Charlie O'Rourke
Encyclopedia
Charles C. O'Rourke also known as Chuckin' Charlie is a former quarterback
and defensive back
for the Boston College Eagles
, Chicago Bears
, Los Angeles Dons
, and Baltimore Colts
. He quarterbacked the BC football team to one of its most famous wins. It was his 24-yard run late in the fourth quarter which gave the Eagles a 19-13 victory over Tennessee
in the 1941 Sugar Bowl
, staking BC's claim to the national championship. He was also the first Boston College player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
.
in the Cotton Bowl Classic) O'Rourke's running backs included veterans Frank Maznicki, Lou Montgomery (Boston College's first African-American football player), and Captain Henry Toczylowski. They were joined by a talented newcomer named Mike Holovak
. The team also had wonderful receivers including Henry Woronicz, Gene Goodreault, Ed Zabilski and Don Currivan. The team was undefeated outscoring its opponents 320 to 52 and held six teams scoreless. Boston College impressed the sports community by defeating Tulane University
27 to 7 in the second week of the season and defeating Georgetown
19 to 18, snapping Georgetown's streak of twenty-two consecutive wins. On January 1, 1941, Boston College defeated Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl 19 to 13. BC claims it won the national title in a three-way tie with Stanford
and Minnesota
, however the NCAA does not recognize Boston College as a national champion in that year. It would turn out to be Coach Frank Leahy
’s final year with the Eagles before he accepted an offer to coach at his alma mater, Notre Dame
.
. He completed 37 of 88 passes for 951 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. He also intercepted 3 passes on defense, returned 2 punts, and completed 23 punts for 817 for the 11-0 Bears. In 1946 he joined the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference
as starting quarterback. In 2 seasons in Los Angeles he completed 194 of 354 passes for 2,699 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions. In 1948 he joined the AAFC's Baltimore Colts as a punter and back up quarterback behind Hall-of-Famer Y.A. Tittle. In 1949 he played only 5 games before being replaced by Rex Grossman retiring and becoming an assistant coach for Baltimore until the team folded in 1950.
in the 1940 Cotton Bowl Classic, the O'Rourke-McFadden Trophy was introduced in 2008 and is awarded to the winner of the annual game between Boston College
and Clemson University
. The game quickly became an in-conference rivalry since Boston College joined the ACC in 2005 and both teams play in the ACC-Atlantic.
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...
and 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 Boston College Eagles
Boston College Eagles
The Boston College Eagles are the athletic teams representing Boston College. They compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The men's and women's ice hockey teams compete in Hockey East. The women's crew team competes in the Eastern Association of Women's Rowing...
, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Los Angeles Dons
Los Angeles Dons
The Los Angeles Dons were an American football team in the now defunct All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949 that played in the Los Angeles Coliseum....
, and Baltimore Colts
Baltimore Colts (1947-50)
The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The first team to bear the name Baltimore Colts, they were members of the All-America Football Conference from 1947–1949, and then joined the National Football League for one season before folding...
. He quarterbacked the BC football team to one of its most famous wins. It was his 24-yard run late in the fourth quarter which gave the Eagles a 19-13 victory over Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the National Collegiate Athletic Association college sports teams at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mike Hamilton is the most recent Men's Athletic Director, but resigned on June 7, 2011, and Joan Cronan is the current Women's...
in the 1941 Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
, staking BC's claim to the national championship. He was also the first Boston College player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
.
Boston College
Although all of his records have been broken, O'Rourke was one of Boston College's first star quarterbacks. In 3 seasons, he completed 69 of 150 passes for 1,108 yards and 14 touchdowns.1940 season
The 1940 team is perhaps the greatest football team in the history of Boston College. After the previous year's team earned the school's first appearance in a bowl game (Boston College lost to ClemsonClemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers are any team that represents Clemson University as a member of the NCAA's Division I or in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference....
in the Cotton Bowl Classic) O'Rourke's running backs included veterans Frank Maznicki, Lou Montgomery (Boston College's first African-American football player), and Captain Henry Toczylowski. They were joined by a talented newcomer named Mike Holovak
Mike Holovak
Michael Joseph Holovak was an American football player, coach, and executive. He played college football at Boston College, where he was named an All-American at fullback in 1942. Holovak was selected in the first round of the 1943 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Rams...
. The team also had wonderful receivers including Henry Woronicz, Gene Goodreault, Ed Zabilski and Don Currivan. The team was undefeated outscoring its opponents 320 to 52 and held six teams scoreless. Boston College impressed the sports community by defeating Tulane University
Tulane Green Wave
Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official...
27 to 7 in the second week of the season and defeating Georgetown
Georgetown Hoyas
Georgetown's nickname is The Hoyas, but its mascot is "Jack the Bulldog." Various breeds of dogs have been used by the sports teams as mascots since the early 1900s. Several notable bull terriers like Sergeant Stubby and "Hoya" were used at football games in the 1920s, as was a Great Dane in the...
19 to 18, snapping Georgetown's streak of twenty-two consecutive wins. On January 1, 1941, Boston College defeated Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl 19 to 13. BC claims it won the national title in a three-way tie with Stanford
Stanford Cardinal
The Stanford Cardinal is the nickname of the athletic teams at Stanford University.-Nickname and mascot history:Following its win over Cal in the first-ever Big Game in 1892, the color cardinal was picked as the primary color of Stanford's athletic teams...
and Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the college sports team for the University of Minnesota. The university fields both men's and women's teams in basketball, cross country, gymnastics, golf, ice hockey, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Men's-specific sports include baseball, football, and...
, however the NCAA does not recognize Boston College as a national champion in that year. It would turn out to be Coach Frank Leahy
Frank Leahy
Francis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive...
’s final year with the Eagles before he accepted an offer to coach at his alma mater, Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
.
Professional career
O'Rourke's professional career began in 1942 with the Chicago Bears. He saw limited playing time behind incumbent starter Sid LuckmanSid Luckman
Sidney Luckman, known as Sid Luckman, was an American football quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League from 1939 to 1950...
. He completed 37 of 88 passes for 951 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. He also intercepted 3 passes on defense, returned 2 punts, and completed 23 punts for 817 for the 11-0 Bears. In 1946 he joined the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
as starting quarterback. In 2 seasons in Los Angeles he completed 194 of 354 passes for 2,699 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions. In 1948 he joined the AAFC's Baltimore Colts as a punter and back up quarterback behind Hall-of-Famer Y.A. Tittle. In 1949 he played only 5 games before being replaced by Rex Grossman retiring and becoming an assistant coach for Baltimore until the team folded in 1950.
Coaching
Aside from his 2 years as an NFL coach, O'Rourke was head football coach at UMASS from 1952-1959. In 8 seasons he complied a 21-39-4 record with only 1 winning season (1952).O'Rourke-McFadden Trophy
To honor the famed meeting between O'Rourke and Banks McFaddenBanks McFadden
Banks McFadden was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959. McFadden attended Great Falls High School in South Carolina, where he led the Red Devils to two state championships in football and one in basketball...
in the 1940 Cotton Bowl Classic, the O'Rourke-McFadden Trophy was introduced in 2008 and is awarded to the winner of the annual game between Boston College
Boston College Eagles football
The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division...
and Clemson University
Clemson Tigers football
The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
. The game quickly became an in-conference rivalry since Boston College joined the ACC in 2005 and both teams play in the ACC-Atlantic.