Nobby Wirkowski facts for kids
| Born: | August 20, 1926 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Died: | October 15, 2014 (aged 88) Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
| Career information | |
| CFL status | American |
| Position(s) | QB |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| University | Miami (OH) |
| Career history | |
| As administrator | |
| 1965–1967 | Toronto Argonauts (DPP) |
| 1968–1992 | York University (AD) |
| As coach | |
| 1952–1957 | De La Salle College (HC) |
| 1960–1962 | Toronto Argonauts (AC) |
| 1962–1964 | Toronto Argonauts (HC) |
| 1968–1975 | York University (HC) |
| 1984 | York University (AC) |
| 1987 | York University (AC) |
| 1988–1989 | York University (HC) |
| As player | |
| 1951–1954 | Toronto Argonauts |
| 1955–1956 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| 1956–1959 | Calgary Stampeders |
| 1960 | Toronto Argonauts |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Norbert "Nobby" Wirkowski (born August 20, 1926 – died October 15, 2014) was a talented American and Canadian football player and coach. He is most famous for being the quarterback for the Toronto Argonauts. He led the Argonauts to a big win in the 1952 Grey Cup championship. The touchdown he helped create in that game was the last offensive touchdown by the Argonauts in a Grey Cup for 30 years.
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Early Life and High School Success
Nobby Wirkowski was born and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He was very good at sports. He became the first student at Crane Technical High School to earn a letter in three different sports. He played football, basketball, and baseball. Before him, only George Halas had done this, many years earlier.
College Football Career
Wirkowski played college football at Miami University. He learned from two amazing coaches there. First, he played for Sid Gillman, who had new ideas about how to pass the ball in American football. When Gillman left, Woody Hayes became his coach.
Nobby led Miami to an exciting 13–12 victory over Texas Tech in the 1948 Sun Bowl. Three years later, he had an amazing game in the Salad Bowl. In that game, Nobby completed 18 out of 21 passes. This helped Miami win against Arizona State. While at Miami, Wirkowski also joined the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.
Professional Playing Days
After college, Nobby Wirkowski joined the Toronto Argonauts football team. He quickly became their starting quarterback. In his first season in 1951, he helped the Argonauts achieve a winning record.
In 1952, Wirkowski led the Toronto Argonauts to the Grey Cup championship. They defeated the Edmonton Eskimos to win the title.
Nobby was traded to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1955. He played for them for two years. Then, he was traded again to the Calgary Stampeders. He played for Calgary until the end of the 1959 season. In 1960, he returned to the Toronto Argonauts. He was a backup quarterback and also an assistant coach. His playing career ended when he hurt his knee in a game against the NFL St. Louis Cardinals.
Coaching and Management Roles
Nobby Wirkowski also had a long and successful coaching career. From 1952 to 1957, he coached the senior football team at De La Salle College (Toronto). His teams won league championships three years in a row, from 1955 to 1957.
In 1963, the Argonauts' General Manager, Lew Hayman, made Wirkowski the head coach. He coached the Argonauts through the 1964 season. After that, he became the Director of Player Personnel for the team. He stayed in that role until the end of the 1967 season.
After 1967, York University asked Wirkowski to join them. York wanted to start a new football program. They needed a coach who could build a team from the very beginning. Nobby accepted the offer. He became the Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at York University. He also became a professor in the Faculty of Physical Education. He coached York from 1968 to 1975. He also returned to coach them from 1988 to 1989. In between, he was an associate coach for the 1984 and 1987 seasons.
Legacy and Passing
Nobby Wirkowski is a member of the Miami University Athletic Hall of Fame. He is also in the Mississauga Hall of Fame. He passed away on October 15, 2014, at the age of 88. His family was with him.
