Ray Poppelman
Encyclopedia
Raymond J. "Ray" Poppelman (March 6, 1907 – February 28, 2003) was an American Marine and athlete. He attended the University of Maryland
, where he played on the football
and lacrosse teams. Poppelman was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
in 1988.
, Poppelman served in the United States Marine Corps
as an enlistedman, and was stationed in Shanghai
during the 1920s. He played on the football team at Quantico
in 1927. The talents of Poppelman and Albert Woods, a Quantico teammate, attracted the attention of Maryland's head coach, Curley Byrd
. Byrd dispatched scouts to watch all of Quantico's game, and according to Kings of American Football: The University of Maryland, 1890–1952, the base soon "was referred to as Maryland's 'farm team' and the Southern Conference
passed a rule making play with a service team count in eligibility the same as play with another college."
Poppelman attended the University of Maryland
, where he played on the football team
from 1930 to 1932 as a quarterback
, fullback
, and halfback
, and on the lacrosse team as an attackman in 1931 and 1932. He also played one season of basketball
and competed on the track team
. To entice him to attend the school, Byrd arranged for Poppelman, who was dissatisfied with the standard dorm bunks, to receive a special bed. In 1930, Poppelman scored twice in the 41–7 rout of , and he tallied once in the 13–7 victory over .
In 1931, Poppelman helped Maryland beat , 6–0, on a double reverse where he pitched the ball to Paul Kiernan, who in turn passed to George Chalmers
. Chalmers ran the ball 20 yards to the Midshipmen 30-yard line, which set up the Terrapin score on the following play. Poppelman scored twice himself on rushes against , which helped the Terrapins to a 20–0 win. The following week, he scored against in Maryland's only loss of the season, 39–12. Poppelman accounted for both touchdowns against , 13–7. Maryland secured the state football championship with a defeat, 41–6, of . In that game, Poppelman tallied three times on carries of 31, 50, and 56 yards, "in addition to picking up much yardage on other excursions." Poppelman finished the season with 1,350 rushing yards, which surpassed the previous school record of 1,255 set by Gerald Snyder
in 1928. He was named an honorable mention All-American
. The Baltimore Sun
selected the entire Terrapins backfield, including Poppelman, for its All-Maryland team. It reasoned the unprecedented nature of that selection was due to the "complete dominance of State football by the University of Maryland during 1931" and "the manner in which that team swept aside all opposition in this territory".
In 1932, he was credited with leading Maryland to a 63–0 rout of . During the season, he struck a freshman player in a scrimmage and was dismissed from the team by Curley Byrd
. Byrd reinstated him after Poppelman issued an apology before the game against . Against the Keydets, Poppelman put Maryland ahead to win, 12–7, in the fourth quarter with a 52-yard run. He scored the deciding points against , 6–0, and tallied once against , 23–0.
After the season, he was named to the All-South Atlantic team as a halfback
and the team captain by "virute of being the only player to have made the mythical team previously". The selectors called Poppelman a "triple threat ace
" and "to Maryland what John Cain
was to Alabama
. Poppelman was a member of the Sigma Nu
fraternity. He graduated from Maryland in 1933 with a Bachelor of Arts
degree.
He was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
in 1988.
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, where he played on the football
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
and lacrosse teams. Poppelman was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
The University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1982 by the M Club Foundation to honor student-athletes, coaches, and administrators who made significant contributions to athletics at the University of Maryland...
in 1988.
Biography
A native of San Fernando, CaliforniaSan Fernando, California
San Fernando is a city located in the San Fernando Valley, in northwestern region of Los Angeles, California, United States. The population was 23,645 at the 2010 census, up from 23,564 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Poppelman served in 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...
as an enlistedman, and was stationed in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
during the 1920s. He played on the football team at Quantico
Quantico, Virginia
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there are 561 people, 295 households, and 107 families living in the town. The population density is . There are 359 housing units at an average density of .-Racial composition:...
in 1927. The talents of Poppelman and Albert Woods, a Quantico teammate, attracted the attention of Maryland's head coach, Curley Byrd
Curley Byrd
Harry Clifton "Curley" Byrd was an American university administrator, educator, athlete, coach, and politician...
. Byrd dispatched scouts to watch all of Quantico's game, and according to Kings of American Football: The University of Maryland, 1890–1952, the base soon "was referred to as Maryland's 'farm team' and the Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
passed a rule making play with a service team count in eligibility the same as play with another college."
Poppelman attended the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, where he played on the football team
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
from 1930 to 1932 as a 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...
, 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 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...
, and on the lacrosse team as an attackman in 1931 and 1932. He also played one season of basketball
Maryland Terrapins men's basketball
The Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
and competed on the track team
Maryland Terrapins
The Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 27 men's and women's athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
. To entice him to attend the school, Byrd arranged for Poppelman, who was dissatisfied with the standard dorm bunks, to receive a special bed. In 1930, Poppelman scored twice in the 41–7 rout of , and he tallied once in the 13–7 victory over .
In 1931, Poppelman helped Maryland beat , 6–0, on a double reverse where he pitched the ball to Paul Kiernan, who in turn passed to George Chalmers
George V. Chalmers
George V. "Shorty" Chalmers was an American college athlete. He served as the quarterback of the University of Maryland football team from 1929 to 1931. Chalmers also played basketball and baseball at Maryland...
. Chalmers ran the ball 20 yards to the Midshipmen 30-yard line, which set up the Terrapin score on the following play. Poppelman scored twice himself on rushes against , which helped the Terrapins to a 20–0 win. The following week, he scored against in Maryland's only loss of the season, 39–12. Poppelman accounted for both touchdowns against , 13–7. Maryland secured the state football championship with a defeat, 41–6, of . In that game, Poppelman tallied three times on carries of 31, 50, and 56 yards, "in addition to picking up much yardage on other excursions." Poppelman finished the season with 1,350 rushing yards, which surpassed the previous school record of 1,255 set by Gerald Snyder
Gerald Snyder
Gerald Theodore "Snitz" Snyder was an American football player and Army officer. He played college football as a back for the Maryland Terrapins at the University of Maryland...
in 1928. He was named an honorable mention All-American
1931 College Football All-America Team
The 1931 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams in 1931...
. The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
selected the entire Terrapins backfield, including Poppelman, for its All-Maryland team. It reasoned the unprecedented nature of that selection was due to the "complete dominance of State football by the University of Maryland during 1931" and "the manner in which that team swept aside all opposition in this territory".
In 1932, he was credited with leading Maryland to a 63–0 rout of . During the season, he struck a freshman player in a scrimmage and was dismissed from the team by Curley Byrd
Curley Byrd
Harry Clifton "Curley" Byrd was an American university administrator, educator, athlete, coach, and politician...
. Byrd reinstated him after Poppelman issued an apology before the game against . Against the Keydets, Poppelman put Maryland ahead to win, 12–7, in the fourth quarter with a 52-yard run. He scored the deciding points against , 6–0, and tallied once against , 23–0.
After the season, he was named to the All-South Atlantic team as a 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...
and the team captain by "virute of being the only player to have made the mythical team previously". The selectors called Poppelman a "triple threat ace
Triple threat man
In gridiron football, the phrase triple-threat man refers to a player who excels at all three of the skills of running, passing, and kicking. In modern usage, such a player would be referred to as a utility player....
" and "to Maryland what John Cain
Johnny Cain
John Lewis "Hurri" Cain was an American football player, coach of football, baseball, and tennis, and college athletics administrator in the United States. He played college football at the University of Alabama, where he was a three-time All-American and a member of the 1930 national...
was to Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
. Poppelman was a member of the Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
fraternity. He graduated from Maryland in 1933 with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree.
He was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
The University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1982 by the M Club Foundation to honor student-athletes, coaches, and administrators who made significant contributions to athletics at the University of Maryland...
in 1988.