Mike Scarry
Waynesburg Western Reserve | |||||
Career history | |||||
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As a coach: | |||||
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Career highlights and awards | |||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||
Coaching stats at PFR |
Michael Joseph “Mo” Scarry (February 1, 1920 – September 9, 2012) was an
Scarry, who coached the basketball team at
High school, college and military service
Scarry grew up in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, and played on his high school's basketball and football teams.[2] Scarry attended Waynesburg College, a small school in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, where he continued to play football and basketball.[2][3][4] He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in North Africa, but came down with asthma and was given a medical discharge.[5] He signed with the Cleveland Rams of the National Football League starting in 1944.[3]
Professional career
Scarry began the 1944 season with the Rams at left tackle, but was shifted to center in September.[6] He played on both defense and offense.[4] After a season in which the Rams contended for but lost the NFL's western division, Scarry spent the offseason as a student at Western Reserve University in Cleveland and served as the director of a YMCA camp in Mantua, Ohio.[7] Scarry suffered a knee injury near the beginning of the 1945 season, but soon returned to action as the Rams, led by quarterback Bob Waterfield, won the NFL championship.[8][9] Scarry was the captain of the Rams during the championship run.[2]
The Rams moved to Los Angeles after the 1945 season, and Scarry, along with teammates Chet Adams, Tommy Colella, Don Greenwood and Gaylon Smith, decided to stay in Cleveland and play for the Cleveland Browns, a team under formation in the new All-America Football Conference.[10] The Rams sought an injunction in Federal court to prevent Adams from defecting to the Browns, arguing that he was still under contract with the Rams despite the move. Adams argued that his contract described a team in Cleveland, and was no longer valid because of the Rams' relocation. A judge ruled in favor of Adams in August 1946, clearing the way for him and other former Rams players to join the Browns.[10] Scarry played center his first year with the Browns, protecting Otto Graham.[11]
While Scarry was playing for the Browns, he was named head basketball coach at Western Reserve, where he had taken classes between games and in the offseason.[12] In his first season, Scarry often played between 50 and the full 60 minutes of games, playing on the offensive and defensive lines.[2] Toward the middle of the season, Cleveland coach Paul Brown began to use him as the defensive leader, letting him call the unit's formations.[2] In December, Scarry's Western Reserve basketball team played its first games; he had missed numerous practices because of his duties with the Browns.[13] The Browns went on to win the AAFC championship later in the month.[14]
Scarry remained with the Browns the following season. In September 1947 he received a bachelor of science degree from Western Reserve, completing an educational career at Waynesburg that was cut short by the war.[15] By October, he was mentioned as a possible successor to Tom Davies, who had resigned as Western Reserve's football coach. While still one of the AAFC's top centers, Scarry was bothered by injury and asthma and was considering leaving pro football.[5] The Browns, meanwhile, won a second straight AAFC championship in December.[16] Scarry was named Western Reserve's football coach the following January, ending his career with the Browns.[17] Frank Gatski took over as the Browns' regular center after Scarry's retirement.[18]
Coaching career
Scarry borrowed Paul Brown's coaching techniques at Western Reserve, instituting well-organized practices there. "I had a lot of ideas about coaching before I went to work for the Browns," he said in 1947. "But the manner in which Paul organized his practice and all his duties impressed me. I try to do the same here."[19] With no good passer or runner and a lack of depth, Western Reserve's Red Cats performed poorly in Scarry's first season, but he was praised for making the most out of a thin squad.[20] In 1949, his second year, the Red Cats improved to a 4–5–1 (win–loss–draw) record, and Scarry was expected to stay on for a third season.[21] The following year, however, he resigned to take an assistant coaching position at Santa Clara University in California under former Browns assistant Dick Gallagher.[22]
Scarry was at Santa Clara for the 1950 and 1951 seasons, then went to Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.[23] He stayed at Loras for two years, moving to Washington State College of the Pacific Coast Conference in 1954.[23] He left in November 1955, when head coach Al Kircher was fired in the wake of a 1–10 season.[24] In February 1956, he was hired as a line coach by the University of Cincinnati.[25][26] During his time at Cincinnati, Scarry served as an assistant to Otto Graham, the former Browns quarterback and teammate of Scarry's, as a coach in the College All-Star Game, a now-defunct annual matchup between the NFL champion and a selection of the best college players from across the country.[27][28]
After
Graham became the head coach of the NFL's
Later life and death
After retiring from football, Scarry worked informally for the Dolphins as a volunteer assistant.[35] He moved with his wife, Libby, to Fort Myers, Florida, in 1994.[35] Scarry was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.[23] He died in 2012 at his home in Fort Myers; he was the last surviving member of the original Browns team.[35][36] He had four sons and a daughter.[36] Mike was also the brother of professional basketball player Jack Scarry.[37]
Head coaching record
Football
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
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Western Reserve Red Cats (Mid-American Conference) (1948–1949) | |||||||||
1948 | Western Reserve | 1–8–1 | 1–4 | 5th | |||||
1949 | Western Reserve | 4–5–1 | 1–3–1 | 5th | |||||
Western Reserve: | 5–13–2 | 2–7–1 | |||||||
Loras Duhawks (Independent) (1953) | |||||||||
1953 | Loras | 5–2–1 | |||||||
Loras: | 5–2–1 | ||||||||
Waynesburg Yellow Jackets (West Penn Conference ) (1963–1965)
| |||||||||
1963 | Waynesburg | 6–2 | 2–0 | T–1st | |||||
1964 | Waynesburg | 5–4 | 2–1 | 2nd | |||||
1965 | Waynesburg | 6–2–1 | 2–0–1 | 1st | |||||
Waynesburg: | 17–8–1 | 6–1–1 | |||||||
Total: | 27–23–4 |
References
- ^ "'Mo' Scarry, longtime Miami Dolphins coach under Don Shula, dies at 92".
- ^ a b c d e Sauerbrei, Harold (October 17, 1946). "Scarry Gets Defensive Signal Calling Test as Browns Tackle Dons Sunday". Cleveland Plain Dealer. p. 22.
- ^ a b "Rams Need Strengthening at End and Tackle Posts". Cleveland Plain Dealer. August 27, 1944. p. 2C.
- ^ a b "Raging Ram Rookie". Cleveland Plain Dealer. November 12, 1944. p. 2C.
Mike Scarry, 210-pound center of the Cleveland Rams who played his collegiate football at Waynesburg and hails from Duquesne, Pa. ... Mike rates as one of the rookie finds of the year.
- ^ a b Heaton, Charles (October 29, 1947). "Scarry Reported as Prominent Candidate for Coaching Position at Reserve". Cleveland Plain Dealer. p. 25.
- ^ Dietrich, John (September 12, 1944). "Conkright Will Be Regular End For Ram Eleven". Cleveland Plain Dealer. p. 13.
Mike Scarry, the Rams' rookie tackle from Waynesburg, also has been changed to center.
- ^ "Scarry and Reisz Will Be Back With Rams This Year". Cleveland Plain Dealer. July 31, 1945. p. 11.
- ^ "Scarry and Lazetich Will Be Ready for Chicago Cardinals". Cleveland Plain Dealer. September 25, 1945. p. 11.
- ^ "1945 Cleveland Rams Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
- ^ a b Piascik 2007, p. 26.
- ^ "The Life and Career of Browns C Frank Gatski (Complete Story)". 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Center Scarry To Play For Browns". Cleveland Plain Dealer. June 26, 1946. p. 16.
- ^ "Reserve-B.-W. Cage Battle Tonight May Mark End of Keen Sports Rivalry". Cleveland Plain Dealer. December 6, 1946. p. 22.
- ^ Piascik 2007, p. 64.
- ^ "Forgets Moleskin to Get Sheepskin". Cleveland Plain Dealer. September 18, 1947. p. 21.
- ^ Piascik 2007, p. 81.
- ^ "Scarry Signs 2-Year Contract at Reserve's Head Football Coach". Cleveland Plain Dealer. January 29, 1948. p. 17.
- ^ Sauerbrei, Harold (December 23, 1948). "Browns Get Tackle Palmer of Yankees; Waive Rights to Sarkisian". Cleveland Plain Dealer. p. 18.
- ^ Charles, Heaton (December 23, 1947). "Seasons Change, But Old Man Moe Wins In Basketball As In Football". Cleveland Plain Dealer. p. 17.
- ^ Heaton, Charles (November 12, 1948). "Improved Reserve Seeks 'Bonus' Victory Over Cincinnati". Cleveland Plain Dealer. p. 26.
Now the season is more than two thirds over for the University Circle school and, although its won and lost record is not good, Reserve has come along well under the ex-Browns center.
- ^ Heaton, Charles (November 29, 1949). "Dedication of Field House Saturday Marks Watts' 18th Year at B.-W. Helm". Cleveland Plain Dealer. p. 24.
Scarry, who retired from professional football to take on the Reserve assignment, has completed his two-year contract but there is little doubt that the dark-haired Irishman will be retained.
- ^ "Luther Gets Top Coaching Post". St. Petersburg Times. Cleveland. Associated Press. April 1, 1950. p. 15. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Michael Scarry". Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 20, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ "Washington State Fires Coach Kircher". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Pullman, Wash. Associated Press. November 22, 1955. p. 3. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ Heaton, Chuck (February 18, 1956). "Pinch Hitting". Cleveland Plain Dealer. p. 23.
- ^ "Mike Scarry To Coach Line At Cincinnati". Victoria Advocate. Cincinnati. United Press International. February 11, 1956. p. 5. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ "College All-Stars, 56 Strong, Report To Graham". The Florence Times. Evanston, Ill. Associated Press. July 13, 1961. p. 2. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- ^ "U-M's Miller Named To College All-Stars". The Miami News. Chicago. Miami News Wire Service. June 10, 1962. p. 2C. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- ^ "Scarry Given Miami-Buffalo Game Football". Observer-Reporter. December 18, 1973. p. A8. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ a b "Heinrick Resigns UPS Job". Tri City Herald. Tacoma. Associated Press. November 18, 1964. p. 26. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- ^ "Waynesberg College Football Media Guide". Sidearm DMG. p. 79. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ^ a b "Graham Hires Scarry to Coach Redskin Defense". The Free Lance-Star. Washington. February 8, 1966. p. 9. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- ^ "Green Bay Favored Over College All-Stars". Reading Eagle. Chicago. July 28, 1963. p. 34. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- ^ "Names Graham to Coach 1965's All-Star Team". St. Joseph Gazette. Chicago. Associated Press. June 10, 1965. p. 3B. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Respected NFL, local coach Mo Scarry dies at age of 92". News-Times. September 10, 2012. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
- ^ a b Florjancic, Matt (September 11, 2012). "Michael Scarry passes away". Cleveland Browns. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
- ^ "Jack Scarry". Peach Basket Society. Blogspot. 22 January 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
Bibliography
- Piascik, Andy (2007). The Best Show in Football: The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns. Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58979-571-6.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference
- Mike Scarry at Find a Grave