Joe Arenas
Encyclopedia
Guadalupe Joseph Arenas (born December 12, 1925 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
), also known as "Lupe Joe" Arenas and "Little Joe" Arenas, is a former American football
player. He was a halfback
and defensive back
for the San Francisco 49ers
from the 1951 to 1957. He was best known as a kickoff and punt returner. His 4,572 career kick and punt return yards was the best in NFL history at the time of his retirement, and his career average of 27.3 yards per kick return remains ninth best in NFL history. Arenas was, along with Tom Fears
and Eddie Saenz
, among the first Mexican-American players to achieve significant success in the sport of American football.
in 1925. Arenas served in the United States military for four years during and after World War II
. He participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima, was wounded with shrapnel and received a Purple Heart
decoration. Arenas credited his military background with giving him the mental and physical toughness that led to his success in football.
made it." He began his college career playing basketball for the Nebraska Cornhuskers
, but he transferred to the University of Nebraska-Omaha, then known as Omaha University, so that he could play football. He played college football at Omaha from 1947 to 1950. He was chosen as the most valuable player on Omaha's 1948 football team. During the 1949 season, he led Omaha in both rushing and passing yards. Arenas opened the 1950 football season by throwing three touchdown passes in a 33-7 win over Nebraska Wesleyan. Arenas also played basketball at Omaha; he was the team's second leading scorer in 1950 with 144 points on 56 field goals and 32 free throws in 23 games.
in the 8th round of the 1951 NFL Draft
. He played seven seasons in San Francisco from 1951 to 1957. On December 16, 1951, he knocked the Detroit Lions
out of the NFL division championship with 51-yard punt return. He led the NFL with 814 kick and punt return yards in 1951, and also led the NFL in yards per touch in both 1951 (13.1 yards per touch) and 1955 (11.1 yards per touch).
In December 1956, two long returns by Arenas helped the 49ers beat the Baltimore Colts
30-17. The Associated Press
coverage of the game opened by noting, "Little Joe Arenas, who earlier returned a kickoff 96 yards, returned a punt 68 for San Francisco's winning touchdown." After the game, 49ers coach Frank Albert said of Arenas, "He's the greatest clutch artist I've ever seen. He was the difference between the two clubs today." A newspaper columnist in 1957 described Arenas' value to the 49ers:
Arenas was "a popular and capable performer" in his seven year with the 49ers. A columnist for the Oakland Tribune in July 1958 wrote that the 49ers lineup would not be the same without him and added, "Arenas has a spectacular quality which appeals to the customers. He is dead game, possessing in spirit and aggression what he may lack in sheer talent. He is no speedburner, yet last year and the season before he made long runs which brought the audiences to its collective feet."
Arenas announced his retirement from football in September 1958, saying he was quitting to devote full time to his job as a salesman and public relations man for the coffee company, Schilling & Co. Arenas had been working in the coffee business during the off-season for several years. He compared selling with football in a 1957 interview: "Selling is like football. The buyers are defending, I'm on the offense. It's axiomatic in football for every good offense there is a proper defense — and vice versa. That goes for selling, too."
After he announced his retirement, the Oakland Tribune called him "a scrappy little back" who "made up with hustle what he lacked in ability" and became "the most popular player on the 49ers."
In seven years in the NFL, Arenas accumulated 987 rushing yards, 675 passing yards, 774 punt return yards, 3,798 kick return yards, 17 touchdowns, six interception. Over the course of his career, he averaged 27.3 yards per kick return, a figure that remains ninth best in NFL history. His 4,572 career kick and punt return yards was the best in NFL history at the time of his retirement; Al Carmichael
broke his record in 1958.
After retiring from the 49ers, he covered the team for the San Francisco Call-Bulletin during the 1958 season. In December 1958, Arenas wrote that he had been banned from the 49ers' bench and dressing room for things he had written in his newspaper column. According to Arenas, team owner Vic Morabito claimed that his former teammates "had not appreciated my comments about their playing."
In an interview in 1990, Arenas said of his time with the 49ers, "It was something I will always cherish. It was the highlight of my life."
. In June 1961, Arenas was ordered to stand trial in San Jose, California
on a forgery charge. In November 1961, a San Jose jury acquitted Arenas of the charge. The check had been made out to both Arenas and his partner, and Arenas contended he had authorization from his partner to endorse the check with both names.
team under College Football Hall of Fame
coach Bill Yeoman
. Arenas worked with the receivers at the University of Houston and developed such NFL receiving talents as Riley Odom and Carl Hilton
. Arenas recalled, "I was just fortunate enough to be able to do both with Coach Yeoman. I was part-time for a while, and then the NCAA said you could only have so many coaches, and then I went voluntary for a while." He also worked as a volunteer coach at Rice University
from 1987 to 1988.
From 1991 until at least 2002, Arenas served as an unpaid volunteer coach with the Ball High School
football team in Galveston. Interviewed in 2002, Arenas said, "It's lot of fun. It just keeps me busy. That's the thing, and it's something I like to do. Anytime I can be around young men and help them along, that's good for me."
.
In 2000, Arenas was inducted into the Laredo Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame. Arenas was also profiled in Mario Longoria's 1997 book, "Athletes Remembered: Mexicano/Latino Professional Football Players, 1929-1970." After reviewing Arenas' career, Longoria concludes that the "exclusion" of Arenas from the Pro Football Hall of Fame
is "a gross injustice."
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
), also known as "Lupe Joe" Arenas and "Little Joe" Arenas, is a former American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He was a halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
and defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
from the 1951 to 1957. He was best known as a kickoff and punt returner. His 4,572 career kick and punt return yards was the best in NFL history at the time of his retirement, and his career average of 27.3 yards per kick return remains ninth best in NFL history. Arenas was, along with Tom Fears
Tom Fears
Thomas Jesse Fears was a Mexican-American football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League, playing nine seasons from 1948 to 1956.-Early life:...
and Eddie Saenz
Eddie Saenz
Edwin Matthew Saenz was an American football running back for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Southern California and was drafted in the 15th round of the 1945 NFL Draft...
, among the first Mexican-American players to achieve significant success in the sport of American football.
Military service
Arenas was born in Cedar Rapids, IowaCedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
in 1925. Arenas served in the United States military for four years during and after 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...
. He participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima, was wounded with shrapnel and received a Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
decoration. Arenas credited his military background with giving him the mental and physical toughness that led to his success in football.
University of Nebraska-Omaha
Arenas did not play football in high school and did not become involved in football under after he was discharged from the military. He later recalled that his introduction to football began after a night of carousing: "We were out partying one night, and my mom said, 'What are you going to do with your life?' That hit me — 'What am I going to do.' I said I was going to school, and from that day lorward, I prepared myself to go play basketball for the University of Nebraska. And, by God, Imade it." He began his college career playing basketball for the Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
, but he transferred to the University of Nebraska-Omaha, then known as Omaha University, so that he could play football. He played college football at Omaha from 1947 to 1950. He was chosen as the most valuable player on Omaha's 1948 football team. During the 1949 season, he led Omaha in both rushing and passing yards. Arenas opened the 1950 football season by throwing three touchdown passes in a 33-7 win over Nebraska Wesleyan. Arenas also played basketball at Omaha; he was the team's second leading scorer in 1950 with 144 points on 56 field goals and 32 free throws in 23 games.
San Francisco 49ers
Arenas was drafted by the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in the 8th round of the 1951 NFL Draft
1951 NFL Draft
The 1951 National Football League Draft was held on January 18–January 19, 1951. The Baltimore Colts folded after the 1950 season. The NFL placed their players in the 1951 NFL draft.-Player selections:-Round one:...
. He played seven seasons in San Francisco from 1951 to 1957. On December 16, 1951, he knocked the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
out of the NFL division championship with 51-yard punt return. He led the NFL with 814 kick and punt return yards in 1951, and also led the NFL in yards per touch in both 1951 (13.1 yards per touch) and 1955 (11.1 yards per touch).
In December 1956, two long returns by Arenas helped the 49ers beat the Baltimore Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
30-17. The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
coverage of the game opened by noting, "Little Joe Arenas, who earlier returned a kickoff 96 yards, returned a punt 68 for San Francisco's winning touchdown." After the game, 49ers coach Frank Albert said of Arenas, "He's the greatest clutch artist I've ever seen. He was the difference between the two clubs today." A newspaper columnist in 1957 described Arenas' value to the 49ers:
"Arenas is a valuable man on a pro football team, specifically the 49er team. He is more than a thoroughly dependable player. He is an inspirational holler-guy who can lift flagging spirits; who refuses to be whipped even if the score is top-heavy in the other side's favor. Team devotees feel a sense of complete confidence watching a well kicked ball sail in the direction of Arenas, playing safety. Joe hardly ever bobbles one. On those rare occasions when the spinning ball briefly twists out of his waiting arms, he is on the pellet with the speed of a mongoose."
Arenas was "a popular and capable performer" in his seven year with the 49ers. A columnist for the Oakland Tribune in July 1958 wrote that the 49ers lineup would not be the same without him and added, "Arenas has a spectacular quality which appeals to the customers. He is dead game, possessing in spirit and aggression what he may lack in sheer talent. He is no speedburner, yet last year and the season before he made long runs which brought the audiences to its collective feet."
Arenas announced his retirement from football in September 1958, saying he was quitting to devote full time to his job as a salesman and public relations man for the coffee company, Schilling & Co. Arenas had been working in the coffee business during the off-season for several years. He compared selling with football in a 1957 interview: "Selling is like football. The buyers are defending, I'm on the offense. It's axiomatic in football for every good offense there is a proper defense — and vice versa. That goes for selling, too."
After he announced his retirement, the Oakland Tribune called him "a scrappy little back" who "made up with hustle what he lacked in ability" and became "the most popular player on the 49ers."
In seven years in the NFL, Arenas accumulated 987 rushing yards, 675 passing yards, 774 punt return yards, 3,798 kick return yards, 17 touchdowns, six interception. Over the course of his career, he averaged 27.3 yards per kick return, a figure that remains ninth best in NFL history. His 4,572 career kick and punt return yards was the best in NFL history at the time of his retirement; Al Carmichael
Al Carmichael
Albert "Al" Reinhold Carmichael was an American collegiate and professional football player, a halfback, wide receiver, and kick returner.-Professional career:...
broke his record in 1958.
After retiring from the 49ers, he covered the team for the San Francisco Call-Bulletin during the 1958 season. In December 1958, Arenas wrote that he had been banned from the 49ers' bench and dressing room for things he had written in his newspaper column. According to Arenas, team owner Vic Morabito claimed that his former teammates "had not appreciated my comments about their playing."
In an interview in 1990, Arenas said of his time with the 49ers, "It was something I will always cherish. It was the highlight of my life."
Acquittal on forgery charges
In March 1961, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department issued an all points bulletin for Arenas after he was charged with forging a business partner's name on a $264 check at a Bank of America branch in San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. In June 1961, Arenas was ordered to stand trial in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
on a forgery charge. In November 1961, a San Jose jury acquitted Arenas of the charge. The check had been made out to both Arenas and his partner, and Arenas contended he had authorization from his partner to endorse the check with both names.
Coaching
For 23 years from 1963 to 1986, Arenas was an assistant football coach for the Houston Cougars footballHouston Cougars football
The Houston Cougars football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents the University of Houston. The team is commonly referred to as "Houston" or "UH" . The UH football program is currently a member of the Conference USA intercollegiate athletic conference, and is coached by...
team under College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
coach Bill Yeoman
Bill Yeoman
Bill Yeoman is a former American football player and coach in the United States. Starting in 1962, he was the University of Houston's head coach, holding the position through 1986. In his tenure, he became the winningest coach in school history, with an overall record of 160–108–8...
. Arenas worked with the receivers at the University of Houston and developed such NFL receiving talents as Riley Odom and Carl Hilton
Carl Hilton
Carl Patrick Hilton is a retired professional American football player who played tight end for four seasons for the Minnesota Vikings.-References:...
. Arenas recalled, "I was just fortunate enough to be able to do both with Coach Yeoman. I was part-time for a while, and then the NCAA said you could only have so many coaches, and then I went voluntary for a while." He also worked as a volunteer coach at Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
from 1987 to 1988.
From 1991 until at least 2002, Arenas served as an unpaid volunteer coach with the Ball High School
Ball High School
Ball High School is a public secondary school in Galveston, Texas, United States. Ball, which covers grades 9 through 12, is a part of Galveston Independent School District....
football team in Galveston. Interviewed in 2002, Arenas said, "It's lot of fun. It just keeps me busy. That's the thing, and it's something I like to do. Anytime I can be around young men and help them along, that's good for me."
Property management
Arenas later worked as a property supervisor at Barney Rapp Realtors, Inc., on Galveston Island in Texas. Arenas retired in 1991, but he continued to "dabble" in property management before finally retiring for good in 1993.Family, awards and honors
Arenas was married to Maxine Brynston Arenas. The couple had two daughters, Vicki Ritter and Tracey Arenas. His wife died in August 2008 at Webster, TexasWebster, Texas
Webster is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The population was 9,083 at the 2000 census.-History:...
.
In 2000, Arenas was inducted into the Laredo Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame. Arenas was also profiled in Mario Longoria's 1997 book, "Athletes Remembered: Mexicano/Latino Professional Football Players, 1929-1970." After reviewing Arenas' career, Longoria concludes that the "exclusion" of Arenas from the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
is "a gross injustice."