38 Facts About Pappy Waldorf

Lynn Osbert "Pappy" Waldorf was an American college football player and coach.

Pappy Waldorf received the first national collegiate football coach of the year award in 1935.

Pappy Waldorf won conference titles with each of the five teams that he coached.

Pappy Waldorf coached from 1925 to 1956, serving as the head football coach at Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma State University, Kansas State University, Northwestern University, and the University of California, Berkeley.

Pappy Waldorf was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1966.

Pappy Waldorf, a son of Methodist bishop Ernest Lynn Pappy Waldorf, was born in Clifton Springs, New York.

Pappy Waldorf was a member of the Syracuse Orange men's crew in 1923.

In 1925 Pappy Waldorf was hired as an athletic director at Oklahoma City University, which is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

Pappy Waldorf was able to get the job through his father, a Methodist bishop.

Pappy Waldorf became the head coach for football, basketball, and track teams.

Pappy Waldorf was paid $4,000 per year, a substantial salary for that time.

Pappy Waldorf hired Albert Exendine as the backfield assistant coach, who was at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School under Pop Warner.

Pappy Waldorf never lost to Oklahoma, with the Cowboys holding their arch-rivals scoreless for 19 quarters in a row.

Pappy Waldorf's reputation was soaring and he was actively recruited by other universities.

In 1931, in order to deal with the significant financial difficulties brought by the Great Depression, Pappy Waldorf took on the responsibilities of the university's athletic director.

Previously, Pappy Waldorf had already brought administrative changes, such as installation of stadium lights to play night games, as well as holding some games on Fridays.

In 1934 Pappy Waldorf left the university to become the new head coach at Kansas State University.

In 1934, Pappy Waldorf replaced Bo McMillin as football coach at Kansas State.

Later, Pappy Waldorf recalled advice from Amos Alonzo Stagg, who is considered one of the greats and was the coach at University of Chicago.

Pappy Waldorf told Waldorf that a coach should remember that the players are young students at the university and that their other concerns should be recognized while the coach is the primary figure in their lives.

In 1942, Pappy Waldorf had to deal with changes brought on by United States entry into World War II.

Pappy Waldorf considered the 1942 Wildcats to be his first great passing team.

Pappy Waldorf assisted the All-Star coaches and participated in training because the annual game was played at Chicago's Soldier Field with the college players being hosted at Northwestern.

Shortly after that Pappy Waldorf was offered the head coaching position.

Pappy Waldorf had previously visited and liked northern California and after considering the generous offer, Waldorf decided to accept the position.

Back at Northwestern, the athletic administration allowed Pappy Waldorf to leave two years before the end of the contract.

Pappy Waldorf personally addressed his team and was the first person that let them know that he was leaving the university.

The game was at home and following the win Pappy Waldorf addressed the crowd from the balcony over the north western gate of the Memorial Stadium.

Pappy Waldorf commented on the played game and complemented the crowd for their support.

Pappy Waldorf saw the offensive line as the key to that season's success as well as the rushing of Jackie Jensen an All American that year and a future baseball star.

In that season's game Pappy Waldorf faced Northwestern, the previous team that he coached, coached by his former star player Bob Voigts.

One of the unfortunate highlights of the following 1950 season, was the death of Pappy Waldorf's long time friend Sam Barry, who was an assistant coach and scout at USC.

Pappy Waldorf had a heart attack while during California's game against Santa Clara.

From 1949 to 1951, Pappy Waldorf brought California to three straight Rose Bowls.

Up to this change Pappy Waldorf's approach was to use highly specialized players for key positions, which no longer became possible after the change.

In 1956, it became known that Pappy Waldorf was possibly involved in a 1953 recruiting scandal involving star freshman quarterback Ronnie Knox.

However, it was found that Pappy Waldorf did approve creation of the booster club without approval from the administration.

Pappy Waldorf was required to write a letter of apology to the administration.