Pat Harder
Encyclopedia
Marlin M. "Pat" Harder was a college
and professional football
player, playing fullback
and kicker. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1993.
. Playing fullback for the Badgers
, Harder led the Big Ten
in rushing and scoring in 1941. In 1942, Harder was part of a team that went 8-1-1, including a 17-7 victory over the reigning national champion Ohio State Buckeyes
in which Harder scored all 17 points. Harder left Wisconsin to join the United States Marine Corps
in 1943 to fight in World War II
. Despite having a year of eligibility left when he left the Marines, Harder turned pro in 1946.
by the Chicago (now Arizona) Cardinals
. Harder was part of the Cardinals' "Million-Dollar Backfield" which also included quarterback
Paul Christman
and halfback
Charley Trippi
. He was the first player in league history to score over 100 points in three consecutive years, which he did from 1947-1949, leading the league all three years. In 1947, the Cardinals won the NFL Championship (the Cardinals' last as of 2008). In the championship game, Harder kicked 4 extra points to help defeat the Philadelphia Eagles
28-21.
in 1951. He helped the Lions win back-to-back NFL Championships in 1952 and 1953. Harder retired from professional football in 1953.
wearing uniform number 88. The most famous game he worked came on December 23, 1972 when the Pittsburgh Steelers
won their first-ever playoff game on Franco Harris
' Immaculate Reception
against the Oakland Raiders
.
He also served as vice-president of a car leasing company in Milwaukee. He died in Waukesha, WI on September 6, 1992. Harder was posthumously inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1993.
The popular chant "Hit 'em again harder, harder, harder" was a University of Wisconsin cheer aimed at Pat Harder and can still be heard at high school and college games today. But few know its origins.
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...
and professional football
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, playing fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
and kicker. 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...
in 1993.
University of Wisconsin–Madison
After graduating from Washington High School, in Milwaukee, he enrolled in the University of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. Playing fullback for the Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
, Harder led the 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...
in rushing and scoring in 1941. In 1942, Harder was part of a team that went 8-1-1, including a 17-7 victory over the reigning national champion Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of The Ohio State University, named after the state tree, the Buckeye. The Buckeyes participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports...
in which Harder scored all 17 points. Harder left Wisconsin to join the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
in 1943 to fight in 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...
. Despite having a year of eligibility left when he left the Marines, Harder turned pro in 1946.
Chicago Cardinals
Harder was drafted 2nd overall in the 1944 NFL Draft1944 NFL Draft
The 1944 National Football League Draft was held on April 19, 1944.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:-Round eleven:...
by the Chicago (now Arizona) Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Harder was part of the Cardinals' "Million-Dollar Backfield" which also included 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...
Paul Christman
Paul Christman
Paul Joseph Christman was an American football player and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He played college football for the University of Missouri and professionally for the Chicago Cardinals and Green Bay Packers.-Collegiate career:A St...
and halfback
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Charley Trippi
Charley Trippi
Charles Louis Trippi is a former professional American football player for the Chicago Cardinals. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.Mr. Trippi currently resides in Athens, Georgia...
. He was the first player in league history to score over 100 points in three consecutive years, which he did from 1947-1949, leading the league all three years. In 1947, the Cardinals won the NFL Championship (the Cardinals' last as of 2008). In the championship game, Harder kicked 4 extra points to help defeat 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...
28-21.
Detroit Lions
Harder was traded to the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in 1951. He helped the Lions win back-to-back NFL Championships in 1952 and 1953. Harder retired from professional football in 1953.
After retirement
Harder served as an NFL official from 1966 to 1982, working as the umpire on the crew of legendary referee Jim TunneyJim Tunney (American football official)
Dr. Jim Tunney was an American football official in the National Football League from 1960 to 1991. In his 31 years as an NFL official, Jim Tunney received a record 29 post-season assignments, including ten Championship games and Super Bowls VI, XI, and XII and named as an alternate in Super Bowl...
wearing uniform number 88. The most famous game he worked came on December 23, 1972 when the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
won their first-ever playoff game on Franco Harris
Franco Harris
Franco Harris is a former American football player. He played his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.In the 1972 NFL Draft he was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round, the 13th selection overall...
' Immaculate Reception
Immaculate Reception
The Immaculate Reception is the nickname given to one of the most famous plays in the history of American football. It occurred in the AFC divisional playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on December 23, 1972...
against the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
He also served as vice-president of a car leasing company in Milwaukee. He died in Waukesha, WI on September 6, 1992. Harder was posthumously 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...
in 1993.
The popular chant "Hit 'em again harder, harder, harder" was a University of Wisconsin cheer aimed at Pat Harder and can still be heard at high school and college games today. But few know its origins.