Anthony C. Nardo Memorial Trophy

Last updated

The Anthony C. Nardo Memorial Trophy was an individual honor awarded by the University of Maryland football team to its most outstanding lineman of the past season. [1]

Contents

The award was named in honor of 2LT Anthony C. Nardo, a United States Army officer killed in action in Belgium during the Second World War. Anthony was born to Frank and Carmela Nardo [2] [3] in Baltimore, Maryland and attended the University of Maryland where he played football in 1942, before being commissioned into the Army. Nardo was serving in H Company, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division when he was killed on January 4, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart. His remains are interred at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial in Luxembourg. [4]

The 1947 Terrapin (College Park's yearbook) notes that the Maryland Alpha chapter of Phi Delta Theta instituted "the George Barnes - Monk Mier Memorial Trophy for a fellow Phi, Tony Nardo, killed in Europe during the war." [5] There is no mention as to the award's recipient for that year.

To date, the earliest news reference to this trophy appears to be an article published in The Baltimore Sun newspaper (then referred to as simply "The Sun") regarding awards for the 1949 season on February 25, 1950. [6] Prior to this date, news articles refer simply to players being voted as the best lineman for the year. The University of Maryland's Men's Football Media Guide gives the earliest award date as being in 1947; however, there are some discrepancies and inconsistencies regarding this trophy's award for years prior to 1950.

While sources disagree on the inaugural season for this trophy's award, they agree that the final award was given for the 1969 season. From 1970 to 1995, it was replaced by the Bob Beall Trophy and Tommy Marcos Trophy. [7]

Originally conceived as a perpetual award with winners' names inscribed from year to year, the nature of the trophy was changed in 1952 after Bob Ward's multiple receipt of this honor. Ward was given the original trophy "for his permanent possession," [8] after being voted this award for the 1951 season. In prior years, the award winner had been given a replica trophy.

Recipient Discrepancies: 1946-1949

There are discrepancies between the University of Maryland's football media guides and contemporary newspaper articles from the 1950s regarding the Anthony C. Nardo Memorial Trophy.

Lists of recipients for this award first appeared in the media guide in 1962. Prior to 1988, [9] the media guide did not list winners of this award from years prior to 1950. Starting in 1989, [10] the guide has listed Pat McCarthy and Gene Kinney as winners of this award for 1947 and 1948, respectively.

An article appearing in The Sun in January 1948 lends credence to claim for Kinney—but for the 1947 season. While the Anthony C. Nardo Memorial Trophy is not explicitly mentioned, the article notes that Kinney "took honors as best center and lineman." [11] And while the Washington Post notes the annual fete [12] given by the University of Maryland for its athletes in 1947, it makes no special mention of Pat McKinney's performance in the 1946 season nor does it mention an award for him. Finally, the 1948 Terrapin notes that Gene Kinney was, "Awarded Tony Nardo Memorial trophy from Phi Delta Theta as top Terp lineman of season." [13]

In addition, on February 25, 1950, Jesse Linthicum of The Sun observed that, "For the second straight year, Bob Ward was chosen as the outstanding lineman by vote of the [University of Maryland] team." [6] Linthicum further noted that Ward was given the "Anthony J. [sic] Nardo award" for the 1949 football season. This would make Bob Ward the winner in both 1948 (contradicting the media guide) and 1949 as well as 1950 [14] and 1951. [8]

Recipients

The table below reflects the content of the University of Maryland men's football media guide integrated with findings from The Sun. Award years for 1946-1949 have been adjusted, where necessary, to reconcile the media guide's claims with newspaper articles from the time period in question.

YearPlayerPosition
1946 Pat McCarthy [10] G
1947 Gene Kinney [10] [11] [13] C
1948 Bob Ward [6] G
1949Bob Ward [6] G
1950Bob WardG
1951Bob WardG
1952 William Maletzky G
1953 Stan Jones T
1954 Bob Pellegrini G
1955 Mike Sandusky T
1956 Al Wharton T
1957 Don Healy T
1958 Fred Cole T
1959 Tom Gunderman G
1960 Gary Collins E
1961 Bill Kirchiro T
1962 Dave Crossan T
1963 Olaf Drozdov T
1964 Dick Absher E
1965Dick AbsherE
1966 Jam Lavrusky LB
1968 Ron Pearson E
1969 Peter Mattia DT

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stan Jones (American football)</span> American football player and coach (1931–2010)

Stanley Paul Jones was an American professional football guard and defensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears and the Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991. Jones is credited as the first professional player to use weight training to improve his conditioning for football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maryland Terrapins football</span> American football team of the University of Maryland, College Park

The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland, College Park in the sport of American football. The Terrapins compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Big Ten Conference. The Terrapins joined the Big Ten Conference on July 1, 2014, following 62 years in the Atlantic Coast Conference as a founding member. Mike Locksley is the head coach of the Terrapins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Scarbath</span> American football player (1930–2020)

John Carl Scarbath was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Ward (American football, born 1927)</span> American football player and coach (1927–2005)

Robert Richard Ward was an American gridiron football coach and player. He played college football for the Terrapins at the University of Maryland. He is considered, alongside Randy White, as one of the greatest linemen to have ever played for Maryland. Ward is the only player to have been named an Associated Press first-team All-American for both an offensive and defensive position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lu Gambino</span> American football player (1923–2003)

Lucien Anthony "Lu" Gambino was an American football running back. He played college football for Indiana University, and after military service in the Second World War, the University of Maryland. While playing for Maryland, he set the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) season scoring high for 1947 with 16 touchdowns and 96 points and was named the 1948 Gator Bowl most valuable player. Gambino played professional football for two years with the Baltimore Colts in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), an early competitor of the National Football League (NFL).

Elmer Horsey Wingate was an American football player. Wingate was drafted by the New York Yanks in the fourth round of the 1951 NFL draft and played for one season with the Baltimore Colts.

William John Kirchiro is a former American football player. Kirchiro was selected in the seventh round of the 1962 NFL draft and played in the National Football League (NFL) for one season.

From 1947 to 1955, Jim Tatum served as the head coach of the Maryland Terrapins football team, which represented the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college football. Maryland hired Tatum to replace Clark Shaughnessy after the 1946 season. Tatum had created both success and controversy during his one season as head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners football team. During his nine-year tenure, Tatum became one of the most successful head football coaches in Maryland history, and the Terrapins compiled two national championships, three conference championships, and five bowl game appearances. His teams compiled a 73–15–4 record without a single losing season, and as of the end of 2016, he has the highest winning percentage of any Maryland football coach who coached at least seven games. In 1954, the University of Maryland appointed a new president, Dr. Wilson Elkins, who chose to de-emphasize football. Following the 1955 season, Tatum took a pay cut to coach at his alma mater, North Carolina, and he died four years later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Cosgrove (American football)</span> American football player (1930–2017)

Tom Cosgrove was an American football offensive lineman. He played collegiately for the Maryland Terrapins at the University of Maryland, starting on the varsity squad from 1949 to 1952.

The 1950 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in 1950 college football season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1951 Maryland Terrapins football team</span> American college football season

The 1951 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in 1951 college football season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). Maryland outscored its opponents, 381–74, and finished the season with a 10–0 record, including three shut outs, and held seven opponents to seven points or less. It was the school's first perfect undefeated and untied season since 1893. Maryland also secured its first berth in a major postseason bowl game, the 1952 Sugar Bowl, where it upset first-ranked Tennessee under head coach Robert Neyland.

The 1947 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in 1947 college football season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Byrd Stadium</span> Former stadium at the University of Maryland

Old Byrd Stadium, also known as Byrd Stadium or Byrd Field and nicknamed "the Byrd Cage", was the home stadium for the University of Maryland from 1923 until 1947. It was located in College Park, Maryland, east of Baltimore Avenue on the site of the school's present-day fraternity row. The seating capacity for the stadium was 5,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Maryland Terrapins football team</span> American college football season

The 2010 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Terrapins' 58th season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and its sixth within the ACC's Atlantic Division. They played their home games at Byrd Stadium and were led by head coach Ralph Friedgen. Maryland finished the season 9–4 overall and 5–3 in ACC play. The Terrapins were invited to the Military Bowl, where they defeated East Carolina, 51–20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Idzik</span> American football player and coach (1928–2013)

John Joseph Idzik Sr. was an American football player and coach. He was the head coach of the University of Detroit football team until the school discontinued its program in 1964. He held assistant coaching positions at the University of Tennessee, University of Maryland, Tulane University, in the National Football League (NFL) with the Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, and in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Ottawa Rough Riders. Idzik played college football at the University of Maryland.

Harry Bonk was an American football player. He played college football as a fullback for the University of Maryland from 1945 to 1948, and for Dartmouth College and Bucknell University in 1944. The Boston Yanks selected Bonk in the 28th round of the 1948 NFL draft.

The 1946 Maryland Terrapins football team was an American football team that represented the University of Maryland as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1946 college football season. In their second non-consecutive season under head coach Clark Shaughnessy, the Terrapins compiled a 3–6 record and were outscored by a total of 193 to 136.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Maryland Terrapins football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Terrapins played their home games at Maryland Stadium in College Park, Maryland and competed in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference.

References

  1. ↑ Stan Jones To Be Enshrined in College Football Hall of Fame Tonight Archived 2012-03-07 at the Wayback Machine , Atlantic Coast Conference, December 12, 2000, retrieved January 26, 2009.
  2. ↑ Baltimore City Health Department, Bureau of Vital Statistics (Birth Record Index) 1921, p. 231 (surname mistyped as "Nardi"), retrieved October 25, 2014.
  3. ↑ Anthony Nardo, United States Census 1930, retrieved October 25, 2014.
  4. ↑ Overseas American Cemeteries Archived July 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine , National WWII Memorial, retrieved January 26, 2009.
  5. ↑ "Phi Delta Theta." The 1947 Terrapin, p. 27, academic year 1946-1947.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Linthicum, Jesse A. "Maryland Grid Team Honored At Banquet." The Sun, p. 12, February 25, 1950. Retrieved December 10, 2015; appropriate ProQuest subscription required to view link.
  7. ↑ All-Time Honors (PDF), 2007 Maryland Terrapins Football Media Guide, University of Maryland, 2007, p. 166, retrieved October 17, 2016.
  8. 1 2 "WARD CHOSEN TOP GRIDDER: Maryland Teammates Vote Guard Most Valuable." The Sun, p. 14, March 1, 1952. Retrieved December 10, 2015; appropriate ProQuest subscription required to view link.
  9. ↑ University of Maryland men's football media guides, 1988, p. 70, retrieved December 10, 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 University of Maryland men's football media guides, 1989, p. 80, retrieved December 10, 2015.
  11. 1 2 "MD. GRIDDERS ARE HONORED: 300 Supporters Attend Dinner Given For Team." The Sun, p. 26, January 25, 1948. Retrieved December 10, 2015; appropriate ProQuest subscription required to view link.
  12. ↑ "Terps Hold Annual Fete For Athletes." The Washington Post, p. 13, May 27, 1947. Retrieved December 10, 2015; appropriate ProQuest subscription required to view link.
  13. 1 2 " The 1948 Terrapin, p. 252, academic year 1947-1948.
  14. ↑ "Three Awards Won By Elmer Wingate." The Sun, p. 21, May 24, 1951. Retrieved December 10, 2015; appropriate ProQuest subscription required to view link.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.