Opinion
Hadl and Hoag
July 24, 2008
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To the editor:
Upon the occasion of Lawrence High School's announced plan to honor John Hadl on July 28 by retiring his jersey No. 21, I believe that events surrounding Hadl's choice of that specific number are in order. I have often heard John explain his reason for choosing that number was that his idol during junior high school was star Kansas University running back Charlie Hoag.
Hoag was the 1952 pre-season All-American first-team halfback. He ruined his knee early that season against K-State and was finished. Earlier that same year, Hoag and his KU basketball team won the NCAA Championship, and they also won the 1952 Olympic Gold Medal in Finland. Hoag was one of the rare modern collegiate athletes to excel at two sports. He also lettered as a discus-thrower in track.
Hadl continued to wear No. 21 through high school, college and his professional career even though, during those years, college football required that quarterbacks wear numbers lower than 20. He had worn No. 21 as an all-conference halfback in 1959 and was able to keep it after he was shifted to quarterback where he was an All American his junior and senior seasons at KU.
He had an outstanding pro career, first at the San Diego Chargers, then the Los Angeles Rams where he was the NFL "Man of the Year." He finished up at the Green Bay Packers and the Houston Oilers. John is enshrined at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.
Charlie Hoag retired from The Equitable Life Ins. Co. and recently moved to Lawrence.
Richard M. Hassur,
Lawrence
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24 July 2008
at 8:05 a.m.
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Solomon (Anonymous) says…
Charlie Hoag was one of a trio of acclaimed freshmen to enter Big 7 schools in 1949. Billy Vessles of Oklahoma and Bobby Reynolds of Nebraska were the other two. Vessles won the Heisman in '52, and Reynolds is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Hoag was as good, or better, than either of the others. Oh, what might have been, but for the knee injury.
24 July 2008
at 8:59 a.m.
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Boston_Corbett (Anonymous) says…
very nice letter. Great story.
25 July 2008
at 1:34 p.m.
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paavopetie (Anonymous) says…
“Hoag was one of the rare modern collegiate athletes to excel at two sports. He also lettered as a discus-thrower in track.”I guess it depends on your definition of “excel”, but wouldn't that be THREE sports he excelled at?