George Sauer, Sr.
George Henry Sauer was born in 1910 in Stratton, Nebraska. George's parents, Louis and Katherine Sauer were natives of Norka. When George was 5, the family moved to Lincoln and settled in the North Bottoms neighborhood, where Louis went into the trash collection business.
George Sauer was a member of the Lincoln High School Class of 1929. A great high school athlete in all sports, Sauer played on three state championship football teams (32-1-1 record) and on two state championship track teams. As an all around excellent player who could run, kick and pass, he often left the competition wondering what he would do next.
Sauer was one of Nebraska's most revered Cornhusker players during the hard hit 1930's. As an all around excellent player who could run, kick and pass he often left the competition wondering what he would do next. Sauer quickly became an emulated football hero. Ed Schwartzkopf, a future Nebraska University player recalled that at the time, "Everybody wanted to be George Sauer." Nebraskan kids idolized the Lincoln native often pressing their mothers to sew George's famous number 25 onto their sweaters.
Sauer had a loyal following within the team as well. Coach D.X. Bible glowed when speaking of the player, "He was probably my best all-around athlete. He was great at carrying the ball and he was one of the best on defense. He simply rolled up his sleeves and met the ball carrier head on."
In 1932 Sauer was central to the Husker's stellar record of eight wins and only one loss. That solitary loss was to undefeated Pittsburgh. The Husker defensive line, led by Sauer, held off the steel-town squad until the slashing Panthers scored the game's only touchdown in the fourth quarter. Games against big teams like the Panthers were bringing national attention to the Huskers. Players, like Sauer, did not go unnoticed. At the end of his senior season he led the voting for players in the New Year's Day All-Star game. Sauer distinguished himself by intercepting passes and scoring the only touchdowns of the game. After the game news writer Lawrence Perry commented that Sauer, "stands clearly as the premier ball carrier in the nation."
He was an All-America football player, chosen for the College Football Hall of Fame, and played four sports at NU: football, basketball, baseball and track. He led Nebraska to Big Six championships in 1931-32-33, conference seasons during which Nebraska was undefeated and the fullback was all-conference.
George Sauer Statistics at Nebraska
Sauer was a running back from 1935-37 for the Green Bay Packers.
Sauer eventually used his considerable football skills and knowledge as the head football coach at the University of Kansas. His 1946 and 1947 teams shared the Big Six title and he took the Jayhawks to the Orange Bowl game in Miami.
George moved on to the Naval Academy where he became the first civilian coach in over a decade. He resigned from Navy after two of his assistants were treated unfairly.
From the Naval Academy he went on to Baylor University were he was named Southwest Conference Coach of the Year in 1950. After six years as head coach, he moved up to the role of Athletic Director.
In 1961-62 he was General Manager of the New York Titans of the American Football League.
George was elected to the National Football League Hall of Fame in 1954 and the Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame in 1964. He died in Waco, Texas in 1994.
His son, George Sauer Jr. was also a standout football player at Nebraska and for the New York Jets.
No. 25
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 197 lbs.
Position(s): running back
Years Played: 1931 - 1933
Awards Earned: All-Conference, 1931-33; All-American, 1933; College Football Hall of Fame; Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame
Photo of George Sauer Sr. courtesy of Jerry Krieger