Mike Scarry facts for kids
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| No. 20 | |||||
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| Position: | Center, Tackle | ||||
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| Born: | February 1, 1920 Duquesne, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Died: | September 9, 2012 (aged 92) Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 214 lb (97 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Duquesne (PA) | ||||
| College: | Waynesburg Western Reserve |
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| Career history | |||||
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Michael Joseph “Mo” Scarry (born February 1, 1920 – died September 9, 2012) was an important figure in American football. He was both a player and a coach. Michael grew up in Pennsylvania and played football in college.
He joined the Cleveland Rams in the National Football League (NFL). This was after serving in the United States Army during World War II. The Rams won the NFL championship in 1945. After this, the team moved to Los Angeles.
Scarry decided to stay in Cleveland. He joined the new Cleveland Browns team. This team was part of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). The Browns won the AAFC championship in both 1946 and 1947. Scarry was a key player on those winning teams.
Later, Scarry became a football coach. He coached at several colleges and then in the NFL. He spent 15 seasons coaching for the Miami Dolphins. During his time there, the Dolphins won two Super Bowls. In 2000, he was honored by being inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
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Early Life and College Football
Michael Scarry grew up in Duquesne, Pennsylvania. He played both basketball and football in high school. After high school, he went to Waynesburg College. It was a small school in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. He continued to play football and basketball there.
During World War II, Scarry served in the United States Army. He was stationed in North Africa. However, he developed asthma and received a medical discharge. After leaving the Army, he signed with the Cleveland Rams. This was his start in professional football in 1944.
Playing in the NFL
Scarry began his NFL career with the Cleveland Rams in 1944. He started as a left tackle. Soon after, he moved to play center. He played both offense and defense for the team.
In 1945, Scarry suffered a knee injury. But he quickly returned to play. The Rams, led by quarterback Bob Waterfield, won the NFL championship that year. Scarry was even the team captain during their championship season.
After the 1945 season, the Rams moved to Los Angeles. Scarry chose to stay in Cleveland. He joined the new Cleveland Browns team. This team was part of the new All-America Football Conference. Other players from the Rams also joined the Browns.
Scarry played center for the Browns. He protected their famous quarterback, Otto Graham. While playing for the Browns, Scarry also coached the basketball team at Western Reserve University. He often played almost the entire football game. He played on both offense and defense. His coach, Paul Brown, even let him call the defensive plays. The Browns won the AAFC championship in 1946.
Scarry continued with the Browns in 1947. He earned his bachelor's degree from Western Reserve that year. He was still a top center but was bothered by injuries and asthma. He considered leaving professional football. The Browns won their second AAFC championship in a row. In January 1948, Scarry became the head football coach at Western Reserve. This ended his playing career with the Browns.
Coaching Career Highlights
After retiring as a player, Scarry became a full-time coach. He started as the head football coach at Western Reserve. He used many of the coaching ideas he learned from Paul Brown. His team improved in his second year.
In 1950, Scarry became an assistant coach. He moved to Santa Clara University in California. After two seasons there, he went to Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. He coached at Loras for two years.
Next, Scarry coached at Washington State University. Then, he spent six years as a line coach for the University of Cincinnati. During this time, he also helped coach in the College All-Star Game. This was a game between the NFL champion and top college players.
In 1963, Scarry returned to his old college, Waynesburg. He became the head coach of the Yellow Jackets. He was also the school's athletic director. His teams had a good record over three seasons. In 1965, Waynesburg won the Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title. Scarry was named the conference's coach of the year.
In 1966, Otto Graham, his former teammate, became head coach of the Washington Redskins. Graham hired Scarry as his defensive line coach. Scarry stayed with the Redskins until 1968.
In 1970, Scarry joined the Miami Dolphins. He became the defensive line coach under Don Shula. He stayed with the Dolphins for 15 years. During his time there, the Dolphins reached the Super Bowl five times. They won two championships in a row in 1972 and 1973. Scarry retired from coaching in 1986.
Later Life and Legacy
After retiring from coaching, Scarry continued to help the Dolphins. He worked as a volunteer assistant. In 1994, he moved to Fort Myers, Florida, with his wife, Libby.
In 2000, Michael Scarry was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He passed away in 2012 at his home in Fort Myers. He was the last living member of the original Cleveland Browns team. He had four sons and one daughter. His brother, Jack Scarry, was also a professional basketball player.
