Howie Auer
Encyclopedia
Howard Joseph "Howie" Auer (January 9, 1908 – November 1985) was an American football
player. He played for the Michigan Wolverines football
teams from 1929–1931 and for the Philadelphia Eagles
of the NFL in 1933.
Auer was born in Detroit, Michigan
in 1908 and attended high school in Bay City, Michigan
. He enrolled at the University of Michigan
in 1928 and played football for Harry Kipke in his first three seasons as the Wolverines head football coach. As a sophomore in 1929, Auer was the starting tackle in seven of nine games played by the Wolverines. In 1930, injuries limited Auer to four games as a starter on the undefeated (8–0–1) 1930 Michigan team
that tied for the Big Ten Conference
championship. As a senior in 1931, he was a starting tackle in eight of Michigan's nine games and was part of another Big Ten co-championship team. At the end of the 1931 season, sports writer Hank Casserly picked Auer as a first-team player on his All-Big Ten
team and explained the selection of Auer as follows:
Auer was also selected as a second-team All-Big Ten player by the United Press in 1932.
After graduating from Michigan, Auer played one season of professional football for the Philadelphia Eagles
. Auer lived in Valrico, Florida
in his later years. He died in 1985 at age 77.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He played for the Michigan Wolverines football
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
teams from 1929–1931 and for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL in 1933.
Auer was born in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
in 1908 and attended high school in Bay City, Michigan
Bay City, Michigan
Bay City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 34,932, and is the principal city of the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Saginaw-Bay City-Saginaw Township North...
. He enrolled 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 1928 and played football for Harry Kipke in his first three seasons as the Wolverines head football coach. As a sophomore in 1929, Auer was the starting tackle in seven of nine games played by the Wolverines. In 1930, injuries limited Auer to four games as a starter on the undefeated (8–0–1) 1930 Michigan team
1930 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1930 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1930 college football season. The head coach was former Michigan star, 31-year-old Harry Kipke, in his second year in the position....
that tied for the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
championship. As a senior in 1931, he was a starting tackle in eight of Michigan's nine games and was part of another Big Ten co-championship team. At the end of the 1931 season, sports writer Hank Casserly picked Auer as a first-team player on his All-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
team and explained the selection of Auer as follows:
"Auer of Michigan, a greatly underrated tackle, gets the other post on the first team. He was a consistent performer during every game and stole the show from his other rivals during the closing games of the season. Even in the Ohio State game, in which Michigan was outplayed, Auer stood out. He was a powerhouse on both offense and defense, and blocked tackles, ends, and guards, with equal ease and was one of the reasons why the Wolverines had the greatest all around line in the Western conference."
Auer was also selected as a second-team All-Big Ten player by the United Press in 1932.
After graduating from Michigan, Auer played one season of professional football for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Auer lived in Valrico, Florida
Valrico, Florida
Valrico is an unincorporated census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,582 at the 2000 census.-History:...
in his later years. He died in 1985 at age 77.