Otto Pommerening
Encyclopedia
Otto P. Pommerening was an All-American football player for the University of Michigan
Wolverines
from 1927-1928. He was a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan
.
During the 1928 season, Pommerening became the first player in the history of the Big Ten Conference
to play every minute of every game for his team. One wire service report noted that he set the endurance record despite having suffered a severe head injury early in the season.
An Iowa newspaper credited Michigan's "big tackle" Pommerening as one of the players deserving credit in Michigan's 10-7 win over Iowa in 1928. The paper wrote that Pommerening "ripped wide holes in the Iowa line as Michigan started their winning drive."
Pommerening was a unanimous All-American for his play at tackle in 1928. In December 1928, the United Press named Pommerening to its All-American team at tackle, noting that Pommerening, "in a weak Michigan line stood out as the greatest in many a 'Big Ten' season." He was listed at 5 feet, 11 inches, and 178 pounds. Pommerening also finished fourth in the voting for the Chicago Tribune Silver Football
trophy, awarded to the Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten Conference. He also was selected as the Most Valuable Player on the 1928 Wolverines football team and is regarded as one of the best linemen ever to play for the Michigan Wolverines.
Pommerening had hoped to play in 1929 but was ruled ineligible in November 1928 because he played five minutes in a game against Oklahoma A & M during his sophomore year.
Pommerening appeared in the 1930 film "Maybe It's Love." The film, directed by William A. Wellman
, was a genre football comedy starring Joan Bennett
, Joe E. Brown
, and members of the 1928 and 1929 All-American football teams and USC coach Howard Jones
.
On May 8, 1932, Pommerening married Laura Mercer, a graduate nurse of Henry Ford Hospital
in Detroit. At the time, Pommerening was employed as an engineer. In 1936, he was reported to be working for Ford Motor Company
in Detroit.
In 1963, Pommerening was one of the pallbearers (along with Ernie Vick
, Jack Blott
, Bennie Oosterbaan
, Whitey Wistert
, and Harry Newman
) at the funeral of Michigan football legend Willie Heston
.
Pommerening died in 1992 at West Bloomfield, Michigan. He was a resident of Livonia, Michigan
at the time of his death.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
from 1927-1928. He was a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
.
During the 1928 season, Pommerening became the first player in the history of the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
to play every minute of every game for his team. One wire service report noted that he set the endurance record despite having suffered a severe head injury early in the season.
An Iowa newspaper credited Michigan's "big tackle" Pommerening as one of the players deserving credit in Michigan's 10-7 win over Iowa in 1928. The paper wrote that Pommerening "ripped wide holes in the Iowa line as Michigan started their winning drive."
Pommerening was a unanimous All-American for his play at tackle in 1928. In December 1928, the United Press named Pommerening to its All-American team at tackle, noting that Pommerening, "in a weak Michigan line stood out as the greatest in many a 'Big Ten' season." He was listed at 5 feet, 11 inches, and 178 pounds. Pommerening also finished fourth in the voting for the Chicago Tribune Silver Football
Chicago Tribune Silver Football
The Chicago Tribune Silver Football is awarded by the Chicago Tribune to the college football player determined to be the best player from the Big Ten Conference. The award has been presented annually since 1924, when Red Grange of Illinois was the award's first recipient.The winner of the Silver...
trophy, awarded to the Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten Conference. He also was selected as the Most Valuable Player on the 1928 Wolverines football team and is regarded as one of the best linemen ever to play for the Michigan Wolverines.
Pommerening had hoped to play in 1929 but was ruled ineligible in November 1928 because he played five minutes in a game against Oklahoma A & M during his sophomore year.
Pommerening appeared in the 1930 film "Maybe It's Love." The film, directed by William A. Wellman
William A. Wellman
William Augustus Wellman was an American film director. Although Wellman began his film career as an actor, he worked on over 80 films, as director, producer and consultant but most often as a director, notable for his work in crime, adventure and action genre films, often focusing on aviation...
, was a genre football comedy starring Joan Bennett
Joan Bennett
Joan Geraldine Bennett was an American stage, film and television actress. Besides acting on the stage, Bennett appeared in more than 70 motion pictures from the era of silent movies well into the sound era...
, Joe E. Brown
Joe E. Brown (comedian)
Joseph Evans Brown was an American actor and comedian, remembered for his amiable screen persona, comic timing, and enormous smile. In 1902 at the age of nine, he joined a troupe of circus tumblers known as the Five Marvelous Ashtons which toured the country on both the circus and vaudeville...
, and members of the 1928 and 1929 All-American football teams and USC coach Howard Jones
Howard Jones (football coach)
Howard Harding Jones was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Syracuse University , Yale University , Ohio State University , the University of Iowa , Duke University , and the University of Southern California , compiling a career record of...
.
On May 8, 1932, Pommerening married Laura Mercer, a graduate nurse of Henry Ford Hospital
Henry Ford Hospital
Henry Ford Hospital, the flagship facility for , is an 805-bed tertiary care hospital, education and research complex located in Detroit ....
in Detroit. At the time, Pommerening was employed as an engineer. In 1936, he was reported to be working for Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
in Detroit.
In 1963, Pommerening was one of the pallbearers (along with Ernie Vick
Ernie Vick
Henry Arthur "Ernie" Vick was an American football and baseball player. He was selected as an All-American center in 1921, played on the 1926 World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals, and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983.-University of Michigan:Born in Toledo, Ohio, Vick...
, Jack Blott
Jack Blott
Jack Leonard Blott was an All-American football center and place kicker for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1922–1923. He was also a baseball catcher for the Wolverines from 1922–1924. After a two-game Major League Baseball career with the Cincinnati Reds in 1924, he worked as...
, Bennie Oosterbaan
Bennie Oosterbaan
Benjamin Gaylord "Bennie" Oosterbaan was a three-time first team All-American football end for the Michigan Wolverines football team, two-time All-American basketball player for the basketball team and an All-Big Ten Conference baseball player for the baseball team...
, Whitey Wistert
Whitey Wistert
Francis Michael "Whitey" Wistert was an American football and baseball player. He played college football and college baseball at the University of Michigan...
, and Harry Newman
Harry Newman
Harry Lawrence Newman was an American football quarterback who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines , the New York Giants , and the Brooklyn/Rochester Tigers .-College career:...
) at the funeral of Michigan football legend Willie Heston
Willie Heston
William Martin "Willie" Heston was an American football player and coach. He played halfback at San Jose State University and the University of Michigan. Heston was the head football coach for Drake University in 1905 and North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, now North...
.
Pommerening died in 1992 at West Bloomfield, Michigan. He was a resident of Livonia, Michigan
Livonia, Michigan
Livonia is a city in the northwest part of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Livonia is a very large suburb with an array of traditional neighborhoods connected to the metropolitan area by freeways. The population was 96,942 at the 2010 census, making it Michigan's 9th largest...
at the time of his death.