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Alex Agase

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Alex Agase
Agase pictured from above in uniform on a 1950 Bowman football card
Agase on a 1950 Bowman football card
No. 35, 62
Position:Guard,linebacker
Personal information
Born:(1922-03-27)March 27, 1922
Chicago,Illinois, U.S.
Died:May 3, 2007(2007-05-03)(aged 85)
Tarpon Springs, Florida,U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school:Evanston (IL) Township
College:Illinois;Purdue
NFL draft:1944/ round: 8 / pick: 71
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
As an administrator:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games:70
Interceptions:8
Player stats atPFR

Alexander Arrasi Agase(March 27, 1922 – May 3, 2007) was anAmerican footballguardandlinebackerwho was named anAll-Americanthree times in college and played on threeCleveland Brownschampionship teams before becominghead football coachatNorthwestern UniversityandPurdue University.

Agase grew up in Illinois and attended theUniversity of Illinois,where he was a standout as aguardstarting in 1941. He was named an All-American in 1942. Agase then entered theU.S. Marinesduring World War II and played a season at Purdue while in training. He was again named an All-American in 1943. After his discharge from the Marines, he came back to Illinois and played a final season in 1946, after which he was named an All-American for a third time. Agase began his professional football career with theLos Angeles Donsof theAll-America Football Conference(AAFC) in 1947, but was soon traded to theChicago Rocketsand then the Browns, where he remained until 1952. Cleveland won two AAFC championships and oneNational Football Leaguechampionship while Agase was on the team. After retiring from football, Agase worked as an assistant coach for theDallas Texansand, after a brief return to playing for theBaltimore Colts,Iowa State University.He was hired as an assistant at Northwestern in 1956 under head coachAra Parseghian.

Agase remained as an assistant until Parseghian left to coach atNotre Damein 1963 and he was named the new head coach. Agase guided theNorthwestern Wildcatsto a 32–58–1win-loss-tie recordin nine seasons. He was named coach of the year by theFootball Writers Association of Americaafter guiding the team to a 6–4 record in 1970. Agase left to coach at Purdue in 1972, but none of his teams posted a winning record there, and he was fired in 1977. He then spent six years as athletic director atEastern Michigan Universitybefore retiring. Agase died in 2007. He was inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Famein 1963.

Early life and college

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Agase was born inChicagoto anAssyrianfather, Goolasis(Charles) Agase (1883–1959), and anArmenianmother, Eslie Darwitt (1892–1971). Both were born inPersia.[1]His brotherLouwas also involved with football.

He attendedEvanston Township High School,but only played on the school's varsity football team in hissenioryear.[1]After graduating, he attended theUniversity of Illinoisand playedcollege footballthere as a rightguardin 1941 and 1942.[2][3]In a 1942 game against theUniversity of Minnesota,Agase scored twotouchdownsfor theFighting Illini,becoming only the second guard in college football history to accomplish that feat.[2]The first touchdown came in the second quarter, when Agase stripped the ball from Minnesota'sBill Daleyand ran it back 35 yards.[4]The second was a fourth-quarter fumble recovery in the end zone to give Illinois a 20–13 victory.[4]In another game againstGreat Lakes Naval Training Station,a military team, Agase had 22 tackles.[2]Under coachRay Eliot,Illinois finished the season with a 6–4win–loss record.[5]Agase was named anAll-Americanafter the season.[3]

Agase entered theU.S. militaryin 1943 as America's involvement in World War II intensified.[3]He was sent toPurdue Universityfor training in theU.S. Marinesand played on the school's football team along with enlistees from other schools.[6]Purdue had won just oneBig Ten Conferencegame the previous year, but the influx of trainees including Agase led to a reversal of fortune in 1943.[6]Coached byElmer Burnham,thePurdue Boilermakerswon all of their games that year and were named Big Ten co-champions.[7]Agase was again named an All-American.[8]

During the following two years, Agase served on active duty in the war. He participated in the battles ofIwo JimaandOkinawa,where he received aPurple Heartafter he was wounded in action.[9]He rose to the rank offirst lieutenant.[10]Agase returned to Illinois in 1946 and rejoined a Fightining Illini team that posted an 8–2 record and was ranked fifth in the nation in theAP Pollat season's end.[9][11][12]Illinois beat theUCLA Bruinsin the1947 Rose Bowlafter the season.[12]Agase was named an All-American for a third time, and received theChicago Tribune Silver Footballas themost valuable playerin the Big Ten.[9][10]

Professional football career

[edit]

Agase had been selected by theGreen Bay Packersin the1944 NFL draft,but military service delayed his professional career. Although Green Bay still held the rights to him when he graduated from college, Agase instead signed in 1947 with theLos Angeles Donsof the newAll-America Football Conference(AAFC).[13]Agase, however, played just three games for the Dons before he was traded in September 1947 to theChicago Rockets,another AAFC team.[14]The Rockets finished the season in last place in the AAFC's western division with a 1–13 record.[15]

The Rockets traded Agase and fellow linemanChubby Griggthe following year to theCleveland Browns,who had won the AAFC championship in each of the league's first two years of play.[16][17]Led byquarterbackOtto Graham,fullbackMarion MotleyandendsDante LavelliandMac Speedie,Cleveland won the championship again in 1948, posting a perfect 14–0 record and beating theBuffalo Billsin the title game.[18]Another championship followed in 1949, but the AAFC then dissolved and the Browns, along with two other teams, were absorbed by the NFL.[19]Helped by a strong offensive line including Agase,centerFrank GatskiandtacklesLou GrozaandLou Rymkus,Cleveland won theNFL championshipin 1950.[20]The team reached theNFL championshipin 1951 but lost to theLos Angeles Rams.[21]Cleveland lost 24–17 despite gaining more yards and more first downs than the Rams.[21]"It was a very disappointing loss", Agase later said. "We weren't quite as sharp as we normally were on offense."[22]

Coaching career

[edit]

Before the 1952 season, the Browns traded Agase to theDallas Texans,a newly formed team set to start play that year. He ended his playing career and signed as a line coach with the Texans under head coachJim Phelan.[23]The Texans finished with a 1–11 record and folded after the season.[24][25]Agase came out of retirement briefly after the Texans disbanded, joining theBaltimore Coltsand playing as alinebackerfor the 1953 season.[26]The Colts finished the season with a 3–9 record, placing fifth in the NFL West division.[27]

Iowa State and Northwestern

[edit]

Agase was offered a job as an assistant coach for the Colts, but instead joinedIowa State Universityas its line coach in early 1954 on a $7,000-a-year salary.[28]He and Iowa State head coachVince DiFrancescahad played football together in high school.[28]After two seasons at Iowa State, he signed as defensive line coach atNorthwestern University.[29]He worked under head coachAra Parseghian,a former Cleveland teammate.[29]

In seven years under Parseghian at Northwestern, Agase rose to become the coach's top assistant.[30]When Parseghian was offered the head coaching job at theUniversity of Notre Dameat the end of 1963, he recommended Agase as his replacement.[30]Agase got the job immediately after Parseghian left.[31]

Agase's first years as coach of theNorthwestern Wildcats footballteam were unsuccessful. The team had losing records each season between 1964 and 1969.[32]In 1970, however, the team finished with a 6–4 record, taking second place in the Big Ten Conference, and Agase was named the national coach of the year by theFootball Writers Association of America.[32][33]The Wildcats followed up with a 7–4 record in 1971, but fell to 2–9 in 1972.[32]

Purdue

[edit]

After nine seasons as the Northwestern coach, Agase accepted an offer at the end of 1972 to become head football coach at Purdue, one of the two schools for which he played.[34]Taking the job was "not an easy decision to make", he said at the time, because he was happy at Northwestern.[34]Agase coached at Purdue through the 1976 season. His teams never posted a winning record in his years there, although they did pull two noteworthy upsets of Top Ten teams, defeating #2 Notre Dame in South Bend in 1974 and #1 Michigan in West Lafayette in 1976.[32]He was fired in early 1977 and took a job asathletic directoratEastern Michigan UniversityinYpsilanti, Michigan.[35]He stayed in that job until 1982, when he unexpectedly resigned citing "personal reasons".[36]

Later life and death

[edit]

Agase remained active in college football by assistingBo Schembechleras a volunteer at theUniversity of Michiganuntil 1987, focusing on special teams.[37]He was named to theWalter Camp Foundationall-century team in 1989 and the University of Illinois all-century team in 1990.[37][38]Agase was inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Famein 1963.[8]While living in Tarpon Springs, Florida, Agase was an active member of George Young United Methodist Church, later renamed East Lake United Methodist Church. He died in 2007 at a hospital near his home inTarpon Springs, Florida.[8]

Head coaching record

[edit]
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Northwestern Wildcats(Big Ten Conference)(1964–1972)
1964 Northwestern 3–6 2–5 T–7th
1965 Northwestern 4–6 3–4 6th
1966 Northwestern 3–6–1 2–4–1 T–7th
1967 Northwestern 3–7 2–5 8th
1968 Northwestern 1–9 1–6 T–8th
1969 Northwestern 3–7 3–4 T–5th
1970 Northwestern 6–4 6–1 T–2nd
1971 Northwestern 7–4 6–3 2nd
1972 Northwestern 2–9 1–8 10th
Northwestern: 32–58–1 26–40–1
Purdue Boilermakers(Big Ten Conference)(1973–1976)
1973 Purdue 5–6 4–4 T–4th
1974 Purdue 4–6–1 3–5 6th
1975 Purdue 4–7 4–4 T–3rd
1976 Purdue 5–6 4–4 T–3rd
Purdue: 18–25–1 15–17
Total: 50–83–2

References

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  1. ^ab"Hall of Famer Spotlight – Alex Agase".College Football Hall of Fame. Archived fromthe originalon December 14, 2010.RetrievedOctober 9,2012.
  2. ^abc"Alex Agase".College Football Hall of Fame.Football Foundation.RetrievedOctober 9,2012.
  3. ^abc"Alex Agase Dead At The Age Of 85".University of Illinois. Archived fromthe originalon January 22, 2013.RetrievedOctober 9,2012.
  4. ^abHoff, Dave (October 10, 1942)."Alex Agase Big Factor In Victory".Youngstown Vindicator.Champaign, Ill. Associated Press. p. D1.RetrievedOctober 10,2012.
  5. ^"Illinois Yearly Results".College Football Data Warehouse. Archived fromthe originalon May 3, 2012.RetrievedOctober 11,2012.
  6. ^ab"Great Lakes Bows to Purdue, 23 to 13".The Milwaukee Journal.Great Lakes, Ill. Associated Press. September 19, 1943. p. 5.RetrievedOctober 11,2012.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^"Purdue Yearly Results".College Football Data Warehouse. Archived fromthe originalon October 22, 2012.RetrievedOctober 11,2012.
  8. ^abc"Alex Agase, College Football Standout, Is Dead at 85".The New York Times.Chicago. Associated Press. May 5, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon January 31, 2013.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.
  9. ^abcLeone, Jared (May 6, 2007)."Ex-football coach Agase dies".Tampa Bay Times.Archivedfrom the original on October 12, 2012.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.
  10. ^ab"Illinois' Alex Agase Rated Most Valuable".The Palm Beach Post.Chicago. Associated Press. December 15, 1946. p. 20.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^"Illinois In the Polls".College Football Data Warehouse. Archived fromthe originalon May 3, 2012.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.
  12. ^ab"Illinois Yearly Results".College Football Data Warehouse. Archived fromthe originalon May 3, 2012.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.
  13. ^"Dons Sign Alex Agase; Packers Had Rights".The Milwaukee Journal.Los Angeles. Associated Press. February 1, 1947. p. 7.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^"Rockets Get Agase In Trade for Back".The Pittsburgh Press.Chicago. United Press International. September 17, 1947. p. 29.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.
  15. ^"1947 Chicago Rockets Statistics & Players".Pro Football Reference.Archivedfrom the original on October 18, 2012.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.
  16. ^"Browns Get Agase in Trade for Lund".Cleveland Plain Dealer.May 22, 1948. p. 17.
  17. ^Piascik 2007,pp. 64, 81.
  18. ^Piascik 2007,pp. 120–121.
  19. ^Piascik 2007,pp. 141, 145.
  20. ^Piascik 2007,p. 181.
  21. ^abPiascik 2007,p. 233.
  22. ^Piascik 2007,p. 234.
  23. ^"Agase Gets Job As Dallas Coach".Cleveland Plain Dealer.May 13, 1952. p. 24.
  24. ^"Agase Mentioned For Huskies Job".Toledo Blade.Seattle. Associated Press. February 16, 1953. p. 18.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.
  25. ^"1952 Dallas Texans Statistics & Players".Pro Football Reference. Archived fromthe originalon October 6, 2012.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.
  26. ^Sauerbrei, Harold (September 6, 1953). "Ex-Browns Start On Colt Defense".Cleveland Plain Dealer.p. 3C.
  27. ^"1953 Baltimore Colts Players & Statistics".Pro Football Reference.Archivedfrom the original on October 20, 2012.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.
  28. ^ab"Alex Agase Hired to Staff at Iowa State".The Milwaukee Journal.Ames, Iowa. United Press International. February 3, 1954. p. 2.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.[permanent dead link]
  29. ^ab"Iowa State Line Coach Will Leave".The Daily Reporter.Evanston, Ill. Associated Press. January 20, 1956. p. 6.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.
  30. ^ab"Agase Reported Top Choice To Replace Ara".Times Daily.Chicago. Associated Press. December 16, 1963. p. 8.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.
  31. ^"Ara Accepts; Aid Gets Wildcat Job".The Milwaukee Sentinel.Chicago, Ill. United Press International. December 18, 1963. p. 2.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.[permanent dead link]
  32. ^abcd"Alex Agase Records by Year".College Football Data Warehouse.Archivedfrom the original on October 19, 2012.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.
  33. ^"Wildcats' Agase 'Coach of Year'".Palm Beach Post-Times.Des Moines, Iowa. Associated Press. January 10, 1971. p. E5.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.[permanent dead link]
  34. ^ab"Agase to coach Purdue".Tri City Herald.West Lafayette, Ind. Associated Press. December 18, 1972. p. 21.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.[permanent dead link]
  35. ^"Eastern Is Expected To Sign Agase".The Argus-Press.Detroit. Associated Press. February 9, 1977. p. 16.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.
  36. ^"Agase Resigns As Eastern AD".Ludington Daily News.Ypsilanti, Mich. Associated Press. May 7, 1982. p. 8.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.
  37. ^ab"Former Northwestern Coach Alex Agase Dies at Age 85".CBS College Sports.May 3, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon May 25, 2013.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.
  38. ^Markus, Robert (June 22, 1990)."Illini Football Centennial Celebration Hits The Road".Chicago Tribune.Archivedfrom the original on August 8, 2014.RetrievedOctober 12,2012.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Piascik, Andy (2007).The Best Show in Football: The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns.Lanham, Maryland: Taylor Trade Publishing.ISBN978-1-58979-571-6.
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