Ervine Carl Wenig (December 23, 1895 – September 25, 1959) was an American football end who played three seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Rock Island Independents.
 Obe Wenig, c. 1924 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 23, 1895 Inwood, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | September 25, 1959 (aged 63) Springfield, Missouri, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1915–1916, 1919 | Morningside |
| 1920–1922 | Rock Island Independents |
| Baseball | |
| 1915–1916, 1919 | Morningside |
| 1917 | Freeman |
| 1920 | Armour |
| Basketball | |
| 1915–1916, 1919–1920 | Morningside |
| Track and field | |
| 1915–1916, 1919 | Morningside |
| Position(s) | End (football) Pitcher (baseball) Forward (basketball) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1922 | Mapleton HS |
| 1923–? | Morningside (asst.) |
| Basketball | |
| 1923–? | Morningside |
| Track and field | |
| 1923–? | Morningside (freshmen) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| |
Early life and education
editWenig was born on December 23, 1895, in Inwood, Iowa. He attended high school in Inwood, before graduating in 1914.[2] He enrolled at Morningside University in fall of that year, and played on the football, baseball, basketball, and track teams.
In 1916, during a 112–0 football win over Dakota Wesleyan, Wenig made a 50-yard drop kick, the "longest one ever made in a game in Sioux City."[3] A report by The Wayne Herald following another 100-point win said the following:
Another star of the contest, although he did not have much opportunity to carry the ball, was "Obe" Wenig. His wonderful ability to breakup the secondary defense of the visitors [Nebraska State Normal] made possible many of the scores by his teammates. His tackling was the best seen on the local field this year. When given an opportunity to carry the ball he was a sensation. After every backfield man had made two or three touchdowns Behmer called Wenig back and gave him the ball. In his first chance he made thirty-five yards around left end and then made twenty more on the next play for a touchdown.[4]
In the 1916 baseball season, Wenig, a left-handed pitcher, did not lose a game, and led his team to numerous shutouts.[5]
In May 1917, Wenig was named team captain in track, but enlisted in the Army for World War I before getting a chance to captain the team.[6][2]
Wenig also briefly played "phenomenal ball" for several minor league baseball teams that year.[5]
With the Army in World War I, Wenig served overseas in the 88th division before returning to Morningside in 1919.[2] He was named team captain in football upon returning, and led them to a 5–2 record. Following the season, he was named All-American by Walter Camp.[1]
In basketball, Wenig was named honorable mention all-state at the end of the 1919–1920 season.[7]
Professional career
editIn 1920, Wenig briefly played baseball for the "Armours," before suffering an injury that ended his baseball career.[8][2]
Prior to a game against the Decatur Staleys, the Rock Island Independents of the American Professional Football Association (APFA) signed Wenig to play end and tackle.[9] Wenig played just one game during the season, as starting left end in the Staleys-Independents matchup, a 0–0 tie.[10] Despite just appearing in one game during the season, he was named second-team All-Pro by sportswriter Bruce Copeland, who was noted for his bias in favor of the Rock Island team.[11]
Wenig returned to the Independents for the 1921 season, playing in seven games, starting six, and making three touchdowns and eight extra points.[12]
In 1922, Wenig accepted a position as football coach at Mapleton High School, and The Daily Times reported that he was "definitely out of the game for the year" due to his coaching contract.[13] Despite this, he returned to Rock Island mid-season for their game against the Chicago Bears, stating that "thoughts of the game [the previous year against the Bears] stirred him so much he could not help but return."[14] He played in the game against the Bears, a loss, and remained with the Independents for the rest of the season, as they placed fifth in league standings with a 4–2–1 record.[15] Wenig retired after the season.
Later life and death
editIn 1922, while playing for Rock Island, Wenig was named a coach at Mapleton High School. He also coached football, basketball, and track at his alma mater of Morningside University.[2]
Wenig was married to Lucile Waterhouse in June 1924.[16] He later became a golfer, and was Sioux City champion for a time.[2]
Wenig was inducted into the Morningside Athletic Hall of Fame in 1956.[17]
Wenig later became an FBI agent.[1] He died on September 25, 1959, at the age of 63, due to a heart attack.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c Strebig, James J. (December 19, 1941). "Sports Kings Now Uncle Sam's Defensive Stars". The Des Moines Register. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g "'Obe' Wenig Dies at 63". Sioux City Journal. September 26, 1959. p. 1, 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Morningside College Football Warriors Romp Over Wesleyan". Sioux City Journal. October 29, 1916. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne Normal Boys Lose To Sioux City". The Wayne Herald. October 26, 1916. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Giants and Freeman in Tourney Today". Sioux City Journal. September 19, 1917. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wenig Track Captain". Sioux City Journal. May 27, 1917. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Morningside Cage Stars Honored—Ball Club Goes South Tuesday". Sioux City Journal. March 19, 1920. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Armours Against Cudahys". Sioux City Journal. June 23, 1920. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Staleys Demand Decatur Contest". The Daily Times. October 29, 1920. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Staley And Rock Island Football Teams Battle To Tie". Herald and Review. November 8, 1920. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Hogrogian, John (1984). "The Coffin Corner: 1920 All-Pros" (PDF). Professional Football Researchers Association.
- ^ "Obe Wenig Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Wenig Is Not To Return To Berth For R. I. Eleven". The Daily Times. September 22, 1922. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wenig Announces He Will Be in Island's Line for Bear Game". The Daily Times. October 4, 1922. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "1922 Rock Island Independents (NFL)". Pro Football Archives.
- ^ ""Obe" Wenig, Former Morningside Athletic Star, Takes Bride; Mapleton Turns Out for Big Ovation". Sioux City Journal. June 28, 1924. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ervine Wenig". Morningside Mustangs.
