scoutpilot
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For all you Academy football fans out there...
Check out those Chuck Taylors, and the guy behind him getting a knuckle sandwich
Captain "Automatic" Otto Graham, USCG
One of the greatest players of early college and pro football in America. He led the Cleveland Browns to the AAFC championship game in each of his four years as quarterback. When the Browns joined the NFL in 1950, he proved the critics of the "weak" AAFC wrong when he led the Browns to the league championship that season. All told, he took the Browns to the championship 10 times, winning four in the AAFC and three in the NFL.
Otto Graham was born weighing a record 14 lbs, 12 oz. in Waukegan, Ill. He was raised in a musical family, and went to Northwestern University on a basketball scholarship, where he also played cornet in the Wildcat band. He was recruited to the football team after the coach heard rumors of a fraternity brother throwing incredible passes in the intramural league. Graham played three seasons as a tailback for the Wildcats, He finished his senior season in 1943, placing third in the Heisman voting. He is one of the few players to be selected as an All-American in football and basketball.
Otto was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions, but was obligated to serve in the US Navy in WWII, and never joined the team. Having faced his ferocious talent at Northwestern University as coach of the rival OSU Buckeyes, Browns founder and coach Paul Brown recruited Otto to play for the Browns following his service. His years with the Browns saw him emerge as one of the greatest players in the history of pro football.
As his career waned, "Automatic" Otto hung up his cleats in 1955 and turned to coaching. In 1959 he was commissioned a commander in the Coast Guard and became the head football coach and athletic director at the Coast Guard Academy, positions he held for seven years. In 1963 Commander Graham produced the first undefeated, untied team in the Academy's history.
In 1966 he became coach and general manager of the Washington Redskins. He was promoted to captain in the Coast Guard Reserve at that time. He returned to the Coast Guard Academy as athletic director in 1970 and retired in 1985 with the rank of captain. Captain Graham was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965, his first year of eligibility and is consistently ranked as one of the top passers of all time.
Captain "Automatic" Otto Graham died in 2003 at the age of 82.
Check out those Chuck Taylors, and the guy behind him getting a knuckle sandwich
Captain "Automatic" Otto Graham, USCG
One of the greatest players of early college and pro football in America. He led the Cleveland Browns to the AAFC championship game in each of his four years as quarterback. When the Browns joined the NFL in 1950, he proved the critics of the "weak" AAFC wrong when he led the Browns to the league championship that season. All told, he took the Browns to the championship 10 times, winning four in the AAFC and three in the NFL.
Otto Graham was born weighing a record 14 lbs, 12 oz. in Waukegan, Ill. He was raised in a musical family, and went to Northwestern University on a basketball scholarship, where he also played cornet in the Wildcat band. He was recruited to the football team after the coach heard rumors of a fraternity brother throwing incredible passes in the intramural league. Graham played three seasons as a tailback for the Wildcats, He finished his senior season in 1943, placing third in the Heisman voting. He is one of the few players to be selected as an All-American in football and basketball.
Otto was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions, but was obligated to serve in the US Navy in WWII, and never joined the team. Having faced his ferocious talent at Northwestern University as coach of the rival OSU Buckeyes, Browns founder and coach Paul Brown recruited Otto to play for the Browns following his service. His years with the Browns saw him emerge as one of the greatest players in the history of pro football.
As his career waned, "Automatic" Otto hung up his cleats in 1955 and turned to coaching. In 1959 he was commissioned a commander in the Coast Guard and became the head football coach and athletic director at the Coast Guard Academy, positions he held for seven years. In 1963 Commander Graham produced the first undefeated, untied team in the Academy's history.
In 1966 he became coach and general manager of the Washington Redskins. He was promoted to captain in the Coast Guard Reserve at that time. He returned to the Coast Guard Academy as athletic director in 1970 and retired in 1985 with the rank of captain. Captain Graham was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965, his first year of eligibility and is consistently ranked as one of the top passers of all time.
Captain "Automatic" Otto Graham died in 2003 at the age of 82.