Amby Schindler
Encyclopedia
Ambrose "Amblin' Amby" Schindler is a former American
collegiate football
player, coach and Professional Football
on-field official
. He played college football for the University of Southern California
.
. A star quarterback
for the USC Trojans
, during the 1937 season he led the team in in rushing, scoring and total offense and was named to all-conference honors. His senior year he led the Trojans to a share of the 1939 national championship
: At the 1940 Rose Bowl
, capping the 1939 season, Schindler ran for a touchdown
and passed for another in a 14-0 victory over a Tennessee Volunteers team
that had previously gone undefeated for 23 games and unscored upon for the previous 16 games (including the entire 1939 regular season); he was named the game's most valuable player. He went on to be the MVP in the 1940 College All-Star Game
, held at Soldier Field
in Chicago
.
During the end of his college career he also acted
in Hollywood, appearing in The Wizard of Oz
as one of the Winkies
, and also as Jack Haley's Tin Man
stunt double. He also appeared in Sailor's Lady
(1940). While he enjoyed acting and stunt work, he opted to leave Hollywood to focus on his coaching career.
Although selected by the Green Bay Packers
in the 1940 draft
, Schindler did not play in the National Football League
. At the time, coaching at high school and college offered more financial security than the low pay NFL of the early 1940s. His first offer out of college was to coach at Glendale High School
, so chose it over a professional career. He served in the Navy
during World War II
and returned to move into a long career as coach and instructor at El Camino College
in Torrance, California
. In addition, Schindler also was a longtime football game official, working for years in the American Football League
and later officiating high school and college games.
He was inducted into the San Diego Hall of Champions
Breitbard Hall of Fame in 1973. He was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997, and the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 2002.
Schindler loves surfing
and bicycling and was an active surfer until age 75. He drives a Jaguar with a vanity license plate reading "X USC QB".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
collegiate football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
player, coach and Professional Football
Professional football
In the United States and Canada, the term professional football includes the professional forms of American and Canadian gridiron football. In common usage, it refers to former and existing major football leagues in either country...
on-field official
Official (American football)
In American football, an official is a person who has responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game.During professional and college football games, seven officials operate on the field...
. He played college football for the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
.
Career
Schindler prepped at San Diego High SchoolSan Diego High School
San Diego High School is an urban public educational complex comprising six small schools located on the southern edge of Balboa Park, in San Diego, California. It is part of the San Diego Unified School District. It is the oldest high school in the San Diego Unified School District and one of the...
. A star quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the USC Trojans
University of Southern California Trojans football
The USC Trojans football program, established in 1888, represents the University of Southern California in college football. USC is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I FBS and the Pacific-12 Conference . The Trojans have been a football powerhouse throughout NCAA...
, during the 1937 season he led the team in in rushing, scoring and total offense and was named to all-conference honors. His senior year he led the Trojans to a share of the 1939 national championship
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
: At the 1940 Rose Bowl
1940 Rose Bowl
The 1940 Rose Bowl, played on January 1, 1940, was an American Football bowl game. It was the 26th Rose Bowl Game. The USC Trojans defeated the Tennessee Volunteers 14-0. Ambrose Schindler, the USC quarterback, was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game when the award was created in 1953 and...
, capping the 1939 season, Schindler ran for a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
and passed for another in a 14-0 victory over a Tennessee Volunteers team
1939 Tennessee Volunteers football team
The 1939 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1939 college football season. Tennessee began the season as defending national championships and were ranked #5 in the country...
that had previously gone undefeated for 23 games and unscored upon for the previous 16 games (including the entire 1939 regular season); he was named the game's most valuable player. He went on to be the MVP in the 1940 College All-Star Game
College All-Star Game
The Chicago Charities College All-Star Game was a preseason American football game played annually from 1934 to 1976 between the National Football League champions and a team of star college seniors from the previous year...
, held at Soldier Field
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
During the end of his college career he also acted
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
in Hollywood, appearing in The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
as one of the Winkies
Winkie Country
The Winkie Country is a division of the fictional Land of Oz. It is distinguished by the color yellow; this color is worn by most of the local inhabitants and predominates in the surroundings....
, and also as Jack Haley's Tin Man
Tin Man
Tin Man may refer to:* Tin Woodman, a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum* Ted McMinn, a footballer nicknamed The Tin Man* Tinman, a British electronic musician-Film and television:...
stunt double. He also appeared in Sailor's Lady
Sailor's Lady
Sailor's Lady is a 1940 film starring Nancy Kelly. The supporting cast includes Jon Hall, Joan Davis, Dana Andrews, and Buster Crabbe. The movie was directed by Allan Dwan...
(1940). While he enjoyed acting and stunt work, he opted to leave Hollywood to focus on his coaching career.
Although selected by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in the 1940 draft
1940 NFL Draft
The 1940 National Football League Draft was held on December 9, 1939.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
, Schindler did not play in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. At the time, coaching at high school and college offered more financial security than the low pay NFL of the early 1940s. His first offer out of college was to coach at Glendale High School
Glendale High School
Glendale High School can refer to:*Glendale High School *Glendale High School *Glendale High School , Springfield, Missouri*Glendale High School , Tillsonburg, Ontario...
, so chose it over a professional career. He served in the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and returned to move into a long career as coach and instructor at El Camino College
El Camino College
El Camino College is a two-year public community college located partially in the unincorporated area of Alondra Park and partially in the City of Torrance in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is commonly referred to as "Elco" or "ECC"...
in Torrance, California
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
. In addition, Schindler also was a longtime football game official, working for years in the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
and later officiating high school and college games.
He was inducted into the San Diego Hall of Champions
San Diego Hall of Champions
The San Diego Hall of Champions is an American multi-sport museum in San Diego, California. Located in the Federal Building in Balboa Park, the facility recognizes outstanding athletic accomplishments and traditions involving more than forty-two sports...
Breitbard Hall of Fame in 1973. He was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997, and the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 2002.
Personal life
Schindler married his wife, Lucille, and they together had two children. His wife died in 1984. He did occasionally think about what his life would have been like if he played professional football, but part of his decision to select a more, at the time, stable career was because of his wife.Schindler loves surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
and bicycling and was an active surfer until age 75. He drives a Jaguar with a vanity license plate reading "X USC QB".
See also
- American Football LeagueAmerican Football LeagueThe American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
- American Football League Officials
- List of American Football League players, coaches and contributors