Remembering an undefeated season and the play that made it possible

For the first time since Moray (The Fox) Eby's famous 'point-a-minute” team in 1922, Coe 'ran the table” for a spectacular season.

The 1955 Coe football team won all their games with relative ease despite having several touchdowns inadvertently called back. Several legitimate touchdowns (team members remember at least 5 callbacks) were whistled dead when the officials thought fullback John Rosenberg (Crunch) had the ball and was tackled.

'In reality I often did have the ball, when my number was called for a fullback counter up the middle, but many times I faked as if I had it,” said Rosenberg. 'Only then Shady Day, the quarterback, would pull it out, hide it with his back to the line and throw a pass to end George Cilek for a touchdown.”

The fullback counter could be argued as the team's most successful play and was dubbed simply, 'Crunch.”

Carl Kane, the then Coe Sports Publicist, wrote in the 1955 Coe College Homecoming pamphlet that, '‘Crunch' has become one of the favorite words of the Coe team. It has replaced the usual number for a fullback power play into the line. Whenever Coe needs some yardage, Quarterback Shady Day just tells the huddle, ‘Crunch.' Then Rosenberg takes the ball for a couple yards.”

According to Rosenberg, the coaches, Dick Clausen and Marv Levy didn't think much about the call backs at first but it became clear it had to stop. In an attempt to give the officials a 'heads up” coach Clausen began diagraming the play on a chalkboard, cautioning them not to call Rosenberg dead, unless it was certain he had the football. Rosenberg recollects that, 'before one game Fred Winters, Cedar Rapids native, college official and IHSAA Hall of Fame official told Coach Clausen, ‘If I ever call Rosenberg dead with an early whistle, I will resign.' Sure enough, in that game, Winters called Crunch dead and the touchdown had to be called back. And, sure enough, Winters resigned and never officiated again.

The 1955 Coe College team received national attention on account of this play that could fool anyone, including the officials. 'The expertise of this play didn't just happen,” said Rosenberg. 'Coach Clausen put a significant amount of work into refining the play to near perfection.”

Coe ran what was called the Oklahoma Split-T, which included this play. When the word got out that Coe touchdowns were being called back because of this effective play, teams from all over the country sought to get the details. As a perfectionist of the Split-T, Clausen held high school clinics and offered the play to anyone who asked. He was published in the 'Scholastic Coach.” Woody Hayes of Ohio State fame called Clausen for the play. Life Magazine came out to Coe and filmed the play. Coe was invited to the Tangerine Bowl. The success and preciseness of this play had a profound residual effect on the entire offense. Like all offensive schemes, there are expected compatibilities with other aspects of the attack. Because this play succeeded, it opened up the outside game, the halfback dives, and other pass routes for 'Phiz” Phillips, Jim Hamilton and Dale Amendt. The backbone of the offense, linemen Ken James, John Lindstedt, Brad Ankerstar, Ralph Pucci, Dennis Armstron, Roger Higgins and Jon Kohl was the glue that bound the team together. A successful 'Crunch” precipitated a successful season.

' Madelyne Rosenberg is a recent graduate of the University of Iowa's School of Journalism and Mass Communication and a native of Cedar Rapids. Comments: madelynerosenberg@gmail.com