Frank Steen Explained

Frank Steen should not be confused with Frank Steane.

Frank Steen
Position:End
Number:36
Birth Date:5 October 1913
Birth Place:Longview, Texas, U.S.
Death Place:Houston, Texas, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lbs:190
High School:Forest Avenue (TX)
College:Rice (1933–1937)
Undraftedyear:1938
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Statlabel1:Games played
Statvalue1:3
Pfr:SteeFr20

Frank William Steen (October 5, 1913  - April 2, 1998) was an American football end. He played college football for the Rice Owls. Although not selected in the National Football League Draft, he signed with the Green Bay Packers for the 1939 season and played three games as they won the NFL championship.

Early life

Frank William Steen was born on October 5, 1913, in Longview, Texas.[1] He attended Forest Avenue High School (now known as James Madison High School) in Dallas, Texas, and is one of only five of their alumni to ever make it to the NFL, and the only one from when they were named Forest Avenue.[2] [3] He was an all-state choice as a senior, with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram noting that his selection was "almost unanimous."[4] After graduating from high school, Steen began attending Rice University in 1933.[5]

College career

Steen was a three-sport athlete at Rice, playing basketball as a forward, football as an end, and baseball as a third baseman.[6] [7] He began seeing significant playing time in football as a sophomore in 1934, lettering while earning first-team all-conference honors from the Austin American-Statesman and helping Rice win the conference championship.[5] [8] [9] The American-Statesman described him as an end "of the spectacular, slashing type who love[s] to wade full tilt into the opposing backfield. [His] reckless, colorful tactics please the crowd [and] annoy enemies no end."[9]

However, late in 1934 Steen was placed on probation due to poor grades in the classroom and in December he was suspended until fall of 1935.[10] He was not able to play in the 1935 season due to this.[5] [11] The Waco News-Tribune noted that he was "one of the most promising ends in the United States" and said that his loss was a "tough blow" for the 1935 Rice team, mentioning that "[h]e cannot be replaced without a loss of strength."[12]

Steen was able to return to the Rice football team in 1936 and was described by his coach at the start of the season as a "clever, smashing end."[13] [14] He started at end for the team and The Campanile, Rice's yearbook, noted that he was one of "the outstanding ends in the conference" and that "his fiery aggressive play was one of the features of the Rice defense."[7] [15]

As a senior in 1937, Steen helped Rice compile an overall record of 6–3–2, win the conference championship, and earn a trip to the Cotton Bowl.[16] In the team's rivalry game against Texas, he caught a pass to score the game-winning touchdown which was met with much controversy. Rice supporters argued that the ball had not touched the ground, while Texas supporters believed that it did; the referees ruled the play in Rice's favor, but were met with protest from Texas fans.[17] [18] At the end of the season, he was chosen second-team all-conference by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.[19] Steen graduated in 1938.[5]

Professional career

Steen was not selected in the 1938 NFL draft.[5] He played no football that year and worked for an oil company; in the summer of 1939, he played for the Daytona Beach minor league baseball team as an outfielder.[20] He was signed by the Green Bay Packers in January 1939, and measured at the time 6 ft 2 in and 200 pounds.[21] He reportedly performed "sensational" in the team's preseason game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, catching several long passes.[22] He made the final roster and appeared in three games, one as a starter, before being released at the start of October.[1] [23] The Packers went on to win the NFL championship that season.[24] He did not play for any other professional team afterwards.[5]

Later life and death

Steen enlisted in the United States Armed Forces to serve in World War II the year after his stint with the Packers.[25] He died on April 2, 1998, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 84.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Frank Steen Stats. Pro-Football-Reference.com. 2018-03-29. 2016-10-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20161010235023/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SteeFr20.htm. live.
  2. Web site: Forest Avenue (Dallas, TX) Alumni Pro Stats. Pro-Football-Reference.com. 2023-08-22. 2023-08-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822000522/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/high_schools.cgi?id=93c03f0e. live.
  3. Web site: James Madison (Dallas, TX) Alumni Pro Stats. Pro-Football-Reference.com. 2023-08-22. 2023-02-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20230208210516/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/high_schools.cgi?id=93baeb51. live.
  4. News: Owl Slimes Long On Ends, Halfbacks. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Newspapers.com. September 24, 1933. 11. August 22, 2023. August 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822205804/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/130425695/. live.
  5. Web site: Frank Steen Stats. Pro Football Archives. 2023-08-22. 2023-08-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822205804/https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/stee01600.html. live.
  6. News: Vocal Revenge. Austin American-Statesman. Newspapers.com. April 29, 1938. 13. Hart, Weldon. August 22, 2023. August 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822205815/https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman/130425509/. live.
  7. Book: The Campanile. August 22, 2023. Rice University. 1937. 215, 221, 231. 1911/105977 .
  8. Web site: 1934 Rice Owls Schedule and Results. Sports-Reference.com. 2023-08-22. 2023-08-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822001943/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/rice/1934-schedule.html. live.
  9. News: Statesman's All-Conference Squad Includes Five Steers On Two Teams. Austin American-Statesman. Newspapers.com. December 3, 1934. 6. Hart, Weldon. August 22, 2023. August 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822205837/https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman/130426493/. live.
  10. News: Frank Steen Lost To Rice Grid Team. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Newspapers.com. December 30, 1934. 10. Associated Press.
  11. News: Sports Situation. Austin American-Statesman. Newspapers.com. December 31, 1934. 6. Hart, Weldon. August 22, 2023. August 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822211614/https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman/130426576/. live.
  12. News: Jinx's Hot Shots. The Waco News-Tribune. Newspapers.com. January 9, 1935. 9. August 22, 2023. August 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822211525/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-waco-news-tribune/130427010/. live.
  13. News: Steen Expected To Be Eligible For Football. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Newspapers.com. January 7, 1936. 15. Associated Press. August 22, 2023. August 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822211524/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/130427262/. live.
  14. News: Fort Worth Boy Brings Smiles to Jimmy Kitts. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Newspapers.com. September 19, 1936. 3. M'Knight, Felix. August 22, 2023. August 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822211524/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/130427177/. live.
  15. News: Some Big Old Birds On Owl Team. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Newspapers.com. November 17, 1936. 19. Hall, Flem. August 22, 2023. August 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822211524/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/130427384/. live.
  16. Web site: 1937 Rice Owls Schedule and Results. Sports-Reference.com. 2023-08-22. 2023-08-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822045938/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/rice/1937-schedule.html. live.
  17. News: Frank Steen Goes to Green Bay Packers, and That Brings Up That Famous Play in '37 Game. Austin American-Statesman. Newspapers.com. August 21, 1939. 2. Hart, Weldon. August 22, 2023. August 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822211532/https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman/130430506/. live.
  18. News: Texas Students to Hold Protest Pep Rally. Associated Press. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Newspapers.com. October 25, 1937. 15. August 22, 2023. August 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822212612/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/130430558/. live.
  19. News: T.C.U., Baylor Take Six Berths on 'All-Conference'. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Newspapers.com. December 5, 1937. 16. Hall, Flem. August 22, 2023. August 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822212604/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/130430607/. live.
  20. News: Steen Candidate For End Spot on Green Bay Squad. Green Bay Press-Gazette. Newspapers.com. September 12, 1939. 11. August 22, 2023. August 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822212605/https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette/130431452/. live.
  21. News: Sign Frank Steen. Marshfield News-Herald. Newspapers.com. January 28, 1939. 10. Associated Press. August 22, 2023. August 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822212538/https://www.newspapers.com/article/marshfield-news-herald/130430797/. live.
  22. News: 9,416 Fans See Packers Humble Pirate Gridders. Green Bay Press-Gazette. Newspapers.com. August 26, 1939. 9, 10. Torinus, John. August 22, 2023. August 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822212551/https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette/130431202/. live.
  23. News: Green Bay Packers Give Twedell, Steen the Gate. The Capital Times. Newspapers.com. October 4, 1939. 17. Associated Press.
  24. Web site: 1939 Green Bay Packers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees. Pro-Football-Reference.com. 2023-08-22. 2023-04-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20230411193321/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/1939.htm. live.
  25. [Ancestry.com]

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