Pug Vaughan
Encyclopedia
Charles Wesley "Pug" Vaughan (March 18, 1911 – March 30, 1964) was a former American football
running back
. He played college football
under head coach Bob Neyland at the University of Tennessee
from 1932 to 1934 and professional football for the Detroit Lions
in 1935 and the Chicago Cardinals in 1936.
Vaughan was born in Knoxville, Tennessee
in 1911. He enrolled at the University of Tennessee
and played at the halfback
position under head football coach Bob Neyland from 1932 to 1934. For many years, he was regarded as "perhaps the finest passer in Tennessee football history." Coach Neyland considered Vaughan the best passer he developed at Tennessee, adding: "Vaughan's passing was almost perfect. His timing couldn't have been improved. The ball just floated into the hands of the receivers." During Vaughan's three years playing for the Volunteers, the team compiled an overall record of 24-5-1 and outscored opponents by a combined score of 589 to 141. In December 1934, Vaughan was voted as the most valuable player on the 1934 Tennessee Volunteers football team.
In his first year of professional football, Vaughan played for the 1935 Detroit Lions
team that won the 1935 NFL Championship Game. He appeared in seven games for the Lions, completing 7 of 15 passes for 104 yards and rushing for 51 yards on 13 carries.
In July 1936, Vaughan was traded to the Chicago Cardinals. Playing for the Chicago Cardinals in 1936, Vaughan rushed for only 79 yards on 67 caries, but he became one of the leading passers in the NFL. He completed 30 of 79 passes for 546 yards. He ranked fourth in the NFL in passing yards and sixth in passes completed during the 1936 NFL season
.
During World War II
, Vaughan served in the U.S. Coast Guard and played on the Coast Guard football team.
In March 1964, Vaughan died at age 53 at Ft. Sanders Presbyterian Hospital in Knoxville. He had been seriously ill since September 1963.
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...
running back
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...
. He played college 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...
under head coach Bob Neyland at the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
from 1932 to 1934 and professional football for the Detroit Lions
Detroit 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 1935 and the Chicago Cardinals in 1936.
Vaughan was born in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
in 1911. He enrolled at the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
and played at the halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
position under head football coach Bob Neyland from 1932 to 1934. For many years, he was regarded as "perhaps the finest passer in Tennessee football history." Coach Neyland considered Vaughan the best passer he developed at Tennessee, adding: "Vaughan's passing was almost perfect. His timing couldn't have been improved. The ball just floated into the hands of the receivers." During Vaughan's three years playing for the Volunteers, the team compiled an overall record of 24-5-1 and outscored opponents by a combined score of 589 to 141. In December 1934, Vaughan was voted as the most valuable player on the 1934 Tennessee Volunteers football team.
In his first year of professional football, Vaughan played for the 1935 Detroit Lions
1935 Detroit Lions season
The 1935 Detroit Lions season resulted in the Lions winning their first NFL Championship. In their second season in Detroit, the Lions placed first in the NFL's Western Division and went on to defeat the New York Giants in the 1935 NFL Championship Game. The team was coached by Potsy Clark...
team that won the 1935 NFL Championship Game. He appeared in seven games for the Lions, completing 7 of 15 passes for 104 yards and rushing for 51 yards on 13 carries.
In July 1936, Vaughan was traded to the Chicago Cardinals. Playing for the Chicago Cardinals in 1936, Vaughan rushed for only 79 yards on 67 caries, but he became one of the leading passers in the NFL. He completed 30 of 79 passes for 546 yards. He ranked fourth in the NFL in passing yards and sixth in passes completed during the 1936 NFL season
1936 NFL season
The 1936 NFL season was the 17th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time since the league was founded, there were no team transactions; neither a club folded nor did a new one join the NFL. 1936 was also the first year in which all league teams played the same number of...
.
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...
, Vaughan served in the U.S. Coast Guard and played on the Coast Guard football team.
In March 1964, Vaughan died at age 53 at Ft. Sanders Presbyterian Hospital in Knoxville. He had been seriously ill since September 1963.