Frank Sinkwich

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Frank Sinkwich
1
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
  • Tampa (1950–1951)
    Head coach
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL/AAFC statistics
Rushing yards:1,090
Rushing average:3.4
Rushing touchdowns:7
Passing yards:1,913
TD–INT:19–42
Completion percentage:40.2%
Interceptions:4
Punting average:41.5
Head coaching record
Regular season:12–7–1 (.625)
Postseason:1–0 (1.000)
Career:13–7–1 (.643)
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Frank Francis Sinkwich Sr. (October 10, 1920 – October 22, 1990) was a Croatian-Yugoslav American football player and coach. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1942 while playing for the Georgia Bulldogs, making him the first recipient from the Southeastern Conference.[1] In the course of a brief but celebrated career in professional football, Sinkwich was selected for the National Football League Most Valuable Player Award. He coached the Erie (PA) Vets semi-professional football team in 1949. Sinkwich was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.[2]

Early years

Sinkwich was of Croat origin.[3] He was born in Starjak, Yugoslavia (currently Croatia).[b] World War I broke out in 1914, and as with many, his mother and the children remained there for the duration of the war. They returned to the US, going to Youngstown, Ohio when he was two years old, joining his father Ignac (Ignatius), who operated a grocery store. By 1940, the family operated a restaurant in Youngstown. His surname was originally spelled Sinković.

According to an article Sinkwich wrote in 1988, he grew to appreciate the value of competitiveness on the streets of Youngstown's west side. "I learned early in neighborhood pickup games that I had the desire to compete," he wrote. "When people ask why I succeeded in athletics, I always tell them that I didn't want to get beat."[1]

Football career

Sinkwich gained early recognition as a star athlete at Youngstown's

triple crown
.

The 1942 season was Sinkwich's first year of backfield-mate

broken jaw and kicked a field goal in a 19–3 defeat of Florida
in 1941.

In his three-year college career, Sinkwich rushed for 2,271 yards, passed for 2,331 yards, and accounted for 60 touchdowns (30 rushing and 30 passing).

Fraternity
.

After his collegiate career, Sinkwich joined the

NFL MVP in 1944.[1] (No Detroit Lions player would be named NFL MVP for over half a century: Barry Sanders
in 1997.)

After his two years in Detroit, Sinkwich served in both the

Second Air Force Superbombers football team in 1945 hampered his playing career when he returned to professional football in 1946 and 1947.[1][9] He coached the semi-professional Erie (PA) Vets football team in 1949. Sinkwich was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.[1]

Legacy

Sinkwich died after a long illness in Athens, Georgia, at age 70. "We've lost one of the great legends in football history," said then Georgia athletic director Vince Dooley. "He was not only a great player but a wonderful person and citizen of Athens."[1]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Tampa Spartans (Independent) (1950–1951)
1950 Tampa 5–4
1951 Tampa 7–3–1 W Brandeis Classic
Tampa: 12–7–1
Total: 12–7–1

See also

Notes

Notes and references

  1. ^ Currently Croatia
  2. ^ a b Some sources state Sinkwich was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania,[4] or in Zagreb, Yugoslavia (currently Croatia).[5]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Frank Sinkwich was worshipped by his fans". The Vindicator. October 23, 1990.
  2. ^ "Frank Sinkwich". Georgia Bulldogs official site. Retrieved September 19, 2009.[dead link]
  3. ^ Croatian Chronicle Network 35 Pacific Northwest Croatian Athletes
  4. ^ "Frank Sinkwich (1954)". footballfoundation.org.
  5. ^ "Frank Sinkwich". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  6. ISBN 1-56352-089-3
    .
  7. ^ Perazich, Chuck (June 14, 1982). "Frank Sinkwich Lauded at Croatian Home Fete". The Vindicator.
  8. ^ "Who Won". Time. December 28, 1942. Archived from the original on October 14, 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2007.
  9. ^ a b Grosshandler, Stan (August 1997). "Georgia's Greatest?" (PDF). College Football Historical Quarterly. X (IV). Retrieved January 6, 2007.

External links