Mack Flenniken Explained

Mack Flenniken
Birth Date:24 January 1905
Birth Place:Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Death Place:Geneva, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Player Team1:Centenary
Player Years2:1926–1927
Player Team2:Geneva
Player Years3:1930
Player Team3:Chicago Cardinals
Player Years4:1931
Player Team4:New York Giants
Player Positions:Back
Coach Years1:1928–1929
Coach Team1:Geneva
Coach Years2:1951–1953
Coach Team2:Idaho (assistant)
Overall Record:7–11–1

George M. "Mack" Flenniken (January 24, 1905 – May 26, 1956) was an American football player and coach. He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) with the Chicago Cardinals in 1930 and the New York Giants in 1931.[1] Flenniken served as the head football coach at Geneva College from 1928 to 1929, compiling a record of 7–11–1. He played college football at Centenary College of Louisiana and at Geneva.

Playing career

College football

Flenniken played college football for Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport and then at Geneva College in 1926 and 1927.[2] His college career mirrored Cal Hubbard who played for both colleges and also later became a coach at Geneva. Both players followed Bo McMillin, who coached first at Centenary and then later at Geneva.

Chicago Cardinals

Flenniken got his start in the NFL with the Chicago Cardinals in 1930.[3] He was a flexible player on both sides of the ball, recording three rushing touchdowns and also showing a threat using the forward pass and picked up an interception while playing defense.[4] At Chicago, he played alongside future hall of famer Ernie Nevers.[5]

New York Giants

In 1931, Flenniken moved to the New York Giants,[6] where he was a part of the "committee of quarterbacks" along with Red Smith and Hap Moran.[7] For the Giants, Flenniken saw less playing time but in his four games and one start[8] he recorded successes in both passing and rushing.[9]

Coaching career

Flenniken was the 14th head football coach at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania and he held that position for two seasons, from 1928 until 1929. His coaching record at Geneva was 7–11–1.[10]

He was an assistant coach in the Pacific Coast Conference for three seasons at Idaho under Babe Curfman, from 1951 through 1953.[11] [12]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=FLENNMAC01 Database Football
  2. News: . Pick Flenniken For Grid Coach At Pa. College . The News-Star . . May 8, 1928 . 8 . August 12, 2017 . .
  3. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FlenMa20.htm Pro Football Reference
  4. http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/stats.nsf/Annual/1930-chc JT-SW.com
  5. http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=CHC&lg=nfl&yr=1930 Database Football
  6. http://www.svcn.com/archives/saratoganews/20080219/style1.shtml Silicon Valley Community Newspapers
  7. https://books.google.com/books?id=Pdu-Mil7nzUC&dq=%2B%22Mack+Flenniken%22+%2Bfootball&pg=PA240 Passing Game
  8. http://www.nj.com/giants/stats/index.ssf?/str/giants/playerdetail.asp?frmname=Mack+Flenniken NJ.com
  9. http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/stats.nsf/Annual/1931-nyg JT-SW.com
  10. Web site: Geneva College coaching records . 2008-05-09 . 2008-09-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080908094541/http://www.geneva.edu/object/athletics_footballmediaguide.html . dead .
  11. News: Curfman and three aides resign posts at Idaho. Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). December 21, 1953. 21.
  12. News: 'Circumstances' force Curfman's resignation . Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). December 22, 1953 . 12.