Fred Shirey
Charles Frederick Shirey was an American professional football player. He played football position)|tackle] in college football for the Washington & Jefferson Presidents and Nebraska Cornhuskers. At Nebraska, he was a three-time first-team All-Big Six Conference selection and a first-team All-American as a senior in 1937. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 1938 NFL draft but declined to play for them, instead becoming a high school coach and teacher. In 1940, he decided to play professionally, signing with the Green Bay Packers. He was sold mid-season to the Cleveland Rams and played two seasons with them before retiring, later working at a chemical company until his death in 1961 at age 47.
Early life
Shirey was born on January 12, 1914, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He attended Greater Latrobe High School where he competed in football, basketball and track and field. His father was initially opposed to him playing football; it took a two-year "campaign" from Shirey, his friends and coaches for his father to allow him to try out the sport. He helped the football team compile a record of 6–2 in his last year and also set country records in the shot put and the discus throw. After high school, Shirey enrolled at Washington & Jefferson College in 1932.College career
In 1932, Shirey played freshman football for the Washington & Jefferson Presidents. A tackle, he played for the varsity team as a sophomore in 1933 and was the largest player on the team, standing at while weighing. He later met Bill Weir, a player for the Nebraska Cornhuskers who was working in Pennsylvania; in 1934, on Weir's advice, Shirey transferred to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.At the time, it was considered unusual for a player from as far as Pennsylvania to play for the Cornhuskers: sportswriter Wally Provost noted that "In the matter of homegrown talent, the Huskers were almost as pure as Ivory soap. Now and then you'd see an Iowan or a Kansan on the roster. But to have a player from Pennsylvania! That, indeed, was a novelty." In 1934, Shirey was starting tackle for the Nebraska freshman team. He then became a standout for the varsity team in 1935, mentored by coach Link Lyman. The Lincoln Journal Star reported that "Shirey's work in getting down under punts has made him stand out," and he had two games that season where he recovered fumbles on kicks. At the end of the season, he was named first-team All-Big Six Conference, the only sophomore selected. He helped Nebraska compile a record of 6–2–1 while winning the Big Six title.
Prior to the 1936 season, Shirey bulked up in "muscular beef" to a weight of. He served as the Cornhuskers' starting left tackle during the season and repeated as an All-Big Six Conference selection while the Cornhuskers won the Big Six title. He played a final season for Nebraska in 1937, starting at tackle alongside Ted Doyle, described as his "twin", as both were born on the same day and had the same height and weight. Against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the 1937 season, Shirey served as Nebraska's team captain. Shirey received a third All-Big Six selection for the 1937 season and was also named first-team All-American; he is one of only 20 Nebraska players ever to receive three first-team all-conference honors. He also helped the Cornhuskers to another Big Six title. Shirey competed in the East–West Shrine Game at the conclusion of his collegiate career. In his three years with Nebraska varsity, he helped them win every conference game. He also competed in track for one year at Nebraska. Shirey graduated in January 1938.