Army All-Stars 1942, Washington Redskins 1943, Boston Yanks 1944-45; Eastern Army All-Stars 1942 [All-American 1939, College Football Hall of Fame 1969, #1 NFL Draft Choice 1940, #1 Passing Dixie League 1941]
Weighing only 170, he generates terrific power on off-tackle smashes and makes dazzling run-backs of punts. He is considered one of the nation's best punters and specializes in "coffin-corner" kicks.
Harry Ferguson (1939)
Harry Ferguson (1939)
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George Cafego came out of the coal mining district of West Virginia to become one of Tennessee's backfield stars. Hall of Fame coach Bob Neyland called Cafego a "practice bum. On the practice field he couldn't do anything right, but for two hours on a Saturday afternoon he did everything an All- American is supposed to do." After a 6-3-1 sophomore season, Cafego led the Volunteers to two consecutive unbeaten regular seasons. In 1938, the Vols topped their regular season with a 17-0 victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. The following year, 1939, the Vols did not allow a point to be scored against them in the regular season. Late in the season, Cafego was injured and played only a minute of the Rose Bowl loss to Southern California. Despite missing four games, Cafego became a repeat All-America. Cafego returned to Tennessee as an assistant for 30 years before retiring in 1984. In his three years at Tennessee, Cafego had a spectacular nickname, "Bad News," and gained 2,139 yards in total offense. He averaged 6.1 yards every time he carried the ball. He ran, passed, did all the punting, and returned kicks. In 1937, he had a 60-yard punt return against Virginia Tech; in 1939 he had a 70-yard punt against Louisiana State. After college, Cafego played pro with the Washington, Boston and Brooklyn teams in 1940 and 1943-45. He served as assistant coach at Wyoming, Furman, Arkansas and Tennessee. His tenure as a Tennessee assistant covered 30 years (1955-1984).
Len Calligaro (1921-2011)
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Blocking Back/Linebacker—(Wisconsin) New York Giants 1944, Jersey City Giants (AFL) 1946-47
Frank Carideo (1908-1992)
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Quarterback—(Notre Dame) Coach—Missouri 1932-34 [All-American 1929-30, College Football Hall of Fame 1954]
Every time before they gave me the ball, Frank would hiss into my ear, “Joe, you're going to get the ball on the next play and if you don't make a gain, so help me you big lummox, big and tough as you are, I'm going to cut your Italian heart out!" Well, I had to make a gain—couldn't take any chance with little Frankie Carideo—he's a pretty hotheaded guy—there's no telling what a crazy little Italian would do when he's mad—I know, I'm Italian too!
Jumping Joe Savoldi
Jumping Joe Savoldi
Charlie Conerly (1921-1996)
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Quarterback—(Mississippi) New York Giants 1948-61 [#1 Passing NCAA 1947, All-American 1947, College Football Hall of Fame 1966, Jim Thorpe Trophy 1959, #1 Passing 1959]
Conerly was never a great pure passer, but he was a precise, control-type quarterback, methodical and with a great feel for the game. He was a quiet guy, too . . . and he was definitely a leader on that team. But he led out on the field, not with his mouth, and he was the toughest old bird you'll ever see. Actually, he was kind of a grump; he could go six weeks at a time without even saying as much as hello, like he was in another world. People misunderstood that, thinking he wasn't friendly, but Charlie just was not an outgoing person. Out on the field, though, he was in complete control.
Sam Huff
Sam Huff
John "Chick" Chickerneo (1917-1995)
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Blocking Back/Linebacker—(Pittsburgh) New York Giants 1942; Maxwell Field Marauders 1944
Cassiano, Goldberg and Stebbins still give me the business that they accounted for 11 blocks and all I had to do was run. But the way I remember it is that I kept zigging and zagging as tackler after tackler just bounced off my legs.
John Chickerneo, a member of the Dream Backfield, on a game against Wisconsin in 1938 when he ran 71 yards for a touchdown
out of a punt formation.
John Chickerneo, a member of the Dream Backfield, on a game against Wisconsin in 1938 when he ran 71 yards for a touchdown
out of a punt formation.
John ''Chick'' Chickerneo was the blocking quarterback in Pitt's famed Dream Backfield in the late 1930s. Chickerneo, a burly man who would rather throw a block than a forward pass, opened holes for fullback Marshall Goldberg and halfbacks Dick Cassiano and Harold ''Curly'' Stebbins. The foursome, who played under legendary coach Dr. John Bain ''Jock'' Sutherland, compiled a cumulative record of 25 wins, three losses and two ties from 1936 to 1938. Chickerneo's teams won national championships in 1936 and in 1937, when Pitt had nine wins and a tie. His 1936 Pitt team defeated Washington, 21-0, in the Rose Bowl. After he graduated from Pitt with a degree in petroleum engineering, he spent two years in South America as an engineer. He played quarterback briefly with the New York Giants and then spent three years in the Army Air Corps. He returned to football in 1949, spending two years at Pitt as an assistant coach.
Ed Danowski (1911-1997)
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Quarterback/Tailback/Defensive Back/Wingback—(Fordham) New York Giants 1934-39,1941, Jersey City Giants (American Association) 1940; Assistant Coach--Pensacola Naval Air Station Goslings 1942 [All Pro 1935,1938, #1 Passing 1935,1938, All-League American Association 1940]
He was one of the finest passers the Giants ever had, and one of the most accurate in football history.
Steve Owen
Steve Owen
I often asked players to tell me who was the most bruising players they played against. On the reverse side of a signed 3x5 card, Danowski rated Nello Falaschi as the "roughest" player and Nagurski as the hardest-hitting runner.
Eddie Dooley (1905-1982)
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Quarterback—(Dartmouth) [All-American 1926]
Jess Elwood “Woody” Dow (1914-2003)
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Blocking Back/Fullback/Defensive Back/Linebacker—(West Texas State) Philadelphia Eagles 1938-40, St. Mary's Pre-flight Air Devils 1942; Coach—Southern Connecticut State University 1948-75 [College Football Hall of Fame 2013]
I played as Lwood Dow at Littlefield, Texas Hi School, 1930-33 . . . in the Navy it was first name and middle initial [Jess L.] . . . .Southern Conn. dedicated their new synthetic playing field and stadium in my honor in 1988 as Jess Dow Field.
Jess L. Dow
Jess L. Dow
The coach of the only unbeaten-untied (9-0-0) team in Southern Connecticut State history, Jess Dow becomes the first-ever Owl to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Forty-eight years after his last season, he remains SCSU’s most successful coach with a 72.1 winning percentage. The founder of the Southern Connecticut athletics, Dow established the football program, and he served as head coach from 1948-65. He enjoyed 16 winning seasons, including a perfect 9-0-0 in 1956, and he led the Owls to seven seasons in which only one game was lost. He also guided his 1959 team to an appearance in the NAIA playoff semifinals. Dow was named Connecticut Coach of the Year in 1950 and 1953 and Eastern Football Coach of the Year in his final season at the helm. He completed his career as the most successful college division coach in New England. A native of Tona, Texas, Dow was a three-year letterman at fullback for West Texas A&M University from 1935-37, and he is a member of the WTAMU Hall of Honor. He later played three seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles until World War II, when he served as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy. Dow served as Southern Connecticut’s athletics director from 1948-75, and he also coached the school’s track, basketball, baseball, and golf teams. In 1988 Southern Connecticut dedicated Jess Dow Field, a multi-million dollar stadium facility that can accommodate football, soccer, field hockey and track & field. He was a member of the school’s inaugural hall of fame class in 1986.
Bill "Tippy" Dye (1915-2012)
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Quarterback/Halfback—(Ohio State) Cincinnati Bengals (AFL) 1937 [basketball head coach—Brown 1941-42, Ohio State 1946-50, Washington 1950-59]
Kay Eakin (1917-1993)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back/Wingback/Halfback—(Arkansas) New York Giants 1940-41, Miami Seahawks (AAFC) 1946; Western Army All-Stars 1942 [#1 Passing NCAA 1939]
He was the most brilliant punter.
Steve Owen
Steve Owen
Fred Enke (1924-2014)
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Quarterback/Halfback—(Arizona) Norman Navy Zoomers 1944, Detroit Lions 1948-51, Philadelphia Eagles 1952, Baltimore Colts 1953-54
Murray Evans (1919-2004)
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Blocking Back/Defensive Back—(Hardin-Simmons) Bainbridge Naval Training Center Commodores 1945; Detroit Lions 1942-43
We had some good football players, but we just didn't have enough of them. We weren't a very good passing team. Well, we couldn't pass, really. By the end of the season we just didn't want to get better, we wanted a win. It got to the point where sometimes people just didn't play as hard as they could. I'm as guilty as anyone.
Murray Evans, on the Lions' 1942 0-11 season
Murray Evans, on the Lions' 1942 0-11 season
Tom Farris (1920- 2002)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back—(Wisconsin) Manhattan Beach Coast Guard Depth Bombers 1942; Chicago Bears 1946-47, Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1948
Barney Finn (1907-1993)
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Quarterback—(Holy Cross) Newark Tornadoes 1930, Staten Island Stapletons 1930,1932, Chicago Cardinals 1932
Joe Gasparella (1927-2000)
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Blocking Back/Linebacker—(Notre Dame) Pittsburgh Steelers 1948-50, Chicago Cardinals 1951 [All-Service Team 1946-47]
I remember him as a very even-tempered type guy. He was not a very excitable person at all, but a great teacher on the field, very well loved and respected by a lot of players.
Rich Lackner
Rich Lackner
Wayne Gift (1915-1998)
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Blocking Back/Defensive Back—(Purdue) Cleveland Rams 1937; Iowa Pre-flight Seahawks 1942
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/giftl7_orig.jpeg)
He sent me a 4-page handwritten letter of which this shows the first page and part of the last page showing his signature. He had been out of football for 3-4 years when Bernie Bierman "drafted" him to play on the 1942 Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks. "He played me at quarterback with Forest Evashevski and at halfback when injuries required it." He continued, "After the war, I took a job with a life-long buddy of mine, Cliff Battles, and helped coach the Brooklyn Dodgers of the old All-America Conference." At the tail end of the war, he was sent to Great Lakes Training Center as acting athletic director. "I was a 2 striper there and shared offices with Paul Brown. I had known Paul since my high school days--he in Massilon and me at Canton."
Pete Gorgone (1920-1992)
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Blocking Back/Linebacker—(Muhlenberg) Fleet Marine Force Pacific 1945; New York Giants 1946, Bethlehem Bulldogs (AFL) 1947-48
Paul "Pitchin' Paul" Governali (1921-1978)
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Quarterback—(Columbia) El Toro Marine Corps Air Station Flying Marines 1944-45, Boston Yanks 1946-47, New York Giants 1947-48 [All-American 1942, Maxwell Award 1942, College Football Hall of Fame 1986]
I've never seen a better college passer--and don't forget I had Sid Luckman . . . . he can run, kick and pass, and he's fast enough to catch the fast ones from behind.
Lou Little
Lou Little
A native New Yorker, Paul Governali went right from stardom at Evander Childs High School to stardom at Columbia. A skillful passer and play caller under coach Lou Little, Paul won honors as an All-American from the All-American Board, Associated Press, Colliers and United Press. Among his additional honors were All-Scholastic at Evander Childs (1938), All-America at Columbia (1942); AP Best All- Around Eastern College Athlete (1942); Maxwell Memorial Award Winner (1942); First Runner-up Heisman Trophy (1942). Paul was also All-Ivy League in baseball at Columbia in 1942 and was selected to the All-Time Columbia baseball team. He served in the Marines from 1943 to 1946, then played football for two years for the Boston Yanks and the New York Giants. From 1949 to 1956 he returned to Columbia to work for his doctorate and to assist coach Little. Prior to his death in 1978, at the age of 57, he was Professor of Physical Education at San Diego State University.
Otto "Mechanical Otto" Graham (1921-2003)
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Offensive Back/Defensive Back—(Northwestern) North Carolina Pre-flight Cloudbusters 1944, Cleveland Browns (AAFC/NFL) 1946-55; Coach—Washington Redskins 1966-68 [All-American 1943, College Football Hall of Fame 1956, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1965; Basketball—All American 1943, Rochester Royals (NBL) 1945-46]
My first year with Cleveland, Paul Brown signed me to a two-year contract for seventy-five hundred dollars a year. I was an air cadet at Glenville Naval base at Evanston, Illinois, and Paul was at Great Lakes. I was making seventy-five dollars a month as a cadet and he offered me this two-year package, plus a bonus of one thousand dollars. But the big payoff was, if I signed right then, he'd pay me two hundred fifty dollars a month for as long as the war lasted. I signed. The war lasted only a few more months. After we won the championship my rookie season, he tore up the contract and gave me a new one for twelve thousand dollars a year. In 1955, my last year, my tenth, I was the highest-paid player in pro football at twenty-five thousand dollars. I suppose I could have gotten even more money out of Paul by becoming a holdout, but it never really occurred to me. What he offered always seemed fair and so I signed. Of course, we played for the title every year for ten straight years. They were great years, carefree years. When you went in to talk contract with Paul he always used the championship money as part of your salary. He would just add it on like interest on a note we always go it and you could hardly negotiate against it.
Otto Graham
Otto Graham
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Otto Graham was all-state in football and basketball at Waukegan, Illinois, High School. At Northwestern University he was All-America in football in 1943, All-America in basketball in 1944. "Automatic Otto" also won two letters in baseball and excelled as a musician, playing the violin, French horn and cornet. (His father was band director at Waukegan High). Northwestern's record in 1941-43, Graham's years, was 5-3, 1-9, 6-2. Graham was left halfback in a single-wing offense. He ran, passed, punted and place-kicked. In 1941, he returned a punt 93 yards against Kansas State. In 1942, his yardage on total offense, 1327, was a school record that lasted 20 years. His 61 points in 1943 set a school record that lasted 43 years. Graham served in the Navy in World War II. He became a pro quarterback with the Cleveland Browns 1946-55. In his ten years the Browns were league champions seven times, runners-up three times. He played pro basketball with the Rochester Royals in 1946 and they won the league title. Graham played in the 1943 and 1946 College All Star Games. He had a 97-yard touchdown run in 1943 and a 40- yard touchdown pass in 1946. He coached the U.S. Coast Guard Academy 1959-65, coached the Washington Redskins 1966-68, served as Coast Guard Academy Athletic Director 1970-84
Scott Gudmundson (1921-2012)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back—(George Washington) Boston Yanks 1944-45
Jim Hardy (1923-2019)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back—(USC) Pearl Harbor Pacific All-Stars 1945, Los Angeles Rams 1946-48, Chicago Cardinals 1949-51, Detroit Lions 1952
Les Hart (1908-1993)
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Blocking Back—(Colgate) Staten Island Stapletons 1931
You can find faster backs, you can find longer passers, you may point out greater kickers, you can find men who go down and catch passes more successfully, you can find better blockers and perhaps superior defensive players, but I don't believe you'll find one man who does all of these as well as Hart does them.
Vic Hanson
Vic Hanson
Steve Hokuf (1910-2000)
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Blocking Back/Lineback/Offensive End/Defensive End/Fullback/Defensive Back—(Nebraska) Boston Redskins 1933-35
I was signed to a professional football contract for $115.00 a game. This was a one week contract and if the Redskin front office didn't give you notice you were fired the day after a game, you could then play in the next game.
Steve Hokuf, excerpt of handwritten reminiscence entitled "The Forgotten Redskins"
Steve Hokuf, excerpt of handwritten reminiscence entitled "The Forgotten Redskins"
John "Junie" Hovious (1919-1998)
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Quarterback—(Mississippi) New York Giants 1945
Mort "Devil May" Kaer (1902-1992)
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Blocking Back/Tailback—(USC) Quarterback—Frankford Yellowjackets 1931 [All-American 1926, College Football Hall of Fame 1972; Olympic Games 1924]
He was a great tailback.
Jesse Hibbs
Jesse Hibbs
Morton Kaer was a world-famous athlete. At the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, he placed third in the pentathlon, a track event that covered five competitions - the 200 meters, 1500 meters, discus, javelin, and long jump. Then came three great years as a halfback for Southern California 1924-1926. In 1925, he set a school record by scoring 19 touchdowns. The record lasted 43 years, broken in 1968 by O.J. Simpson. In Kaer's three years he had 36 touchdowns, and that was a career record for the school. The total, 36, was finally tied by Simpson in 1967-68. (Simpson did it in two years). Morton had a catchy nickname - "Devil May" Kaer, a nickname given him by Braven Dyer, Los Angeles sports writer. His best game was against California in 1925; he ran for touchdowns of 48, 36, and 10 yards. Five years after his college career, Kaer played one year of pro football, 1931, with the Frankford Yellow Jackets. He became coach at Weed, California, High School. His record was 187-47-7 and in 28 years his teams won 17 conference championships.
John Ksionzyk (1919-2006)
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Quarterback—(St. Bonaventure) Camp Lee Travelers 1945; Scranton Miners (AFL) 1946, Los Angeles Rams 1947
I played QB for the Scranton Miners, No. 1 passing QB of the League. Sold to L.A. Rams after the season . . . . I joined the Rams in the summer of 1947 as a back-up QB to Bob Waterfield. . .
John Ksionzyk, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore, Oct. 23, 1994
John Ksionzyk, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore, Oct. 23, 1994
Bobby Layne (1926-1986)
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Quarterback—(Texas) Chicago Bears 1948, New York Bulldogs 1949, Detroit Lions 1950-58, Pittsburgh Steelers 1958-62 [All-American 1947, All Pro 1952,1956,1958, College Football Hall of Fame 1968, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1967]
Clyde LeForce (1923-2006)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back/Wingback—(Tulsa) Detroit Lions 1947-49
He had an unusual technique in passing when he dropped back. When he dropped back, he had a certain way of faking the ball one way and throwing the other.
Ed Shedlosky
Ed Shedlosky
Sid Luckman (1916-1998)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back/Halfback—(Columbia) Newark Bears (American Association) 1939; Chicago Bears 1939-50, Service All-Stars 1944 [All-American 1938, College Football Hall of Fame 1960, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1965]
One reason we had a good team was we had an awful smart quarterback. Sid Luckman was smart and he could move. He was a great runner in college, you know. And he had a lot of guts. I've seen Sid take some fierce beatings out there and just keep dancing. But a lot of people called him lucky, and it did look like he was lucky. Like on third-and-ten or third-and-fifteen, he'd make a terribly bad pass but a guy would reach back and get it or scoop it off the ground. So it did look lucky, but after seeing it happen week after week, year after year, I can't call it luck. That was a talent there, because Sid kept doing it. He couldn't throw too good—he kind of palmed the ball and threw them soft, slopping type of passes—but he'd complete 'em.
Bulldog Turner
Bulldog Turner
Lots of Luckman-signed items,
but are any of them authentic?
Maybe some--or maybe not.
but are any of them authentic?
Maybe some--or maybe not.
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On October 16, 1940, Luckman filled out information on the World War II draft registration card. This then is an authentic signature from his playing days, signed on an official government document. On the registration form, he stated that his employer was George S. Halas of the Chicago Bears Football Team. The formation of the capital "L" on his last name differs considerably from all later examples shown above. What are we to make of this?
I sent an autograph request letter to Luckman in June 1989. On my request letter I had photocopied a copy of my old 1955 Topps All-American card of Luckman. In addition to making the autograph request, I asked him a few questions. He returned my request letter on which this note ("See att'd sheet My Pleasure Regards Sid Luckman "42") was written in what I think may be his handwriting. Later his secretary began signing Luckman's name to all mail requests for autographs, but I believe this note is possibly an authentic Luckman autograph. It has the ring of authenticity. The 3x5 card was sent to me along with a fact sheet, biographical sketch, and a slick 8x10 photograph of a Tom Fitzpatrick news article entitled "Luckman: A Tormenting Time." The photocopied biographical sketch had his signature on the bottom. I received another copy of this sheet, identical to the first at a later mailing from him. The photocopied signature on the biographical sketch matches the autographs I received on the above note, two 3x5 cards, 8x10 photo (below), and colored pencil sketch by my son, David (below). It also appears to match the signature on the Tom Paprocki cartoon entitled "Roar, Lion, Roar." However I have four other cartoons and a Pabst Blue Ribbon beer ad which have signatures that are in question. In these signatures, the "S" first letter of his given name is formed differently than in these other autographs. The finishing curl of the "S" is looped up and around rather than up halfway, then across in a finishing straight line. See the 1938 Jack Sords cartoon (below) for an example of these autographs that I question. I don't know what others have discovered about Luckman's autograph versus his secretary's signature, but that may be a possible way to determine authenticity. What do others think?
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Sid Luckman played left halfback for Columbia from 1936 to 1938. He ran, passed, punted, kicked extra points, called signals and played safety on defense. In his first game, he ran 40 yards for a touchdown and threw passes for two touchdowns against Maine. In his senior year he led Columbia to a 20-18 upset of Army. Luckman returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, threw two touchdown passes and kicked an extra point. Columbia was only 3-6 that year but the Sporting News named him as an All-America halfback. Luckman never played in the T formation in college but the Chicago Bears drafted him because he was a great passer. They made him a T formation quarterback, and in 1940 he helped the Bears to their greatest victory, a 73-0 walloping of the Washington Redskins in the NFL championship game. His college coach, Lou Little, had said, "there is no better back in football." In 1960 both Luckman and Little were inducted into the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame. Luckman played twelve years with the Bears, threw 139 touchdown passes, was all-pro four times, league Most Valuable Player in 1943, was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965. He coached at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Johnny Lujack (1925-2023)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back—(Notre Dame) Fort Pierce Naval Amphibious Training Base Amphibs 1945, Chicago Bears 1948-51 [All-American 1946-47, Heisman Trophy 1947, A.P. Athlete of the Year 1947, All-Pro 1948-50, College Football Hall of Fame 1960]
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Notre Dame in 1943, won its first six games by a combined score of 261-31. Angelo Bertelli was the quarterback, and on the basis of those six games he would win the 1943 Heisman Trophy. But after the sixth game Bertelli and certain other Notre Dame players were called to active duty with the Marine Corps in World War II. John Lujack was Bertelli's replacement at quarterback. He led Notre Dame to important victories over Army 26-0 and Iowa Preflight 14-13, clinching the national championship. In the school year of 1943-44, Lujack also lettered in basketball, baseball, and track. He was the first 4-sport letterman at Notre Dame since 1912. After duty in the war, Lujack returned as Notre Dame quarterback in 1946-47. Notre Dame went 17-0-1 in that period and won two national championships. Lujack was unanimous All- America two years and won the Heisman in 1947. He also played defensive halfback. In 1946, he tackled Doc Blanchard, cutting off a sure Army touchdown, in a game that ended 0-0. His passing totals at Notre Dame 1946-47 included 14 touchdowns and 1569 yards. Lujack played for Chicago Bears 1948-51. Against the Chicago Cardinals in 1948, he threw six touchdown passes.
Walt McDonald (1920-2012)
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Blocking Back/Defensive Back/Quarterback—(Tulane) Melville Torpedo Boat Training Center Night Raiders 1945, Miami Seahawks (AAFC) 1946, Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1946-48, Chicago Hornets (AAFC) 1949
John McLaughry (1917-2007)
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Blocking Back/Linebacker—(Brown) New York Giants 1940
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He printed his name and answers on the questionnaire that I mailed to him in 1994, but he signed this 3x5 card. On the back side, he wrote that Jim Poole was the toughest player who he played against. He played against him in the 1940 All-Star game. He was the son of longtime Brown football coach, Tuss McLaughry.
Bill Mackrides (1925-2019)
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Quarterback—(Nevada) Reno Army Air Field Flying Wolves 1943, Philadelphia Eagles 1947-51, Hamilton Tiger Cats (CFL) 1952, New York Giants 1953, Pittsburgh Steelers 1953
Ray "Slingin' Syrian" Mallouf (1918-2008)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back/Tailback—(SMU) St. Mary’s Pre-flight Air Devils 1945, Chicago Cardinals 1941,1946-48, New York Giants 1949
There was a captain out in California who wanted to have a football team, and they shipped me and some other players out to Oakland so they could have a team at a station out there. About a dozen players who had pro experience had to play out there before being discharged. After the season, they let us all go home. I had several letters from teams in the AAFC, but I didn’t get any offers because I had already signed with the Cardinals. I told them I wasn’t interested. Since I knew most of the boys on the Cardinals, I wanted to go back with them. The Cardinals offered me about $10,000. So my salary was almost tripled after the war.
Ray Mallouf
Ray Mallouf
Taldon "Tillie" Manton (1912-1991)
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Blocking Back/Linebacker/Defensive Back—(LSU/TCU) New York Giants 1936-38, Washington Redskins 1938, Los Angeles Bulldogs (AFL) 1939, Long Island Indians (AFL) 1940, Brooklyn Dodgers 1943; Coach—Long Island Indians (AFL) 1940,1946 [#1 Field Goals AFL 1939]
One day Tilly Manton was run over in a scrimmage play and knocked out. Willie Walls, a former teammate of Manton's at T.C.U., ran over to pick up his buddy, Manton came to with his eyelids flickering. Walls laughed and commented: "His eyes are ticking like a clock. Look at those glassy eyes. They look like agates." Someone else shouted "agate-eyes" and everybody laughed, and that was Manton's nickname thereafter.
Steve Owen
Steve Owen
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In this Sep. 27, 1990, letter to me, Manton writes: "I played against a lot of great football players and with a lot of players on the same team. Sam Baugh, who helped with the Washington Redskins was the greatest all-around football player I ever saw. I played with Sam in college (T.C.U.) in Fort Worth, , Texas and also with him in pro football (Redskins). That is about all I can tell you. It is a different ball game today."
Walter Matuszczak (1918-2001)
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Blocking Back—(Cornell) 1938-40
I was drafted by the N. Y. Giants—the pay was such that I went back to school.
Walter Matuszczak
Walter Matuszczak
Tommy Mont (1922-2012)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back/Halfback—(Maryland) Fort Benning Fourth Infantry Raiders 1944, Wilmington Clippers (AFL) 1947, Washington Redskins 1947-49
Perry Moss (1926-2014)
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Quarterback—(Tulsa/Illinois) Army Air Force Training Command Skymasters 1945, Keesler Field Fliers 1945, Los Angeles Bulldogs (PCFL) 1946-47, Green Bay Packers 1948; Coach—Florida State 1959, Montreal Alouettes (CFL) 1960-62, Charleston Rockets (American Football Association) 1964-65, Marshall 1968, Chicago Bruisers (Arena Football League) 1988, Detroit Drive (Arena Football League) 1990, Orlando Predators (Arena Football League) 1991-97
Dick Moynihan (1902-1991)
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Blocking Back/Fullback/Halfback—(Villanova) Bethlehem Bears (Eastern Football League) 1927, Frankford Yellowjackets 1927, Clifton Heights Panthers (Independent) 1927-28
Steve Nemeth (1922-1998)
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Quarterback/Tailback/Defensive Back/Kicker—(Notre Dame) Cleveland Rams 1945, Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1946, Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1947, Paterson Panthers (AFL) 1947, Montreal Alouettes (CFL) 1948 [Indiana Football Hall of Fame 1987]
Emery Nix (1919-2005)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back—(TCU) New York Giants 1943, 1946
His nickname was Ice Water. He was a cool guy under pressure.
Bruce Alford, Sr.
Bruce Alford, Sr.
Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994)
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Quarterback/End—(Whittier, 1933-34) [he was a second-string substitute; 37th President of the United States, 1969-74]
Harry O'Boyle (1905-1994)
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Blocking Back/Defensive Back/Fullback/Linebacker—(Notre Dame) Green Bay Packers 1928-29,1932, Philadelphia Eagles 1933 [All-American 1926]
Johnny Blood and I were freshmen at Notre Dame in 1923. Suddenly he was absent therefrom and the next time I saw him several years later was in pro football.
Harry O'Boyle, note to Mel Bashore, 1990
Harry O'Boyle, note to Mel Bashore, 1990
O'Boyle played on Knute Rockne's national championship football team in 1924 at Notre Dame. As a sophomore, O'Boyle played in the backfield with the famous “Four Horsemen.”
"Chuckin'" Charlie O'Rourke (1917-2000)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back—(Boston College) Chicago Bears 1942, Fleet City Bluejackets 1945, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1946-47, Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1948-49 [College Football Hall of Fame 1972]
With the Bears in 1942 I had a contract for five years at $5,000 a year. After the war I called George Halas; I wanted to talk with him about going back with the Bears, but somehow we never did get together. Lee Artoe, a tackle who had been with the Bears too, had jumped to the Los Angeles Dons of the AAFC, and he called me up and asked me to play with the Dons. So I had to call Halas again and tell him I was going to play with the Dons. He said, “No, I’ve got you on a five-year contract.” And I said, “Well, did you read the small print of the contract? At the bottom it says if this man goes into the service his contract is null and void. George, that seems as though I’m a free agent.” With that, I told him I was going to sign with the Dons. They offered me $10,000.
Charlie O’Rourke
Charlie O’Rourke
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O'Rourke attended high school in Malden, MA. Long after "Chuckin' Charlie" O'Rourke had ended his career at Boston College, Eastern experts persisted in proclaiming him "the greatest football player" in the school's history. Skinny at 155 pounds over a 5-10 frame, O'Rourke was one of the most clever tailbacks the game has ever known, bringing a twinkle to the eyes of a young head coach named Frank Leahy, and leading Boston College to a 9-1 record in the 1939 regular season campaign, and the Eagles' first bowl invitation. BC lost to Clemson, 6-3, in that 1940 Cotton Bowl contest, but the wily triple-threat artist from Malden, Massachusetts would not be denied. He used his senior season to catapult the Eagles to a 10-0-0 record and inspired the Eagles to a come-from-behind 19-13 victory over powerful Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl. However, O'Rourke's finest acclaim came earlier that season; in a classic battle with previously unbeaten Georgetown - a game that Grantland Rice heralded as "the greatest college football game I've ever seen." Boston College was clinging to a 19-16 lead with two minutes remaining when, on fourth down, O'Rourke raced back to his end zone, eluding tacklers for almost a full minute before taking a safety. He then punted BC out of trouble and preserved a 19-18 victory. At Boston College he played one year under Gil Dobie, two years under Frank Leahy, and made All-America in 1940. He had a pro football career with the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Dons, and Baltimore Colts in 1942 and from 1946-49. He coached football at the University of Massachusetts 1952-59. He served as commissioner of the Pop Warner League, a national organization of junior football teams.
John "Honey" Patrick (1918-2000)
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Blocking Back/Linebacker/Fullback—(Penn State) Fort Benning 1942, Army All Stars 1942; Pittsburgh Steelers 1941,1945-46, Johnstown Clippers (Pennsylvania League) 1947
George Pfann (1902-1996)
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Quarterback—(Cornell) Coach—Swarthmore 1931-35 [All-American 1923, College Football Hall of Fame 1957]
He was a brilliant, hard-fighting back who went all-out on every play.
Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice
Warren Plunkett (1920-2018)
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Blocking Back/Linebacker—(Minnesota) Cleveland Rams 1942
George “The Kid” Ratterman (1926-2007)
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Quarterback—(Notre Dame) Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1947-49, New York Yanks 1950-51, Cleveland Browns 1952-56; Montreal Alouettes (CFL) 1951 [#3 All-Time AAFC Passing]
Ratterman had come to Cleveland in 1952 as a backup quarterback to Otto Graham. With Graham retired, at least temporarily, it was Ratterman's turn to shine. He had the skills. And he had the highest IQ in the league. But the guy was a wild man. One example: Despite the Amish influences, there was a nudist colony hiding somewhere in the woods near Hiram [Ohio]. As far as I could find out, the nudist colony had issued just one guest card. Turned out that Ratterman had it . . . .The mad genius, we called him. He'd been to law school, was vice president of a consulting firm in Cincinnati and was on the board of directors of a packaging company in Medina, Ohio. He took tap dancing lessons on Friday nights, was a part-time practicing nudist, and still managed to be the best bullpen quarterback in the NFL . . . .he was a winner, a contributor and, not unlike the great Paul Brown, an innovator—years ahead of his time.
Don Paul
Don Paul
Nick Sacrinty (1924-2008)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back—(Wake Forest) Chicago Bears 1947
Herman "Biff" Schneidman (1912-2008)
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Blocking Back/Defensive Back/Linebacker/Offensive End/Defensive End—(Iowa) Green Bay Packers 1935-40, Chicago Cardinals 1940; Great Lakes Naval Training Station Bluejackets 1942
He [Curly Lambeau] mailed me a contract in 1935 for $80 a game, which was about the bare minimum. I wasn't a star like [Johnny] Blood or Hutson. When I played for the Chicago Cardinals, I got $135 a game, win or lose, and whether I played or not.
Herm Schneidman
Herm Schneidman
Ivan Schottel (1920-2000)
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Blocking Back/Defensive Back/Defensive End—(Northwest Missouri State) St. Mary’s Pre-flight Air Devils 1942, Detroit Lions 1946,1948
Jack "Soapy" Shapiro (1907-2001)
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Blocking Back—(NYU) Staten Island Stapletons 1929
I probably was the smallest person to ever play in the NFL as my discharge papers have me listed at 5 ft. ½ inch tall. I always like to say I was 5 ft. 1 inch. Although I only played in 2 games and in another game which was an exhibition game where I played for 58 minutes because our quarterback was injured and I scored a touchdown on a 35 yd. run.
Jack E. Shapiro
Jack E. Shapiro
I wrote an article in the Coffin Corner (vol. 21, no. 94, 1999) about Jack Shapiro, the smallest player to ever play in the NFL. I have five handwritten letters sent to me by Jack and a transcript of a telephone interview.
Sollie Sherman (1917-2010)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back—(Chicago) Chicago Bears 1939-40
Richard "Red" Smith (1904-1978)
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Blocking Back/Guard/Tailback/Fullback/End/Wingback—(Lawrence/Notre Dame) Green Bay Packers 1927,1929, New York Giants 1928,1931, New York Yankees 1928, Newark Tornadoes 1930 [New York Giants baseball: 1927, 1 game, 0 at bats]
Riley "General" Smith (1911-1999)
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Blocking Back/Linebacker—(Alabama) Boston Redskins 1936, Washington Redskins 1937-38; Jacksonville Naval Air Station Fliers 1942 [All-American 1935, College Football Hall of Fame 1985]
We blew an important first down when I didn't get a good block on my man, and when I went back into the next huddle, Riley Smith said, “Get out of here, Barber, and tell [Coach Ray] Flaherty to send me another
tackle.”
Jim Barber
tackle.”
Jim Barber
Bob Snyder (1913-2001)
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Quarterback/Tailback/Defensive Back—(Ohio) Pittsburgh Americans (AFL) 1936, Cleveland Rams 1937-38, Chicago Bears 1939-41,1943 [#1 Scoring AFL 1936]
The locker room boy would give everyone a jockstrap, a pair of sweat socks and a T-shirt. That was all you got. After practice, you'd go in the shower with everything on and wash it all out. Then, you'd go out and hang it on the bushes and hoped it got dry.
Bob Snyder, on the Bears’ training camp at Delafield, Wisconsin
Bob Snyder, on the Bears’ training camp at Delafield, Wisconsin
Ken Stofer (1919-2006)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back—(Cornell) Buffalo Bisons (AAFC) 1946, Elmira Gliders (Empire State League) 1947
In 1947 I joined the Elmira Gliders [in the upstate New York semipro league; other teams were Rochester, Syracuse, and Corning All Stars] as one of two guys getting paid. No practice, just show up on Saturday (nite usually) and play . . . .Getting the money after was sickening. Bums fighting over the cash box—with guns! I would get my money and clear out.
Ken Stofer, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore, circa August 1992
Ken Stofer, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore, circa August 1992
Joe Sulaitis (1921-1980)
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Blocking Back/Defensive End/Linebacker/Offensive Guard/Quarterback/Fullback/Wingback— New York Giants 1943-45, 1947-53, Boston Yanks 1946; Jersey City Giants (AFL) 1946
Jim Tarrant (1921-2010)
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Quarterback—(Howard/Tennessee) Fort Benning Infantry Doughboys 1945; Miami Seahawks (AAFC) 1946
George "Duke" Terlep (1923-2010)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back—(Notre Dame) Great Lakes Naval Training Station Bluejackets 1945; Buffalo Bisons (AAFC) 1946, Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1947-48, Cleveland Browns (AAFC) 1948; Coach —Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL) 1958-59
I played my freshman and part of my sophomore year and was called into the service right in the middle of the football season. I remember we were playing a Navy team in Philadelphia and I had to go right from Philadelphia to report. In the Navy at that time, I was in the V12 program. As life went on, I was in the Navy and I was later transferred to Great Lakes Naval Training Station. This was in 1945. I was with the company at that time and we were going to be shipping out for San Diego. The word was we were going to Japan. The afternoon when we were called in the ranks, the company commander told me to report to a gentleman by the name of Lt. JG Paul Brown on the double. I mean on the double! which I did. I got there and the officer said to me, “Are you the Terlep that played quarterback at Notre Dame?” I said, “Yes, sir.” He said, “Well, you’re not going with your unit. Report for football practice tomorrow at 13:00.” I was shocked. I didn’t hardly know what to say. I asked the question again. He repeated it. I turned an about face and I got on a telephone to call my fiancé. I was engaged to her at that time. I had just called her and said goodbye because we were leaving the next morning. And I stayed and played for him. That was Paul Brown who was the head coach at Ohio State and the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. That’s who he was. I didn’t know it at the time. We had a great football team.
George Terlep, excerpt of interview with Mel Bashore, 2007
George Terlep, excerpt of interview with Mel Bashore, 2007
Y. A. Tittle (1926-2017)
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Quarterback—(LSU) Baltimore Colts (AAFC/NFL) 1948-50, San Francisco 49ers 1951-60, New York Giants 1961-64 [All-Pro 1957,1961-63, #1 Passing TDs 1955,1962-63, NFL MVP 1963, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1971]
Ivan "Buzz" Trebotich (1920-1992)
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Blocking Back/Defensive Back/Linebacker/Fullback—(St. Mary's, Calif.) Oakland Giants (PCFL) 1943-46, Detroit Lions 1944-45, San Francisco Clippers (PCFL) 1947, Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1947
Young Arnold "Mr. Topside" Tucker (1924-2019)
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Quarterback—(Florida/Miami (FL)/Army) [All-American 1946, James E. Sullivan Trophy 1946, College Football Hall of Fame 2008]
Cotton Warburton (1911-1982)
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Quarterback—(USC) [All-American 1933; College Football Hall of Fame 1975]
At 5-7 and a scant 145-pounds, Irvine "Cotton" Warburton might have been overlooked as a collegiate back. In fact, that's exactly what happened. The Southern Cal quarterback spent most of his Saturdays eluding enemy tacklers. Obviously, his mastery of elusion led to a mastery of illusion in later life. "Cotton" became a successful Hollywood film editor and won an Oscar for his work on the box office hit "Mary Poppins." Small but mighty, Warburton became the most publicized open-field runner of the 1930s, leading USC through a pair of smash gridiron hits in 1932 and 1933, earning All-America laurels in the latter year. During those two campaigns, the Trojans won 20 games, lost but one (13-7 to Stanford) and tied one (0-0 against Oregon State). Warburton's contribution to those triumphs included team leadership in rushing and scoring. His career average gain was over four yards per carry. There was a good reason for his ground-gaining accomplishments. The San Diego, California, native brought state championship speed to USC after winning the California schoolboy quarter-mile in 1930. Somebody had to open the holes, however - even for the elusive "Cotton." It was Hall of Fame guard Aaron Rosenberg who also made it big in the movies as a director and producer.
Bob Waterfield (1920-1983)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back—(UCLA) Cleveland Rams 1945, Los Angeles Rams 1946-52; Coach—Los Angeles Rams 1960-62 [Pro Football Hall of Fame 1965]
Jim Youel (1922-2020)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back—(Iowa) Great Lakes (IL) Naval Training Station Bluejackets 1944, Corpus Christi (TX) Naval Air Station Comets 1945, Washington Redskins 1946-48, Boston Yanks 1948
Silvio Zaninelli (1913-1979)
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Blocking Back/Defensive Back/Linebacker/Fullback/Kicker—(Duquesne) Pittsburgh Pirates 1934-37
Leroy Zimmerman (1918-1997)
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Quarterback/Defensive Back/Tailback/Fullback/Wingback—(San Jose State) Washington Redskins 1940-42, San Diego Bombers (PCFL) 1943, Phil-Pitt Steagles 1943, Philadelphia Eagles 1944-46, Detroit Lions 1947, Boston Yanks 1948 [All Pro 1944, #1 Interceptions 1945]