George Sauer
George Henry Sauer Sr. (December 11, 1910 – February 5, 1994) was an American football player, coach, college sports administrator, and professional football executive.
 Sauer from 1934 Cornhusker | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 11, 1910 Stratton, Nebraska |
| Died | February 5, 1994 (aged 83) Waco, Texas |
| Playing career | |
| 1931–1933 | Nebraska |
| 1935–1937 | Green Bay Packers |
| 1942 | Pensacola NAS |
| Position(s) | Halfback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1937–1941 | New Hampshire |
| 1946–1947 | Kansas |
| 1948–1949 | Navy |
| 1950–1955 | Baylor |
| Basketball | |
| 1938–1939 | New Hampshire |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1950–1958 | Baylor |
| 1961 | New York Titans (GM) |
| 1962–1969 | New York Titans/Jets (dir. pro pers.) |
| 1969–1970 | Boston Patriots (GM) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 78–55–9 (football) 3–14 (basketball) |
| Bowls | 0–3 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2 New England Conference (1937, 1940) 2 Big Six (1946–1947) | |
| Awards | |
| All-American, 1933 | |
| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 1954 (profile) | |
Career
Sauer attended the University of Nebraska where he was an All-American halfback under Dana X. Bible from 1931-1933. After college, he played for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1935 to 1937, helping them win the 1936 NFL championship as their starting left halfback. Sauer left professional football in 1937 and coached at the University of New Hampshire from 1937 to 1941, compiling a record of 22-18-1.[1] He left his coaching position and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942 and was commissioned as an officer after completing the requisite training.[2] After he completed his military service, he coached for two years at University of Kansas, he compiled a 15–3–2 (.786) record, winning the conference title in each season.[3] After he left Kansas, Sauer coached at the United States Naval Academy (1948–1949), and Baylor University (1950–1955), compiling a career college football record of 78–55–9 and earning trips to both the Orange Bowl and the Gator Bowl.[4] Sauer remained at Baylor as Athletic Director until 1960 when he became the first General Manager of the New York Titans of the American Football League. The Titans later reorganized and in 1963 were renamed in as the New York Jets. As director of player personnel, Sauer drafted and signed his own son, George Sauer Jr. as a wide receiver.[5] Sauer remained with the Jets until 1969 when he was named general manager of the Boston Patriots.[6]
Sauer appeared as an imposter on the February 26, 1962 episode of the game show To Tell The Truth.[7]
Death and legacy
Sauer died in 1994 after a 10 year battle with Alzheimer's disease. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife Lillian, son George Sauer Jr., and daughter, Dana.[8]
Sauer was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1954 and in 1998 was inducted into the University of New Hampshire Wildcats' Hall of Fame.[9]
Head coaching record
Football
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire Wildcats (New England Conference) (1937–1941) | |||||||||
| 1937 | New Hampshire | 7–1 | 1–0 | T–1st | |||||
| 1938 | New Hampshire | 3–6 | 1–1 | 3rd | |||||
| 1939 | New Hampshire | 3–5 | 1–1 | T–2nd | |||||
| 1940 | New Hampshire | 5–3 | 2–0 | 1st | |||||
| 1941 | New Hampshire | 4–3–1 | 0–0–1 | 3rd | |||||
| New Hampshire: | 22–18–1 | 5–2–1 | |||||||
| Kansas Jayhawks (Big Six Conference) (1946–1947) | |||||||||
| 1946 | Kansas | 7–2–1 | 4–1 | T–1st | |||||
| 1947 | Kansas | 8–1–2 | 4–0–1 | T–1st | L Orange | 12 | |||
| Kansas: | 15–3–3 | 8–1–1 | |||||||
| Navy Midshipmen (Independent) (1948–1949) | |||||||||
| 1948 | Navy | 0–8–1 | |||||||
| 1949 | Navy | 3–5–1 | |||||||
| Navy: | 3–13–2 | ||||||||
| Baylor Bears (Southwest Conference) (1950–1955) | |||||||||
| 1950 | Baylor | 7–3 | 4–2 | 2nd | 15 | ||||
| 1951 | Baylor | 8–2–1 | 4–1–1 | 2nd | L Orange | 9 | 9 | ||
| 1952 | Baylor | 4–4–2 | 1–3–2 | 5th | |||||
| 1953 | Baylor | 7–3 | 4–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1954 | Baylor | 7–4 | 4–2 | T–3rd | L Gator | 18 | |||
| 1955 | Baylor | 5–5 | 2–4 | T–5th | |||||
| Baylor: | 38–21–3 | 19–14–3 | |||||||
| Total: | 78–55–9 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
References
- "George Sauer Sr". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- "George Sauer enlist in U.S. Navy". Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, NE). Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- "GEORGE SAUER". National Football Foundation Hall of Fame. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- Mosher, Curt. The Best of the Big Red Running Backs. Champaign, IL: Sports Publishing. pp. 146–150. ISBN 1-58261-001-0.
- "George Sauer". Concordia University - The Center for Volga German Studies.
- "Ex Navy Football Coach Sauer is Dead at 81". The Baltimore Sun. February 9, 1994.
- "To Tell The Truth". CBS. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- "Sauer, former Baylor coach, dies after illness". Austin American Statesman (Austin, TX). February 8, 1994.
- "UNH Wildcats - Hall of Fame". unhwildcats.com. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
External links
- George Sauer at the College Football Hall of Fame
- Career statistics and player information from Pro Football Reference
- George Sauer at Find a Grave
