George Poschner
{{Short description|American football player (1919–2004)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox college football player
|image=George Poschner 1942 (cropped).jpg
|image_size=180px
|caption=Poschner, circa 1942
|school=Georgia Bulldogs
|pastschools=Georgia (1939–1942)
|bowlgames=
- Orange Bowl (1942)
- Rose Bowl (1943)
|currentposition=End
|highlights =
- National champion (1942)
- Second-team All-American (1942)
- First-team All-SEC (1942)
|birth_date={{Birth date|1919|1|15}}
|birth_place=Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
|death_date={{Death date and age|mf=y|2004|5|2|1919|1|15}}
}}
George Poschner (January 15, 1919 – May 2, 2004) was an American football end who played for the University of Georgia from 1939 to 1942. During his tenure with the Bulldogs, he participated in the 1942 Orange Bowl and the 1943 Rose Bowl.{{Cite news |last=Bassetti |first=John |date=August 1, 1999 |title=80-year-old veteran is link to football fame |work=The Vindicator}}
College football career
Poschner was born in Youngstown, Ohio,[http://www.gshf.org/site/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=253 Georgia Sports Hall of Fame] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928081118/http://www.gshf.org/site/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=253 |date=2007-09-28 }} and came to the University of Georgia as a result of the efforts of his good friend, Frank Sinkwich. When Sinkwich was recruited by Georgia, he accepted the scholarship on the condition that Poschner would be granted a scholarship as well.{{Cite web |url=http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-833 |title=Frank Sinkwich in the New Georgia Encyclopedia |access-date=2006-12-11 |archive-date=2007-03-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070324004610/http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-833 |url-status=dead }} Poschner earned All-America honors in 1942, and was selected in the eighth round of the 1943 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070715073627/http://www.databasefootball.com/draft/draftyear.htm?yr=1943&lg=nfl 1943 NFL Draft]}} The most celebrated event in Poschner's collegiate career came when he caught two fourth-quarter passes from Sinkwich in a 21–10 win over Alabama in 1942.
Military service
Poschner served in the United States Army in World War II, where he received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Distinguished Service Cross.[http://www.georgiadogs.com/attachments1/1420.pdf?SPSID=46736&SPID=3571&DB_OEM_ID=8800 All American Bulldogs] {{dead link|date=January 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} On January 8, 1945, Poschner participated as a lieutenant in the Battle of the Bulge. While advancing into enemy territory, he was severely injured by machine-gun fire and did not receive medical treatment until two days later. Poschner lost both legs and several fingers as a result of his injuries.[http://www.45thdivision.org/Veterans/Barnhart179_2.htm LT Robert M. Barnhart, 45th Infantry Division][http://www2.tombigbee.net/sections/at_home/athome_hero06_2003.html Kay Marshall, Community Heroes Series, Alabama Living, June 2003] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701174154/http://www2.tombigbee.net/sections/at_home/athome_hero06_2003.html |date=2007-07-01 }} A New York Times report on Poschner's injuries observed, "His brilliant pass receiving added much to the reputation of All-America Frank Sinkwich, also of Youngstown, as a forward passer".{{Cite news |date=March 15, 1945 |title=Georgia End Loses Legs |work=The New York Times}} The news report added that "Poschner's mother advised Coach Wally Butts of her son's case".
Legacy
Poschner was admired as much for his military valor and buoyant optimism as he was for his impressive achievements on the gridiron. In 1982, his former teammate, Frank Sinkwich, lauded him at a testimonial dinner held at Youngstown's Croatian Home. "Knowing George has made me stronger all my life", Sinkwich said.{{Cite news |last=Perazich |first=Chuck |date=June 14, 1982 |title=Frank Sinkwich Lauded at Croatian Home Fete |work=The Vindicator}}
In his letter nominating Poschner to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, Sinkwich wrote: "In my opinion, George Poschner is perhaps the greatest competitor of all time, both on and off the field. I have never known anyone with more courage on the football or the battlefield".{{Cite news |last=Perazich |first=Chuck |date=March 23, 1982 |title=Calls Youngstown's Poschner: 'An Example of Courage' |page=D-2 |work=The Youngstown Vindicator}} Poschner was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1982,{{Cite web |url=http://www.gshf.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=253&Itemid=50 |title=George Poschner entry in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=2006-12-11 |archive-date=2007-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928081509/http://www.gshf.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=253&Itemid=50 |url-status=dead }} and the Orange Bowl Hall of Honor in 1985.{{Cite web |url=http://www.orangebowl.org/honorall.php |title=The Orange Bowl Hall of Honor |access-date=2006-12-12 |archive-date=2005-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050426204216/http://www.orangebowl.org/honorall.php |url-status=dead }}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{1942 Georgia Bulldogs football navbox}}
{{Lions1943DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Poschner, George}}
Category:American football ends
Category:176th Infantry Spirits football players
Category:Georgia Bulldogs football players
Category:United States Army officers
Category:United States Army personnel of World War II
Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
Category:Players of American football from Youngstown, Ohio