Football Hall of Fame

Front Row: (L-R) Jesse Godinez, Bill OíNeill, John Quinn, Ernest Schiosser, Don DeVries, Jim Kelly, Tom Foley, Eddie Greenwald, Bob Hopwood, Eddie Peters, Joe Delgrado, Tony Romolo.

Second Row: Jerry Wombacher, Irving Cohen, Ray Marme, Jack OíConnor, Tom Sunderland, Dave Lawless, Bill Hecht, Jack Murray, Jim Herman, Bob Lang, Leonard Boyle, Al Schwab.

Third Row: Ennio Arboit, coach; Art Owens, manager; Bill Sonnemaker, Bill Nash, Harold Schmitt, Jim Comfort, Pat Cusack, Joe Gleason, Dave Amberg, Jerry Nelson, Don Lowry, Don McGuire, Rev. Sylvester Palacz, assistant coach; Jim McGrath, assistant manager.

Back Row: Eddie Ritter, Bob Arnold, Willard Densberger, Harold Sonnemaker, Ed Dwyer, Tom Gorsage, Emil Seei, Jerry Klein, Hank Donnelly, Francis Heneberry, Bob Flanagan, Tom Hecht, Tex Weicherding, Ed Uranich.

AFTER SWEEPING through an eight-game unbeaten season in 1942, Coach Ennio Arboit took his Spalding Institute team to a 9-0-0 season in 1944, the fourth unbeaten season in the school's history, but the first that finished with nine wins and no ties.

Four days prior to its opening game, the team was involved in a near fatal accident when the truck transporting the team to Bradley Park for practice tipped over on Main St. Several serious injuries were incurred, including starting halfback John Kenning. However, a "green" sophomore and future college "Little All-American" Bob Flanagan took over his position.

The Irish had much more trouble than its 1942 counterpart, scoring 211 points while yielding 63. It was involved in a one-point win over Manual and a two-point decision over St. Bede Academy.

Shutouts were produced over Bloomington Trinity and Quincy Notre Dame while the most lopsided win was over Eureka, 34-6.

The Irish placed five players on the all-Greater Peoria first team: tackle Ed Uranich (All-State and later to be the school's head football coach), All-State guard Tom Hecht, center Tex Weicherding, end Ed Dwyer and quarterback Harry Sonnemaker (team and city MVP). Named to the second team were guard Willie Densberger, tackle Hank Donnelly, halfback Tom Gorsage and fullback Ed Ritter.