Andy Puplis
Encyclopedia
Andrew Joseph Puplis was an American football
player and coach.
As a quarterback
at Harrison Tech High School, Puplis twice received all-state honors, and won a Chicago city championship, compiling a 12-0 record in 1931. At Notre Dame
, he joined the football team as both a kicker and a kick and punt returner. In 1936, he became the starting quarterback but still led the team in kickoff returns with 5 for 136 yards. In his senior year in 1937, he earned All-American honors as he led the Irish in scoring and averaged 12.4 yards per play. In 1938, Puplis was the starting quarterback for the College All Stars team that defeated the Washington Redskins, 28-16. He had also received mongrams for playing on the baseball team, and received an offer from the Cleveland Indians
.
After college, Puplis was hired as the head football coach at Crystal Lake High School
before moving on to Proviso East High School
in Maywood, Illinois
in 1940, where he would remain until his retirement in 1972, except for a hiatus to spend one year in the Navy during World War II, and one year as a defensive back
for the Chicago Cardinals in 1943. During his tenure at Proviso East he would coach eventual NFL stars such as Ray Nitschke
and Ed O'Bradovich
as well as Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson
, and would compile a record of 128-84-12, including three undefeated seasons and six Suburban League
titles.
In 1981, Puplis was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach.
As a quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
at Harrison Tech High School, Puplis twice received all-state honors, and won a Chicago city championship, compiling a 12-0 record in 1931. At Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
, he joined the football team as both a kicker and a kick and punt returner. In 1936, he became the starting quarterback but still led the team in kickoff returns with 5 for 136 yards. In his senior year in 1937, he earned All-American honors as he led the Irish in scoring and averaged 12.4 yards per play. In 1938, Puplis was the starting quarterback for the College All Stars team that defeated the Washington Redskins, 28-16. He had also received mongrams for playing on the baseball team, and received an offer from the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
.
After college, Puplis was hired as the head football coach at Crystal Lake High School
Crystal Lake Central High School
Crystal Lake Central High School, often referred to as "Central" or "CLC," is the oldest of the three high schools in Crystal Lake, Illinois, United States.-History:...
before moving on to Proviso East High School
Proviso East High School
Proviso East High School is a public secondary school in Maywood, Illinois which serves the educational needs of Maywood and three other villages within Proviso Township, Cook County, Illinois: Broadview, Forest Park and Melrose Park. It is the original campus of Proviso Township High Schools...
in Maywood, Illinois
Maywood, Illinois
Maywood is a village in Proviso Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. It was founded on April 6, 1869 and organized October 22, 1881. The population was 26,987 at the 2000 census.-Overview:...
in 1940, where he would remain until his retirement in 1972, except for a hiatus to spend one year in the Navy during World War II, and one year as a defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
for the Chicago Cardinals in 1943. During his tenure at Proviso East he would coach eventual NFL stars such as Ray Nitschke
Ray Nitschke
Raymond Ernest "Ray" Nitschke was a professional football player who played his entire career as a middle linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. Wearing #66, he played fifteen seasons, from 1958-72....
and Ed O'Bradovich
Ed O'Bradovich
Edward O'Bradovich is a former American football defensive end in the NFL. Drafted by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of the 1962 NFL Draft, he spent his entire ten-year career with the Bears...
as well as Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson
Jim Johnson (football coach)
Jim Johnson was an American football coach, formerly serving as defensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles...
, and would compile a record of 128-84-12, including three undefeated seasons and six Suburban League
Suburban League (Chicago area)
The Suburban League, located in the Chicago metropolitan area, was formed in the fall of 1913 following the dissolution of the Cook County High School League the previous June. The original members were Evanston, LaGrange, Morgan Park, Morton, New Trier, Oak Park, Proviso, Thornton, and University...
titles.
In 1981, Puplis was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association.