Emil Sitko
Encyclopedia
Emil "Red" Sitko was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana
on September 7, 1923. He earned the nickname of "Red" due to his red hair. He attended Central High School in Fort Wayne. At only 5'8" and 180 pounds he was not considered a big man. "Emil wasn't very big as football players go -- even for those days," Irish coach Frank Leahy
once said. "But he was the fastest starting back I ever coached." http://jordan.fortwayne.com/ns/sports/top50/sitko.php In 2008, Notre Dame's "the Gipper" recognized Sitko as the team's leading rusher in the 1947 season.
Emil Sitko served in a military capacity during World War II
and did not enter directly into college. Upon coming out of service in World War II, he enrolled at Notre Dame
as a 23-year-old freshman. He was a starter
on the football
team three years at right half and one year at fullback from 1946-1949. In those four years the Notre Dame record was 36-0-2. Besides his nickname of "Red," he was known in football as "Six- Yard Sitko." He led his team in rushing all four years and his career average was 6.1 yards a try. In 1949 he also led the team in kickoff returns, averaging 22 yards. He made the All-America
teams of the Sporting News and the Football Writers Association of America
in 1948 and was unanimous All-America in 1949. http://collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=40039 Emil also finished eighth in the 1949 Heisman Trophy
voting behind teammate Leon Hart
. He also won the 1949 Walter Camp Award
as outstanding college player. Sitko still stands seventh on Notre Dame's career rushing charts. http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/allambios/nd-m-footbl-sitko.html.
Sitko played three seasons in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers
and the Chicago Cardinals before retiring and returning to his hometown to work in the auto sales business. He died in 1973, at age 50, after a heart attack
. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
and the National Football Foundation
in 1984.
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
on September 7, 1923. He earned the nickname of "Red" due to his red hair. He attended Central High School in Fort Wayne. At only 5'8" and 180 pounds he was not considered a big man. "Emil wasn't very big as football players go -- even for those days," Irish coach Frank Leahy
Frank Leahy
Francis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive...
once said. "But he was the fastest starting back I ever coached." http://jordan.fortwayne.com/ns/sports/top50/sitko.php In 2008, Notre Dame's "the Gipper" recognized Sitko as the team's leading rusher in the 1947 season.
Emil Sitko served in a military capacity 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...
and did not enter directly into college. Upon coming out of service in World War II, he enrolled at Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
as a 23-year-old freshman. He was a starter
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
on the football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
team three years at right half and one year at fullback from 1946-1949. In those four years the Notre Dame record was 36-0-2. Besides his nickname of "Red," he was known in football as "Six- Yard Sitko." He led his team in rushing all four years and his career average was 6.1 yards a try. In 1949 he also led the team in kickoff returns, averaging 22 yards. He made the All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
teams of the Sporting News and the Football Writers Association of America
Football Writers Association of America
The Football Writers Association of America is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA...
in 1948 and was unanimous All-America in 1949. http://collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=40039 Emil also finished eighth in the 1949 Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
voting behind teammate Leon Hart
Leon Hart
Leon Joseph Hart was an American football tight end and defensive end. He was raised in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh....
. He also won the 1949 Walter Camp Award
Walter Camp Award
The Walter Camp Player of the Year Award is given annually to the collegiate American football Player of the Year, as decided by a group of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-A head coaches and sports information directors under the auspices of the Walter Camp Football Foundation;...
as outstanding college player. Sitko still stands seventh on Notre Dame's career rushing charts. http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/allambios/nd-m-footbl-sitko.html.
Sitko played three seasons in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
and the Chicago Cardinals before retiring and returning to his hometown to work in the auto sales business. He died in 1973, at age 50, after a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
and the National Football Foundation
National Football Foundation
The National Football Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1947 by General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army Black Knights football coach Earl "Red" Blaik and journalist Grantland Rice...
in 1984.