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| Jay "The Flying Dutchman" Berwanger | |
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Position: Halfback |
| Member Biography | |
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John Jacob Berwanger, known as "Jay," was a two-time All-
America halfback for Chicago. He was the first winner of the
Heisman Trophy in 1935. He was the number one pick in the
first pro football draft. The Philadelphia Eagles drafted him
and traded his negotiating rights to the Chicago Bears, but Jay
never played pro ball. Instead he started a career in business.
In 24 college games he scored 22 touchdowns, averaged 4.2
yards a try from scrimmage and 25.7 yards on 34 kickoff
returns. On defense he played linebacker until fourth down,
when he became the punt return man. Against Ohio State in
1935 he made an 85-yard run in which, as recorded in the
NCAA guide, "Berwanger bowled over four tacklers,
outwitted two others, and outran the last." In the final minute
of his final college game, he made a rambling, evading 49-yard
punt return to the 1-yard line against Illinois. He plunged over
for a touchdown from scrimmage, place-kicked the extra point,
and won the game 7-6. He also had runs of 65 yards against
Dartmouth, 57 against Michigan and 97 against Indiana. He died June 27, 2002.
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