John Tavener (American football)

Tavener was born in January 1921 in Newark, Ohio. He was a spring 1940 graduate of Granville High School in nearby Granville, Ohio, where he played baseball, basketball, and football. He then attended Indiana University, where he played freshman football during the fall 1940 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-newark-advocate-tavener-receives-ind/148086093/ |title=Tavener Receives Indiana Numerals |newspaper=The Advocate |location=Newark, Ohio |page=8 |date=December 9, 1940 |accessdate=May 26, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}} He was a member of the varsity Hoosiers football team beginning in 1941, playing as a center, calling the team's offensive signals and kicking extra points.{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/indiana-football-2023-media-guide/page/99/mode/2up |magazine=Indiana Football Record Book |year=2023 |title=All-Americans |page=100 |accessdate=May 25, 2024 |via=Internet Archive}} On defense, he played as a tackle.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/wilmington-news-journal-four-bucks-named/148083013/ |title=Four Bucks Named To All-Conference Team by Experts |agency=AP |newspaper=The Daily News-Journal |location=Wilmington, Ohio |page=6 |date=November 27, 1944 |accessdate=May 25, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}

In April 1944, Tavener was selected by the Chicago Cardinals in the fourth round of the 1944 NFL draft, with the 28th overall pick.{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1944/draft.htm |title=1944 NFL Draft |website=pro-football-reference.com |accessdate=May 14, 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-boston-selects/148082692/ |title=Boston Selects Bertelli |agency=AP |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |page=21 |date=April 20, 1944 |accessdate=May 25, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}} However, after first accepting a role as line coach for the Denison University football team in Granville,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-newark-advocate-john-tavener-is-name/148084736/ |title=John Tavener Is Named Line Coach at Denison University |newspaper=The Advocate |location=Newark, Ohio |page=2-B |date=August 17, 1944 |accessdate=May 25, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}} he decided early in September 1944 to return to Indiana for an additional college season, rather that coaching at Denison or playing professionally in the National Football League (NFL).{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/palladium-item-tavener-to-return-to-indi/148084516/ |title=Tavener To Return to Indiana; Grid Prospects Boosted |agency=AP |newspaper=Palladium-Item |location=Richmond, Indiana |page=12 |date=September 3, 1944 |accessdate=May 25, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}} By playing an extra season, he became the first Indiana player to be awarded four varsity letters in a single sport.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/muncie-evening-press-indiana-sweaters-ar/148086335/ |title=Indiana Sweaters are Awarded 35 |newspaper=Muncie Evening Press |location=Muncie, Indiana |page=16 |date=December 5, 1944 |accessdate=May 26, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}

Tavener served as team captain of the 1943 and 1944 Hoosier squads,{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/indiana-football-2023-media-guide/page/13/mode/2up |magazine=Indiana Football Record Book |year=2023 |title=Year-by-Year Results |page=13 |accessdate=May 25, 2024 |via=Internet Archive}} and was a consensus selection to the 1944 College Football All-America Team.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-all-america-past-co/148078567/ |title=All-America: Past Consensus Teams |newspaper=Courier Journal |location=Louisville, Kentucky |page=4-3 |date=December 15, 1946 |accessdate=May 25, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}} He was not accepted to military service during World War II, due to a concussion he suffered during the 1942 season.

Tavener played in several all-star games of the era. Following the 1943 season, he played in the 1944 edition of the East–West Shrine Game, held on January 1 in San Francisco, kicking an extra point for the East.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-freshmen-are-heroes-as-e/148081437/ |title=Freshmen are Heroes as East, West Tie, 13-13 |agency=AP |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |page=2-1 |date=January 2, 1944 |accessdate=May 25, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}} In August 1944, he played in the Chicago College All-Star Game, on a college team that lost by three point to the Chicago Bears—he scored a touchdown when his quarterback fumbled at the goal line and Tavener recovered the ball in the end zone.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-bears-prove-tea/148083695/ |title=Bears Prove Team Play and Ground Attack Hard to Beat |first=Jerry |last=Liska |agency=AP |newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |page=24 |date= August 31, 1944 |accessdate=May 25, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}} He was also selected to play in the 1945 edition of the game, but had to withdraw after breaking his hand in practice.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-bierman-must-find/148083864/ |title=Bierman Must Find Center Tavener Hurt |agency=AP |newspaper=La Crosse Tribune |location=La Crosse, Wisconsin |page=8 |date=August 17, 1945 |accessdate=May 25, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}} He did participate in the 1946 edition of the game as a substitute,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-hirsh-ruby-standouts-in/148087669/ |title=Hirsh, Ruby Standouts In Rams' 16-0 Blanking By Stars |first=Tommy |last=Devine |newspaper=The Miami News |page=6 |date=August 24, 1946 |accessdate=May 26, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}} on loan from his professional team at the time.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-four-seahawk-players-n/148087795/ |title=Four Seahawk Players Named for Pro Game |agency=UP |newspaper=The Tampa Tribune |page=12 |date=August 6, 1946 |accessdate=May 26, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}} Tavener played in the Blue–Gray Football Classic following the 1944 season, contested in December in Montgomery, Alabama, kicking an extra point for the North.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-dixie-squad-wins-24-7/148074914/ |title=Dixie Squad Wins, 24-7 |agency=UP |newspaper=The Hammond Times |location=Hammond, Indiana |page=15 |date=December 31, 1944 |accessdate=May 25, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}} He was also selected to play in the 1945 Blue–Gray game, but was dropped upon signing a professional contract.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-hester-signs-jack-taven/148078074/ |title=Hester Signs Jack Tavener, Star Center |newspaper=Miami Herald |page=4-C |date=December 30, 1945 |accessdate=May 25, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}

In 1945, Tavener returned to his high school as the head football coach.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/princeton-daily-clarion-new-coach/148086967/ |title=New Coach |newspaper=Princeton Daily Clarion |location=Princeton, Indiana |page=4 |date=June 23, 1945 |accessdate=May 26, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}} Late in December 1945, Tavener signed a contract with the Miami Seahawks of the All-America Football Conference.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-miami-signs-center-tavene/148077848/ |title=Miami Signs Center Tavener |newspaper=The Miami News |page=5-C |date=December 30, 1945 |accessdate=May 25, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}} Due to injury,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-hawk-casualties-mount/148087992/ |title=Hawk Casualties Mount; Hester May Sign Mazza |first=Bob |last=Elliott |newspaper=Miami Herald |page=3-B |date=October 13, 1946 |accessdate=May 26, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}} he was limited to three games with the 1946 Miami Seahawks.{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TaveJo20.htm |title=John Tavener Stats |website=pro-football-reference.com |accessdate=May 14, 2024}} In December 1946, he was part of a multi-player trade with the league's Brooklyn Dodgers,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-seahawks-swap-three-pl/148088069/ |title=Seahawks Swap Three Players with Brooklyn |agency=AP |newspaper=The Tampa Tribune |page=14 |date=December 5, 1946 |accessdate=May 26, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}} but there is no indication that he played for them.

Tavener went on to work for Banc Ohio Corporation for 38 years, retiring as a vice president. He was honored as an inductee to the athletic hall of fame at his high school in 1987–88,{{cite web |url=http://www.granvilleschools.org/AthleticHallofFameHonorees.aspx |title=Granville High School Athletic Hall of Fame Honorees |website=granvilleschools.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020203123/http://www.granvilleschools.org/AthleticHallofFameHonorees.aspx |archive-date=October 20, 2014 |via=Wayback Machine}} was inducted to the athletic hall of fame at Indiana University in 1990,{{cite web |url=https://iuhoosiers.com/honors/indiana-university-athletics-hall-of-fame/john-tavener/149 |title=John Tavener |website=iuhoosiers.com |accessdate=May 25, 2024}} and was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990.{{cite web |url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1623 |title=John Tavener |website=footballfoundation.org |accessdate=May 14, 2024}}

Tavener died in September 1993 at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-newark-advocate-john-tavener/148076400/ |title=John Tavener |newspaper=The Advocate |location=Newark, Ohio |page=5 |date=September 20, 1993 |accessdate=May 25, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}} He was survived by his wife, Lucy Tavener née Ashbrook, and by three sons and a daughter.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-newark-advocate-john-h-tavener/148076504/ |title=John H. Tavener |newspaper=The Advocate |location=Newark, Ohio |page=9 |date=September 21, 1993 |accessdate=May 25, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}

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{{Chicago Cardinals 1944 draft navbox}}

{{1944 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}

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Category:1921 births

Category:1993 deaths

Category:Sportspeople from Newark, Ohio

Category:Indiana Hoosiers football players

Category:American football centers

Category:American football defensive tackles

Category:All-American college football players

Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees

Category:High school football coaches in Ohio

Category:Miami Seahawks players