Art Guepe Explained

Art Guepe
Birth Date:28 January 1915
Birth Place:Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Death Place:Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Player Years1:1934–1936
Player Team1:Marquette
Player Years2:1943
Player Team2:Iowa Pre-Flight
Player Positions:Quarterback
Coach Years1:1937
Coach Team1:Marquette (freshmen)
Coach Years2:1938–1942
Coach Team2:Virginia (assistant)
Coach Years3:1946–1952
Coach Team3:Virginia
Coach Years4:1953–1962
Coach Team4:Vanderbilt
Admin Years1:1963–1975
Admin Team1:OVC (commissioner)
Overall Record:86–71–9
Bowl Record:1–0
Awards:SEC Coach of the Year (1955)

Arthur Leo Guepe (January 28, 1915 – November 4, 2001) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Virginia from 1946 to 1952 and Vanderbilt University from 1953 to 1962, compiling a career college football record of 86–71–9.

Playing and assistant coaching career

Guepe played quarterback at Marquette University from 1934 to 1936 in a backfield that included two-time All-American Ray Buivid, Ray Sonnenberg, and Arthur's twin brother, Albert Guepe. The Golden Avalanche compiled records of 7–1 in 1935 and 7–2 in 1936, the latter season concluding with a 16–6 loss to Sammy Baugh and TCU in the 1937 Cotton Bowl Classic. Guepe and his twin brother, Al, starred for Marquette from 1933 to 1936. In the TCU game, Guepe raced a punt back 60 yards for the first touchdown in Cotton Bowl history to give Marquette an early lead. He was drafted in the third round of the 1937 NFL Draft.[1] After graduation, Guepe served one season as freshmen football and basketball coach at Marquette, and then moved to the University of Virginia as an assistant football coach from 1938 to 1942. Guepe served in the United States Navy during World War II and played one season in 1943 for the Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks football team.

Head coaching career

Guepe was the head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers football program from 1946 to 1952, having compiled a 47–17–2 (.727) record. His final three years were his best, winning eight games in each of those seasons. His '51 team finished 8–1 and ranked 13th in the nation.

Vanderbilt University lured Guepe from Virginia in 1953 and he coached the Commodores for ten seasons (1953–1962). Guepe's 1955 Vandy team, beat 8th-ranked Auburn in the Gator Bowl and finished 8–3. His Vandy teams won more Southeastern Conference games (19) than any Commodore coach before or since.

Upon retiring from coaching after the 1962 season, Guepe said matter-of-factly and without bitterness: "There is no way you can be Harvard Monday through Friday and try to be Alabama on Saturday."[2] His message to the Vanderbilt chancellor and trustees was unambiguous. To be competitive in the arena of big-time college football, Vanderbilt would have to relax some of its high standards of admissions and academic eligibility. His son, Arthur A. Guepe, played football at Vanderbilt from 1961 to 1963.

Later life and death

Guepe served as the Ohio Valley Conference's first commissioner from 1963 to 1975. Guepe died on November 4, 2001, at a nursing home in Florida.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1937 NFL Draft Listing . 2023-03-21 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  2. Book: Walsh. Christopher J.. Where football is king: a history of the SEC. 2006. Taylor Trade Pub.. Lanham, Md.. 9781461734772. 119. 1st Taylor Trade Pub.. July 26, 2015.
  3. Web site: Former Vandy football coach, Guepe, dies at 86 . . . . November 6, 2001 . May 31, 2010 .