 Maulbetsch pictured in The Redskin 1923, Oklahoma A&M yearbook | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 20, 1890 Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | September 14, 1950 (aged 60) Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1911 | Adrian |
| 1914–1916 | Michigan |
| Position(s) | Halfback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1917–1920 | Phillips |
| 1921–1928 | Oklahoma A&M |
| 1929–1930 | Marshall |
| Basketball | |
| 1921–1929 | Oklahoma A&M |
| Baseball | |
| 1922–1929 | Oklahoma A&M |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall |
|
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| |
| Awards | |
| |
| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 1973 (profile) | |
John Frederick Maulbetsch (June 20, 1890 – September 14, 1950) was an All-American football halfback at Adrian College in 1911 and for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1914 to 1916. He is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
After playing with an independent football team in Ann Arbor and at Adrian College, Maulbetsch became one of the most famous American football players in 1914 while playing for the University of Michigan. Maulbetsch became known as the "Human Bullet" because of his unusual low, line-plunging style of play, and was also known as the "Featherweight Fullback" because of his light weight and small size. After his performance against Harvard in 1914, in which some reports indicated he gained more than 300 yards, eastern writers, including Damon Runyon, wrote articles touting Maulbetsch. Maulbetsch was also selected by Walter Camp to his All-American team.
In 1915, Maulbetsch underwent surgery for appendicitis and did not perform to the same level as he had in 1914. He made a comeback as a senior in 1916 and was again one of the leading players in college football.
Between 1917 and 1920, Maulbetsch was the head football coach at Phillips University. With Maulbetsch's name recognition, he was able to recruit big name talent to Phillips, including future Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Owen, and future United States Olympic Committee President Doug Roby. Maulbetsch quickly turned Phillips into one of the top programs in the southwest, as his teams beat Oklahoma and Texas and lost only one game in the 1918 and 1919 seasons. Maulbetsch was later the football coach at Oklahoma A&M (later known as Oklahoma State) and Marshall College in the 1920s. He has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and the University of Michigan awards the John F. Maulbetsch Award each year to a freshman football player based on desire, character, and capacity for leadership and future success both on and off the football field.