Charles F. Erb Explained

Charles F. Erb
Birth Date:8 December 1902
Death Place:North Hollywood, California, U.S.
Player Years1:1920–1922
Player Team1:California
Player Positions:Quarterback
Coach Years1:1924
Coach Team1:Nevada
Coach Years2:1926–1928
Coach Team2:Idaho
Coach Years3:1935–1937
Coach Team3:Humboldt State
Admin Years1:1926–1928
Admin Team1:Idaho
Overall Record:28–19–7
Championships:1 PCC (1928)
Awards:3× First-team All-Pacific Coast (1920, 1921, 1922)

Charles Freeman Erb Jr. (December 8, 1902 – March 7, 1952) was an American college football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Nevada, Reno in 1924, the University of Idaho from 1926 to 1928, and Humboldt State College from 1935 to 1937, compiling a career coaching record of 28–19–7.

Playing career

At Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles, Erb was the California player of the year during the 1917 season as an end.[1]

Erb played college football as a quarterback at California from 1920 through 1922, on the undefeated "Wonder Teams" led by head coach Andy Smith. The 1920 team won the Rose Bowl and the 1921 team tied in the 1922 Rose Bowl. The undefeated 1922 and 1923 teams did not play in the postseason.

Coaching career

In 1924, he coached at Nevada, where he compiled a 3–4–1 record. He was hired at Idaho in May 1926 as head coach and director of athletics,[2] where he compiled a 10–9–5 record in three seasons. His 1927 team contended for the title in the Pacific Coast Conference and were co-champions,[3] [4] [5] [6] but the 1928 team had a more difficult season, after which he submitted his resignation.[7]

After Idaho, his career record stood at 13–13–6 in four seasons. From 1935 to 1937 he coached in California at Humboldt State, where he compiled a 15–6–1 record.

Personal life

Erb's son, Charles "Boots" Erb (1925–2013), also played quarterback at California, under head coach Pappy Waldorf in the late 1940s. Boots saw action in the 1949 and 1950 Rose Bowls. The Erbs were the first father and son to quarterback in the Rose Bowl.[8]

Erb died of a heart attack, suffered in his sleep during the night of March 7, 1952, at his home in North Hollywood, Los Angeles.[9]

Notes and References

  1. News: High School Football Players Of Year . Los Angeles Times . December 3, 1993 . October 5, 2016.
  2. News: Erb will coach Idaho gridders. Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). May 12, 1926. 19.
  3. Web site: 1927 Football. Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1928. 162.
  4. News: Conference grid schedule stands . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). December 12, 1927 . 18.
  5. News: Adopt schedule. Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). Associated Press. December 11, 1927 . 13.
  6. News: Coast grid schedule given O.K. after long conference wrangle. Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington) . Associated Press . December 11, 1927. 1, sports.
  7. Web site: The Season of 1928. Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1929. 164.
  8. News: Charles Erb . San Francisco Chronicle . (obituary). January 19, 2014 . October 5, 2016.
  9. News: . Charles F. Erb, UC Wonder Team Star, Is Dead . . . . March 7, 1952 . 27 . December 20, 2020 . .