End Wes Fesler (Official Thread)

[BB73]

Wes Fesler was a 3-time All-American for the Buckeyes, winning the Big Ten MVP in 1930.

He was also the Head Coach for tOSU from 1947-1950, guiding the team to a Rose Bowl win over Cal following the 1949 season. His last game at Ohio State was the famous 'Snow Bowl' game.

cf.hof

Wes Fesler

Position: End
School: Ohio State
High School: Youngstown, OH (South HS)
Years: 1928-1930
Inducted: 1954
Place of Birth: Youngstown, OH
Date of Birth: 6/29/1908
Place of Death: Laguna Hills, CA
Date of Death: 7/30/1989
Jersey Number: 30
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185

​

Member Biography

In the days before the Heisman Trophy, Ohio State produced two of its greatest players. Chic Harley was a star running back in the late teens, while a decade later Wes Fesler became one of the Buckeyes' greatest linemen. Fesler came to Ohio State from Youngstown, Ohio, where he was a four-sport star. At Ohio State, Fesler was Phi Beta Kappa, a baseball star, a basketball All-America, and a three-time football All-America. He played end and in 1929 he picked off a fumble and ran 95 yards for a touchdown against Northwestern. In 1930, he was voted the Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten. Jock Sutherland, the Pittsburgh coach, called him "a one man team. It is unbelievable how that boy can do so many things." He was Ohio State's leading receiver and on some plays moved into the backfield and threw passes. Fesler coached Wesleyan University 1941-42, Pittsburgh 1946, Ohio State 1947-50 and Minnesota 1951-53. His Ohio State coaching record was 21-13-3. His 1949 team was Big Ten co-champion and beat California in the Rose Bowl. Fesler died in July, 1989.​

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Scout.com$

All-Time Greatest No. 9: Wes Fesler............3 time first team All-American.

 

[Buckskin86]

Marion back to normal two years after WWII
July 5, 2009

Today's journey is taking us back to March and April, 1947. Almost two years after World War II has ended, and we are getting back to normal, what ever that is. My mom is getting ready to send me to first grade at Greenwood Elementary. No kindergarten in those days so I started to school completely unprepared that fall. Oh well.

Right under the picture of Central's basketball team was a story that, if Woody Hayes could read it today, he'd probably roll over in his grave. The headline stated, "Wes Fesler Says He'll De-emphasize OSU Football." Wes Fesler, Ohio State's brand new football coach, was quoted in the article as saying, "To me it isn't important how many games we win. To the best of my ability, I intend to fight for and help bring about a leveling off of this great program until football becomes strictly an extracurricular activity." Fesler continued, "Maybe I'm cutting my own throat, but as head football coach I want to say to the boys of Ohio that you can't eat footballs. What counts after your football playing days are over is what kind of education you have, and whether you can hold your own in the tougher competition of business life that follows." Fesler goes on, "I say it now, and I'll say it as long as I have voice, that no boy will come to Ohio State with the primary thought of playing football. My players must do a good scholastic job or they will not play football. I have personally selected a staff of associates, not assistants, who feel exactly as I do." And he goes on, "I have found that it is not necessary to be a profane, tough-acting, swaggering, conceited individual to be a good athlete. Few successful businessmen are like that, and I am concerned only with developing young men for successful careers in business life. I will permit no profanity on the playing field or in the locker rooms. I will insist that every Ohio State athlete, appearing in public on any trip, be properly and completely dressed, including tie and coat." And he finishes with, "I will immediately send home from any trip, and dismiss from the squad, any boy who is discourteous or ill-mannered." Fesler is the fifth head coach at Ohio State in seven years. And if you are interested, Fesler won 34 games, lost 31, and tied 8 while at Ohio State, coaching in 1947, 48, 49, and 1950. His 1949 team went to the Rose Bowl and won 17-14. Apparently not good enough for the Buckeyes, as Coach Fesler was replaced by Woody for the 1951 season. Actually, old Wes Fesler had some real good ideas. Do you suppose coaches today really think education comes before winning?

Marion back to normal two years after WWII | marionstar.com | The Marion Star

 

[Buckskin86]

Even in 1947, Buckeye football was a big deal in the Star
Mar. 11, 2012

Today our sentimental journey is taking us to 1947 for a look at Ohio State football and a couple of local school items.

First for today is an article about The Ohio State University and its football team with a few quotes by the coach, Wes Fesler, which was in The Marion Star on Wednesday, April 2, 1947, and had this headline: "Wes Fesler Says He'll Deemphasize O.S.U. Football."

Wesley Fesler, Ohio State's brand new football coach, speaking: "To me, it isn't important how many games we win. To the best of my ability, I intend to fight for and help bring about a leveling off of this great collegiate athletic program until football becomes strictly an extracurricular activity."

Which just about sums up the ideas of this former All-American star who this year came back to the campus where he gained his football fame to take over what has been termed the "toughest coaching job in America."

"Maybe I'm cutting my own throat," Fesler continued, "but as head football coach I want to say to the boys of Ohio that you can't eat footballs. What counts after your football playing days are over is what kind of education you have, and whether you can hold your own in the tougher competition of business life which follows."

"I intend to help sell Ohio State athletes to the business men of Ohio as potential leaders in their businesses. And I intend to see that they get proper training for their business careers while playing football for fun."

"I can promise you a team that will hit hard and keep on hitting. I don't know all the answers in this coaching business, but I've been around long enough to know that gentlemen can play just as good football, if not better, than rowdies."

cont...

http://www.marionstar.com/article/20120311/LIFESTYLE/203110320

 

[ScriptOhio]

From 11W:
THEY WENT TOE DEEP IN THE THIRTIES. Who among us doesn't remember ol' Iron Toe Wes Fesler!?

America's Gallery @usagallery

1935: #OhioState #AllAmerican Wesley Fesler kicks fully inflated #football for special "stroboscopic" #photography

11:59 PM - 2 Mar 2015

100% TRUE WTF MINDBLOWING UBERFACT: Fesler only kicked with two unfiltered Marlboros danglin' from his lips.

Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/skull-sessions/2015/03/50822/tuesday-skull-session