Drazenovich’s career started in Brownsville; finished in NFL
Fayette County has had some outstanding football players who had great careers in the NFL. The late Chuck Drazenovich from Brownsville fashioned a career that would stack up with the best of them.
Drazenovich excelled at football and track at Brownsville High in the 1940鈥檚. He was a part of an legendary period in Brownsville football history. Drazenovich played on the Brownies undefeated WPIAL Class AA championship team in 1943. Brownsville posted a record of 6-1-1 in Drazenovich鈥檚 senior campaign. Chuck was part of a great brother combination teaming with older brother, Joe, who was also on the 1943 squad.
Drazenovich was honorable mention All-Fayette County and All-Big Five in 1943 and first team in 1944.
Football for Drazenovich began at age 14, he recalled in a speech to a Washington Redskins booster group.
鈥淢y folks were from the old country,鈥� Drazenovich began. 鈥淎nd knew little about the American way of life. I came home one day and asked my father if I could play football on the high school team. 鈥業f you want to play football,鈥� he said. 鈥楪o ahead and play football鈥� have a good time.'鈥�
鈥淪o I went out for the first day and worked really hard. I was bushed when I got home and could hardly raise my hands to eat.
鈥淭he third day after practice I was equally as tired as I had been the first two days.
鈥淧oppa looked at me and saw how tired I was. Obviously, he was a little tired too 鈥� of doing my chores for me. 鈥楬ey,鈥� he said. 鈥楬ow long does this football last?鈥濃��
The elder Drazenovich had been under the impression that football lasted only a day or two. Son had to explain that it went by seasons and seasons were pretty long.
When Drazenovich graduated from Brownsville he joined his old coach Earl Bruce who was the freshman coach at Penn State. He was joined at Penn State by four other Brownsville stars 鈥� John Potsklan, brother Joe Drazenovich, John Simon and John Wolosky. The war years made it so they could all play together.
All five Brownsville players were a part of one of Penn State鈥檚 best teams 鈥� the 1947 Nittany Lions were unbeaten and faced the Doak Walker-led Southern Methodist Mustangs in the Cotton Bowl.
The game ended in a 13-13 tie in front of 47,000 fans.
Drazenovich was an outstanding blocking back for the Nittany Lions and also played linebacker.
He became the first freshman football player in the East-West Shrine all-star game.
He was also an intercollegiate boxing champ for three years and established himself as the greatest shot putter in Penn State history. Once after reporting late for a track meet, he heaved the winning shot in street clothes. He set the then Penn State record in the shot put in 1950 with a heave of 50 feet and one inch.
Drazenovich played on Penn State teams under Coach Bob Higgins that posted records of 5-3 in 1945. 9-0-1 in 1947, 7-1-1 in 1948 and 5-4 in 1949.
The Detroit Lions drafted Drazenovich in 1949 although he had another year of college eligibility. He played out his final season at Penn State and was selected by the Redskins in a special player pool in 1950.
Listed as a fullback and middle guard in the days of single-platoon football, Drazenovich made an immediate impact.
Drazenovich contributed on offense and defense in his first five seasons, when he rushed for 330 yards and eight touchdowns as a fullback. He was used mostly in short yardage and goal-line situations to maximize his size.
His career took off after coach Joe Kuharich switched him to middle linebacker in 1955. He made the Pro Bowl every year from 1955-58. A model of durability, he played in 113 of 120 career games and started 60 consecutive games during one stretch.
At another Redskins booster affair Drazenovich gave his views on the levels of playing football.
鈥淔ootball,鈥� explained Drazenovich, 鈥渋s played on the high school, college and professional levels. In high school, a boy learns the fundamentals, in college, he picks up experience, and when he plays professional football, he gets an education.鈥�
Drazenovich retired from the NFL after the 1959 season.
In retirement, Drazenovich used his celebrity status as a former Washington Redskin to introduce and promote the sport of tenpin bowling in Northern Virginia. He loved bowling because, as he said many times, 鈥淚t鈥檚 something everyone can do. It doesn鈥檛 matter if you are old, male, female or even unable to see, you can still have fun rolling that ball.鈥�
In this spirit, he dedicated a portion of his time to bring bowling to all.
In 1995 Drazenovich was inducted into NCABA Hall of Fame. He passed away in 1992 at the age of 64 in Annandale, Virginia.
In 2002, Drazenovich was named one of the 70 Greatest Redskins to celebrate the franchise鈥檚 70-year anniversary.
George Von Benko鈥檚 鈥淢emory Lane鈥� column appears in the Monday editions of the 缅北禁地. He also hosts a sports talk show on WMBS-AM radio from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.