Jerry Fishman
Encyclopedia
Jerry Fishman is an American former football player. He played college football
for the Maryland Terrapins
of the University of Maryland
and was selected by the Baltimore Colts
in the 1965 NFL Draft
. Fishman gained notoriety when he twice gave an obscene gesture during the 1964 Maryland–Navy game, which directly resulted in a 40-year hiatus of the series.
, where he played football
and baseball
. In 1960, he became the then second all-time single-game rusher in the state of Connecticut when he rushed for 342 yards against Danbury
.
Fishman attended the University of Maryland
where he played football primarily as a linebacker
. He also served as a tailback
, and in 1963 was the team's leading rusher with 480 yards on 116 carries. In 1964, he was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference
(ACC) first team as a guard
.
Fishman gained notoriety and is most known for his actions in the 1964 game against the Naval Academy
, an intense in-state rival. Rough play marked the game, and Fishman responded on two occasions with an extended middle-finger
to taunts from the stands, some of which Maryland receiver Darryl Hill described as anti-Semitic. Afterward, with respect to his rough play, Navy head coach Wayne Hardin
called Fishman, "a disgrace to the game." Maryland head coach Tom Nugent
conceded that Fishman may have been "a little wild-eyed," but added, "I can't chastise him publicly. I didn't see him do anything deliberate." Navy officials cited Fishman's use of the middle finger as the main reason for their refusal to renew the series for 40 years. Several times, University of Maryland officials asked Fishman to apologize for the gesture, but he refused and said, "What for? It's a game. It's a silly game. It's football, it's not a diplomatic blunder."
Fishman was the only Jew on the team at the time, and became close friends with Darryl Hill after he transferred from Navy. Hill was the first black player on any ACC football team. Fishman said, "He being the only black and me being the only Jew, we used to call ourselves 'The Onlys.'" Shortly after Hill's arrival, Fishman cut a deal with Hill, offering to help him survive his redshirt
season in exchange for tutoring in economics
. Fishman was fiercely protective of his friend, Hill, who was the subject of mistreatment from the fans and opposing players. Against South Carolina
, which had threatened a boycott of the game because of Hill's participation, Maryland led 13–0 at halftime. As the team walked to the locker room, a fan poured a drink onto Hill. Fishman responded by hitting the man with his helmet. At Wake Forest
, Hill was knocked unconscious by a late hit, and Fishman applied the oxygen mask when the medics refused.
Fishman was selected in the 14th round (196th overall) of the 1965 NFL Draft
by the Baltimore Colts
. The Colts waived him during the preseason camp, and in 1965, he instead played for the Hartford Charter Oaks in the Continental Football League
. In June 1966, he was signed by the Washington Redskins
, but did not make the roster. Fishman is now retired from personal injury law and currently resides in Boca Raton, Florida
.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Maryland Terrapins
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
of the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
and was selected by the Baltimore Colts
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
in the 1965 NFL Draft
1965 NFL Draft
The 1965 National Football League Draft took place on November 28, 1964. The first player selected was Tucker Frederickson, back from Auburn, by the New York Giants. The draft was marked by the failure of the St...
. Fishman gained notoriety when he twice gave an obscene gesture during the 1964 Maryland–Navy game, which directly resulted in a 40-year hiatus of the series.
Biography
Fishman attended Norwalk High School in Norwalk, ConnecticutNorwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
, where he played football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. In 1960, he became the then second all-time single-game rusher in the state of Connecticut when he rushed for 342 yards against Danbury
Danbury High School
Danbury High School is a public high school in Danbury, Connecticut. Despite Danbury's population of 81,000, there is only one public high school, along with several small private schools, and one vocational high school. Danbury High School is supplemented by a magnet program called the Alternative...
.
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
where he played football primarily as a linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. He also served as a tailback
Tailback
Tailback can mean:* Halfback * A line of motor vehicles caught up in traffic congestion; a traffic jam...
, and in 1963 was the team's leading rusher with 480 yards on 116 carries. In 1964, he was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
(ACC) first team as a guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
.
Fishman gained notoriety and is most known for his actions in the 1964 game against the Naval Academy
Navy Midshipmen football
The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007...
, an intense in-state rival. Rough play marked the game, and Fishman responded on two occasions with an extended middle-finger
Finger (gesture)
In Western culture, the finger , also known as the middle finger, is an obscene hand gesture, often meaning the phrases "fuck off" , "fuck you" or "up yours"...
to taunts from the stands, some of which Maryland receiver Darryl Hill described as anti-Semitic. Afterward, with respect to his rough play, Navy head coach Wayne Hardin
Wayne Hardin
Irving Wayne Hardin is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the United States Naval Academy from 1959 to 1964 and at Temple University from 1970 to 1982, compiling a career college football record 118–74–5...
called Fishman, "a disgrace to the game." Maryland head coach Tom Nugent
Tom Nugent
Thomas N. "Tom" Nugent was an American college football coach and innovator, sportscaster, public relations man. He served as the head football coach at the Virginia Military Institute, Florida State University, and the University of Maryland. His career record was 89–80–3...
conceded that Fishman may have been "a little wild-eyed," but added, "I can't chastise him publicly. I didn't see him do anything deliberate." Navy officials cited Fishman's use of the middle finger as the main reason for their refusal to renew the series for 40 years. Several times, University of Maryland officials asked Fishman to apologize for the gesture, but he refused and said, "What for? It's a game. It's a silly game. It's football, it's not a diplomatic blunder."
Fishman was the only Jew on the team at the time, and became close friends with Darryl Hill after he transferred from Navy. Hill was the first black player on any ACC football team. Fishman said, "He being the only black and me being the only Jew, we used to call ourselves 'The Onlys.'" Shortly after Hill's arrival, Fishman cut a deal with Hill, offering to help him survive his redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
season in exchange for tutoring in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
. Fishman was fiercely protective of his friend, Hill, who was the subject of mistreatment from the fans and opposing players. Against South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks football
The South Carolina Gamecocks football team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college football. The Gamecocks have been a member of the Southeastern Conference since 1992. Steve Spurrier is the current head coach, and the team plays its home games at Williams-Brice...
, which had threatened a boycott of the game because of Hill's participation, Maryland led 13–0 at halftime. As the team walked to the locker room, a fan poured a drink onto Hill. Fishman responded by hitting the man with his helmet. At Wake Forest
Wake Forest Demon Deacons football
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represents Wake Forest University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Wake Forest plays its home football games at BB&T Field....
, Hill was knocked unconscious by a late hit, and Fishman applied the oxygen mask when the medics refused.
Fishman was selected in the 14th round (196th overall) of the 1965 NFL Draft
1965 NFL Draft
The 1965 National Football League Draft took place on November 28, 1964. The first player selected was Tucker Frederickson, back from Auburn, by the New York Giants. The draft was marked by the failure of the St...
by the Baltimore Colts
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
. The Colts waived him during the preseason camp, and in 1965, he instead played for the Hartford Charter Oaks in the Continental Football League
Continental Football League
The Continental Football League was a professional minor American football league that operated in North America from 1965 through 1969. It was established following the collapse of the original United Football League, and hoped to become the major force in professional football outside of the...
. In June 1966, he was signed by the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, but did not make the roster. Fishman is now retired from personal injury law and currently resides in Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
.