Earl Witte Explained

Earl Witte
Number:23
Position:Back
Birth Date:December 12, 1906
Birth Place:St. Peter, Minnesota
Death Place:St. Peter, Minnesota
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lbs:188
High School:St. Peter (MN)
Pastteams:
Statlabel1:Rushing attempts
Statvalue1:8
Statlabel2:Rushing yards
Statvalue2:22
Pfr:WittEa20

Earl John Witte, sometimes spelled Witty (December 12, 1906 – November 1, 1991) was an American football back. He played college football for the Gustavus Adolphus Golden Gusties and later was a member of the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He also played with the Phantom Athletic Club, the Carlsons and the Ewalds, in local ranks, as well as had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Early life and football career

Witte was born on December 12, 1906, in St. Peter, Minnesota.[1] He attended St. Peter High School and is one of only three of their alumni to ever make it to the NFL.[2] As a senior in 1925, he averaged over 12 yards-per-carry and ran for 1,719 yards in eight games.[3] He was described as "one of the sensations of the southern Minnesota high schools."[4] Witte also played several other sports at St. Peter.[5] He entered Gustavus Adolphus College in 1926.[3]

Witte was on the freshman football team his first year and also played guard for their basketball squad.[6] [7] He made the varsity and saw significant playing time at fullback in 1927; he led the conference in scoring with seven touchdowns and helped Gustavus Adolphus win the circuit title, for which he was selected first-team all-conference.[8] He was also selected second-team all-state.[9] Halsey Hall of The Minneapolis Journal, in selecting Witte second-team all-state, noted that he was a "touchdown maker de luxe and the defensive genius of the Gustie backs. Witt[e] ... could be on the first team without anybody feeling hurt about it."[9]

Witte also played for the 1927–28 Gustavus Adolphus basketball team and helped them win the state championship, additionally being selected to the all-state basketball team.[10] [11] He was ruled ineligible to play in the 1928 football season.[12] He was able to return for the 1929 season and became one of the top players for the team; through games played by October 23, he was 15 points ahead for the conference scoring lead with 39, and it was reported by The Minneapolis Star that "his hard-hitting thrusts when scoring yardage is needed [and is] mainly responsible for the Gusties' return to state college gridiron prominence."[13] He finished the season having scored 52 points–48 off eight touchdowns and four off extra points–which tied the all-time conference scoring record.[14] He was named second-team all-state for his performance.[15] He also continued playing basketball and earned a second all-state selection.[11]

Witte was able to return for his fifth year in 1930 and earned first-team all-state as well as first-team all-conference honors.[16] [17] It was noted in an article from The Minneapolis Journal that, "[a]t fullback is Earl Witt[e], the Kid from Gustavus who ranted and raved and dashed around a football field. The kid was afire in a football game and, if he was stopped for the first half, he came back like judgement day in the second. He was strong on the defensive and one of the sparks of the Gustie array."[17]

Witte began playing for the Phantom Athletic Club of the local Park Football League and began the season as their quarterback, later shifting to be their starting fullback; he was one of four players in the team's backfield known as the "Four Galloping Ghosts."[18] [19] [20] After the football season, he joined the American Legion basketball team in the Minneapolis AAU League and played the 1931–32 season with them.[21] In the 1932 football season, he played for a team known as the Carlsons before leaving late-season to join the Ewalds.[22] [23]

Witte played the first two games of 1933 with the Ewalds but then made a decision to return to college for one final football season with Gustavus Adolphus.[24] [25] [26] He reportedly played "better than ever" that season and was named a first-team all-conference and all-state selection.[11] [27] [28] [29] Afterwards, he re-joined the Ewalds and played the end of the year with them.[24]

In August 1934, Witte was signed by the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL).[30] [31] He made the team and appeared in five of the Packers' 13 games, two as a starter, helping them compile a record of 7–6.[32] He played as a blocking back and defensive back and had a total of eight rush attempts for 22 yards, averaging 2.8 yards-per-carry while wearing the number 23.[33] After an exhibition game against the Chicago Bears, the Green Bay Press-Gazette noted that he "wanted to prove that [Bronko] Nagurski and [Jack] Manders were not the only Minnesotans on the field last night, and he did it quite proficiently. One time when the Bronc busted through the Packer line on one of his bone-crushing plunges, Witte came up fast from the secondary and picked the Bronc right up in the air while he was driving forward and threw him on his back."[34] He also reportedly hit Gene Ronzani so hard that Ronzani "stopped, curled up and dropped to the ground as if he had hit a stone wall."[34]

Witte was sold along with Carl Jorgensen to the Philadelphia Eagles in May 1935.[35] He ultimately did not play for the Eagles.[33] He instead returned to the Ewalds football team that season and played the year with them.[36]

Later life and death

After retiring from football, Witte served for the State of Minnesota public welfare department for 30 years until retiring in 1971.[11] He also served in the United States Navy during World War II for three years.[11] He died on November 1, 1991, in St. Peter, Minnesota, at the age of 84.[37]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Earl Witte. Pro-Football-Reference.com. December 31, 2010. June 23, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170623024126/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WittEa20.htm. live.
  2. Web site: St. Peter (St. Peter, MN) Alumni Pro Stats. Pro-Football-Reference.com. September 9, 2023. December 31, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211231025640/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/high_schools.cgi?id=93be4efb. live.
  3. News: St. Peter Football Star Will Enter Gustavus. Star Tribune. Newspapers.com. December 13, 1925. 34. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913171351/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/131476457/. live.
  4. News: State College Gridders Will Assemble Next Week. Star Tribune. Newspapers.com. September 4, 1927. 32. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913171435/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/131477537/. live.
  5. News: Many Veterans Greet New Gustavus Grid Coaches. The Minneapolis Journal. Newspapers.com. September 9, 1926. 25. Hall, Halsey. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913171902/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal/131476597/. live.
  6. News: Gustavus Will Defend Grid Title With Practically New Team. The Minneapolis Journal. Newspapers.com. August 28, 1927. 51. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913171901/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal/131476964/. live.
  7. News: Gustavus Adolphus Quint Wins From Minneapolis Five. The Minneapolis Journal. Newspapers.com. December 4, 1926. 8. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913172401/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal/131476873/. live.
  8. News: Coaches Pick Stars On All-State College Conference Team. The Minneapolis Journal. Newspapers.com. November 27, 1927. 43. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913172402/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal/131477201/. live.
  9. News: All Schools Place on Journal All-State Conference Team. The Minneapolis Journal. Newspapers.com. November 27, 1927. 43. Hall, Halsey. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913172402/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal/131477065/. live.
  10. News: Meet The Gusties, New State Basketball Champs. The Minneapolis Journal. Newspapers.com. March 4, 1928. 33. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913172402/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal/131477894/. live.
  11. Web site: Earl Witte (1978) - Hall of Fame. Gustavus Adolphus Golden Gusties. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913172402/https://gogusties.com/honors/hall-of-fame/earl-witte/340. live.
  12. News: State Colleges Lose Promising Grid Prospects. St. Cloud Times. Newspapers.com. August 30, 1928. 10. Associated Press. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913172402/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-cloud-times/131478001/. live.
  13. News: Early Witty Sports 15 Point Lead in Scoring. The Minneapolis Star. Newspapers.com. October 23, 1929. 14. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913172908/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star/131478398/. live.
  14. News: Scoring Mark Tied by Gustavus Star. Star Tribune. Newspapers.com. November 7, 1929. 24. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913172922/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/131478695/. live.
  15. News: All-State College Teams. Star Tribune. Newspapers.com. November 24, 1929. 29. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913172903/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/131478769/. live.
  16. News: Four Colleges Represented On Coaches' All-Conference Team. St. Cloud Times. Newspapers.com. November 25, 1930. 14. Associated Press. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913172904/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-cloud-times/131479381/. live.
  17. News: Four Schools Make Journal All-State Team. The Minneapolis Journal. Newspapers.com. November 23, 1930. 32. Hall, Halsey. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913172909/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal/131479472/. live.
  18. News: The Phantoms' Four 'Galloping Ghosts'. The Minneapolis Star. Newspapers.com. October 10, 1931. 9. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913172911/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star/131494161/. live.
  19. News: Phantoms to Play Almli's Ironwood Eleven October 30. Star Tribune. Newspapers.com. October 14, 1931. 16. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913173430/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/131494355/. live.
  20. News: Phantoms, Ironwood, Clash at St. Thomas. The Minneapolis Star. Newspapers.com. October 30, 1931. 32. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913173430/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star/131494469/. live.
  21. News: A.A.U. Floor League Begins Play Tonight. The Minneapolis Star. Newspapers.com. December 15, 1931. 14. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913173405/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star/131494543/. live.
  22. News: Frawley, Once Gusty Star, Joins Carlsons. The Minneapolis Star. Newspapers.com. September 24, 1932. 7. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913173407/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star/131494983/. live.
  23. News: Earl Witte Joins Ewald Team Today. The Minneapolis Journal. Newspapers.com. November 6, 1932. 13. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913173405/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal/131495053/. live.
  24. News: Witty Joins Ewalds For Tilt With All-Star Team. The Minneapolis Star. Newspapers.com. November 29, 1933. 12. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913173405/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star/131497312/. live.
  25. News: Eight Games Tonight and Tomorrow Give State Colleges Running Start. The Minneapolis Star. Newspapers.com. September 29, 1933. 20. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913173917/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star/131497424/. live.
  26. News: Kid Witty Returns to Gusties; Cadets See Victory at Fargo. The Minneapolis Journal. Newspapers.com. Hall, Halsey. September 28, 1933. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913174019/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal/131497574/. live.
  27. News: Sport Shorts. The Winona Daily News. Newspapers.com. November 8, 1933. 11. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913174019/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winona-daily-news/131497674/. live.
  28. News: Seven Schools Land All-State Loop Berths. Star Tribune. Newspapers.com. November 23, 1933. 19. Associated Press. Larson, Cal. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913174022/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/131497836/. live.
  29. News: Seven Schools Place Men on Journal All-Star Conference Team. The Minneapolis Journal. Newspapers.com. November 26, 1933. 11. Hall, Halsey. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913174021/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal/131497933/. live.
  30. News: Gantenbein, Grove Sign Contracts To Play With Packers. Green Bay Press-Gazette. Newspapers.com. August 21, 1934. 17. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913174100/https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette/131498621/. live.
  31. News: Witte to Green Bay, Johnson With Ewalds. Star Tribune. Newspapers.com. September 13, 1934. 23. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913174540/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/131498685/. live.
  32. Web site: 1934 Green Bay Packers (NFL). Pro Football Archives. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913174511/https://www.profootballarchives.com/1934nflgb.html. live.
  33. Web site: Earl Witte Stats. Pro Football Archives. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913174456/https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerw/witt00600.html. live.
  34. News: Sidelights. Green Bay Press-Gazette. Newspapers.com. October 18, 1934. 14. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913174456/https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette/131499365/. live.
  35. News: Two Packers Go To Eagles. Green Bay Press-Gazette. Newspapers.com. May 22, 1935. 19. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913174509/https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette/131499845/. live.
  36. News: Four City and Ewald Elevens Clash in Opening Tilt Today. Star Tribune. Newspapers.com. September 15, 1935. 23. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913174453/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/131499990/. live.
  37. News: Sampras, Forget in Final. Green Bay Press-Gazette. Newspapers.com. November 3, 1991. 32. September 9, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913175025/https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette/131500255/. live.

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