John Orsi
Encyclopedia
John Francis 'Count' Orsi (November 11, 1908 – February 1978) was an American football
player. He played college football at Colgate University
. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1982.
to Italian immigrant parents. The youngest of 7 children, he grew up in Newark and attended Columbia High School in South Orange, New Jersey. In 1926, the Columbia High football team, with Orsi, made it to the state finals but lost 7-0. Orsi moved on to The Perkiomen School
from 1927-1928. On his birthday in 1967, he was honored at Perkiomen with 'John Orsi Day' to mark his athletic exploits. He also served as the chairman of the Annual Gift Fund at Perkiomen for that school year.
, an assistant coach with Colgate at the time, later recalled that block as one of the best memories of his coaching career. The block in 1930 set the stage for Orsi's All-America year in 1931. Colgate had a great year with Orsi as a senior captain, only losing to NYU in Yankee Stadium. Orsi had perhaps his best game against arch-rival Syracuse in Archbold Stadium
. Colgate won the game 21-7 with Orsi scoring one touchdown and paving the way with blocks on the other two. After the season, Orsi was selected to the All-America team and was invited to Hollywood for the filming of 'The All-American' (1932).
, and from 1946-1956 he was the head coach at Episcopal Academy. He later became vice president of the Maxwell Football Club
and was always on hand at their award ceremonies, including 1968 when O. J. Simpson
won the Maxwell Award
.
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. He played college football at Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
. He was elected to 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...
in 1982.
Early Years
John Francis Orsi was born on November 11, 1908 in Newark, New JerseyNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
to Italian immigrant parents. The youngest of 7 children, he grew up in Newark and attended Columbia High School in South Orange, New Jersey. In 1926, the Columbia High football team, with Orsi, made it to the state finals but lost 7-0. Orsi moved on to The Perkiomen School
The Perkiomen School
The Perkiomen School is an independent, co-educational, boarding and day college preparatory school located in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. Perkiomen admits 6th-12th grade students and offers a year for postgraduate students. Founded by a descendant of a Schwenkfelder immigrant in 1875, The Perkiomen...
from 1927-1928. On his birthday in 1967, he was honored at Perkiomen with 'John Orsi Day' to mark his athletic exploits. He also served as the chairman of the Annual Gift Fund at Perkiomen for that school year.
Colgate
Orsi moved on to Colgate University where he was a 3 sport star. He played basketball and ran track, but really made a name for himself playing football for the legendary Andy Kerr. A standout at end, Kerr always believed that there was none better in the history of college football. With Orsi starting, Colgate teams went 25-3 from 1929-1931. He made headlines in 1930 in a post-season charity game against NYU in Yankee Stadium. With Colgate leading 7-0, NYU scored a late touchdown to bring the score to 7-6, but Orsi blocked the ensuing extra point attempt to seal the victory. Lloyd JordanLloyd Jordan
Lloyd Jordan was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Amherst College from 1932 to 1949 and at Harvard University from 1950 to 1956, compiling a career college football record of 101–72–8...
, an assistant coach with Colgate at the time, later recalled that block as one of the best memories of his coaching career. The block in 1930 set the stage for Orsi's All-America year in 1931. Colgate had a great year with Orsi as a senior captain, only losing to NYU in Yankee Stadium. Orsi had perhaps his best game against arch-rival Syracuse in Archbold Stadium
Archbold Stadium
Archbold Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Syracuse, New York. It opened in 1907 and was home to the Syracuse University Orangemen football team prior to the Carrier Dome opening in 1980. It was the third concrete football stadium built in the country....
. Colgate won the game 21-7 with Orsi scoring one touchdown and paving the way with blocks on the other two. After the season, Orsi was selected to the All-America team and was invited to Hollywood for the filming of 'The All-American' (1932).
Coaching
Orsi did not go far after graduating as he joined Andy Kerr's coaching staff at Colgate. He was the end coach beginning in 1932 with the famous undefeated, untied, unscored upon, and uninvited team. He held the position as end coach until resigning in 1941. He moved on to the Penn Charter School as an assisant coach in 1942 and assumed the head coaching position for the 1943 season. From 1944-45 he was an assistant coach at Germantown AcademyGermantown Academy
Germantown Academy is America's oldest nonsectarian day school, founded on December 6, 1759 . Germantown Academy is now a K-12 school in the Philadelphia suburb of Fort Washington, having moved from its original Germantown campus in 1965...
, and from 1946-1956 he was the head coach at Episcopal Academy. He later became vice president of the Maxwell Football Club
Maxwell Football Club
The Maxwell Football Club was established in 1935 to promote safety in the game of American football. Named in honor of the late Robert W...
and was always on hand at their award ceremonies, including 1968 when O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
won the Maxwell Award
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
.
Personal Life
Orsi married Elizabeth Claire Shea in 1936 and they had 3 children. Elizabeth passed away from leukemia and Orsi remarried to Katherine White in 1953. Orsi lived in Gladwynne, PA for much of his later life and he passed away in 1978 in Naples, FL.See also
1931 College Football All-America Team1931 College Football All-America Team
The 1931 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams in 1931...