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Monday, July 28, 2008

Honoring football royalty

Lawrence High to retire John Hadl's No. 21 today

By Dugan Arnett

Although Lawrence High football players stopped wearing No. 21 several years ago, it never was retired officially. That all changes today when LHS and Free State High join together to honor John Hadl, one of the greatest high school football players the city has ever known.

Although Lawrence High football players stopped wearing No. 21 several years ago, it never was retired officially. That all changes today when LHS and Free State High join together to honor John Hadl, one of the greatest high school football players the city has ever known.

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Before the collegiate all-American honors, the NFC Player of the Year award and the 16-year professional career that many believe is Hall-of-Fame worthy, John Hadl was a Lawrence High Lion.

In the late-1950s, Hadl's legend blossomed as a prep star for the town's only high school football team.

As an electric halfback, Hadl, now nearing 70, would letter during all three seasons of high school ball - a feat unheard of in those days - and was a major part of the team's storied 47-game winning streak.

Today, at a charity golf tournament at Alvamar Golf Club, Hadl's No. 21 will be officially retired - never to be worn again by an LHS football player.

On the eve of such an occasion, the Journal-World caught up with some of Hadl's former Lawrence High teammates. Men who grew up with Hadl. Who sweated through high school practices alongside him and spent game nights in the trenches with him, opening holes for him to slip through.

Men who, whether they knew it or not, were witnessing greatness in its earliest stages.

Although each remembered something different about their old teammate - a big run, a huge win, a ridiculous move - all of them cherished the time they spent with one of Lawrence's finest.

What they Remember

Former Lawrence High teammates of John Hadl reflect on the glory days

"When I was a junior, I was a second string cornerback. And I played behind John, which meant I never played. But one time, our coach told me to get into the game. And I couldn't figure out why. Well, I found out that the play before, Hadl was supposed to be in deep coverage, but he had left his coverage area and had went and nailed the quarterback. Afterward, he told coach, 'You should have seen the look in the quarterback's eyes when I hit him.' And our coach said, 'You should have seen the look in my eyes when I looked back and you weren't in deep coverage.'"

- Larry Hatfield, Lawrence High Class of '58, quarterback

"I remember tackling practice, trying to tackle him during one-on-ones. That was a load. It wasn't that he was so fast, but he had more moves than six people. You just couldn't get your arms around him. He was just a natural. ..."

"If you made him a hole, he'd find it. I guarantee you that. That was fun because you knew he was gonna make some yards, one way or another. At the time, we didn't know how good he was. When you're playing with somebody, it's kind of hard to tell - (especially) when he's running behind you all the time."

- Tom Boyd, Lawrence High Class of '58, offensive lineman

"He was always well-liked by everyone. And that's unusual. If underclassmen move up, the seniors don't like them because it's a little snot-nose taking my spot. The younger guys, the ones that he leaves, they think he's some kind of big shot. But Hadl never fit into that category. He fit in with everybody."

- Jerry Hall, Lawrence High Class of '57, halfback

"You knew (he was going to be something special) by sandlot football. Kids know when somebody's head and shoulders above them. So you kind of model yourself after people like that. There was no doubt in all of our minds that he was probably head and shoulders above in athletic ability. In all phases of athletics, there were maybe some that were better football players, better baseball players, better basketball players. But all around, he was it."

- Roger Scott, Lawrence High Class of '59, center/linebacker

"I remember coaches talking about him when we were in grade school, 'Watch out for this kid, he's going to be something.' And, of course, he was. He was just a winner. He wasn't exceptionally fast. He wasn't exceptionally big. But he was a winner. I remember we played Argentine once in a regular-season game and he touched the ball five times and had four touchdowns ... You remember Danny Manning and the Miracles in '88? Well, we were John Hadl and the Miracles in '57."

- Dennis Cawley, Lawrence High Class of '58, end

John Hadl retirement ceremony

What: Golf tourney, dinner and auction to retire former Lawrence Lion John Hadl's No. 21

When: Golf at 1:21 today, dinner at 6:21 tonight

Where: Alvamar Golf Club

Want In? Spots remain for both the 21-hole golf tournament and the evening dinner and auction. Cost for all three events is $150 per person. Golf alone is $100. Dinner alone is $50. For reservations, contact Dirk Wedd at 218-2018.

Comments

prairie_dog (anonymous) says...

47 games in a row is amazing. However, let's not forget Independence (KS) High, under their unforgettable coach, Walter "Kayo" Emmott. The Bulldogs won 49 games in a row during the same era.

What an amazing run of talent came out of KS during that time.

July 28, 2008 at 7:01 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

GoBadgers (anonymous) says...

"...16-year professional career that many believe is Hall-of-Fame worthy..."

Who believes this? The man threw for more interceptions than touchdowns.

July 28, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

oldalum (anonymous) says...

Everyone but you, GoBadgers.

July 28, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

*waiting*

July 28, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

GoBadgers (anonymous) says...

Who is this "Everyone"? I've got nothing against Mr. Hadl, except for the fact he was a chickenhawk. He was even a Green Bay Packer for a spell, so he's alright in my book. I'm just suspicious of generalized statements like: "...16-year professional career that many believe is Half-of-Fame worthy..."

I want to know who are the people who believe that and WHY exactly they believe that. The "why" is the most important part to me because I don't see anything in Hadl's professional career that would make MANY think he should be in the Hall of Fame. He was an OK pro with a solid career, but there is nothing Hall-of-Fame worthy about it.

July 28, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chicago_JHawk (anonymous) says...

He was a tremendous college player, but his pro stats are hit and miss. He stacks up favorably to other HOF QBs in completions, yards, and TDs (better than Namath, Dawson and Bradshaw), but his completion %, QB rating, and interceptions (3rd all time) are miserable.

His high rankings in a few categories may be more a result of his durability.

July 28, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkman1031 (anonymous) says...

don't care. don't care about independence high. This is about John Hadl and Lawrence. Don't care about badgers. If you read, you have read many times that there are many who think he should be in the hall.

If Len Dawson wanted to play another year after he retired... I would let him play for the Chiefs based on his royalty status. He won the Super Bowl. That is enough.
If Bret Favre wants to play another year for the Packers, and they say no, they can stupid out all they want... I will be happy to see him play for the Chiefs. I don't care about any arguments by anyone, it is all media anyway, but the mgmt of the Packers really bite if they don't just treat him like a king. I expect he could pack them in again. If Barry Sanders had come back after he retired, mgmt would only have asked where and when to hitch em up.
I don't care at all about the Green Bay Packers, except with Favre, what a special football personality, they were my favorite team. Lord knows the Chiefs have not been occupying that spot. I will be happy to go back to the skins or the boys or whoever in the nfc if Favre isn't there. He should play somewhere if he wants to play. If Elway did the exact same thing, would Denver have turned its back?
I would say Favre is America's QB. Next would be Brady and the Mannings, but Favre is the man.

July 28, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

my only question is why it took so long for LHS to honor him. the man is nearing the end of his life expectancy.

July 28, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Speakeasy (anonymous) says...

I'm sure John will be happy to hear he's nearing the end of his life expectancy!

July 28, 2008 at 5:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

TykePeacock (anonymous) says...

AFC player of the year, not NFC.

Unless SD Chargers were in NFC in late 60s/early70s.

Interesting fact; Alworth/Hadl combo rated as one of the top 10 of all time per NFL.com.

http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story;j...

July 28, 2008 at 5:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

Im sure John will be happy to hear that many of us wanted this for him much sooner!

July 28, 2008 at 5:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

njjayhawk (anonymous) says...

Growing up in small town Kansas, I saw him play once at KU with my dad when I was a youngster, and I always listened to him play for KU on the radio. Memorable times.

July 28, 2008 at 7:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )