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.
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
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.
