Elmer Madar
Encyclopedia
Elmer F. Madar was an All American
football player at the University of Michigan
in 1942 and 1946. Born in Sykesville, Pennsylvania
, Madar played football at Northeastern High School in Detroit. He was a backup quarterback
for the University of Michigan
in 1941 and moved to end in 1942 where he played in 10 games, scored two touchdowns and made 12 receptions for 160 yards. He was part of the 1942 Michigan line with Merv Pregulman
, Julius Franks
, Al Wistert
, Bob Kolesar, Bill Pritula and Phil Sharpe that was known as the "Seven Oak Posts," due to their reputation for not using substitutes. He served in the Air Corps
during World War II
, but returned to the University of Michigan after the war. In 1946, he played in more minutes than any other player on Fritz Crisler
's football team. In December 1946, he was named to the Associated Press
All-American team, and he was the first pick in the 1947 All-America Football Conference
draft by the Miami Seahawks
. Madar played one year with the Baltimore Colts
in 1947. In March 1948, he was hired as the end coach at Harvard University
, working with fellow Michigan alum and head coach Arthur Valpey
. He was assistant coach for the Holy Cross Crusaders
in 1952 and 1953 but resigned in 1954 to seek a coaching job closer to his Michigan home. He subsequently became a teacher in the Detroit public schools.
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
football player at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1942 and 1946. Born in Sykesville, Pennsylvania
Sykesville, Pennsylvania
Sykesville is a borough in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,246 at the 2000 census.Sykesville is the birthplace of Olga Madar , first woman to be a vice-president in the United Auto Workers and founder of the Coalition of Labor Union Women in...
, Madar played football at Northeastern High School in Detroit. He was a backup quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1941 and moved to end in 1942 where he played in 10 games, scored two touchdowns and made 12 receptions for 160 yards. He was part of the 1942 Michigan line with Merv Pregulman
Merv Pregulman
Mervin Pregulman is a former All-American football tackle and center who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines and in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers , Detroit Lions , and New York Bulldogs ....
, Julius Franks
Julius Franks
Dr. Julius Franks, Jr. was a civil rights leader and an All-American guard who played football at the University of Michigan from 1941 to 1942. Franks wore #62 as a varsity letterman in 1941 and #63 in 1942...
, Al Wistert
Al Wistert
Albert Alexander "Ox" Wistert is a former All-Pro American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played his entire nine-year NFL career for the Eagles and became their team captain. He was named to play in the NFL's first Pro Bowl as an Eagle...
, Bob Kolesar, Bill Pritula and Phil Sharpe that was known as the "Seven Oak Posts," due to their reputation for not using substitutes. He served in the Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but returned to the University of Michigan after the war. In 1946, he played in more minutes than any other player on Fritz Crisler
Fritz Crisler
Herbert Orin "Fritz" Crisler was an American football coach who is best known as "the father of two-platoon football," an innovation in which separate units of players were used for offense and defense. Crisler developed two-platoon football while serving as head coach at the University of...
's football team. In December 1946, he was named to the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
All-American team, and he was the first pick in the 1947 All-America Football Conference
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
draft by the Miami Seahawks
Miami Seahawks
The Miami Seahawks were a professional American football team based in Miami, Florida. They played in the All-America Football Conference for one season, 1946, before folding...
. Madar played one year with the Baltimore Colts
Baltimore Colts (1947-50)
The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The first team to bear the name Baltimore Colts, they were members of the All-America Football Conference from 1947–1949, and then joined the National Football League for one season before folding...
in 1947. In March 1948, he was hired as the end coach at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, working with fellow Michigan alum and head coach Arthur Valpey
Arthur Valpey
Arthur L. Valpey was an American football player and coach.A native of Dayton, Ohio, Valpey was an all-state halfback at Dayton's Steele High School. Valpey enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1934, where freshman football coach Wally Weber moved him to the end position...
. He was assistant coach for the Holy Cross Crusaders
Holy Cross Crusaders football
The Holy Cross Crusaders football team is the collegiate football program of the College of the Holy Cross. The team is a member of the Patriot League, an NCAA Division I conference that participates in the second-level Football Championship Subdivision, more commonly known as FCS or the...
in 1952 and 1953 but resigned in 1954 to seek a coaching job closer to his Michigan home. He subsequently became a teacher in the Detroit public schools.