Position: Quarterback
Years: 1925-1927
Place of Birth: Sulphur Springs, TX
Date of Birth: Jan 13, 1907
Place of Death: Dallas, TX
Date of Death: Jan 06, 1990
Jersey Number: 12
Height: 5-10
Weight: 160
High School: Sulphur Springs, TX (Sulphur Springs HS)
Hall of Fame coach Ray Morrison had brought football's "aerial circus" to Southern Methodist, bent upon finding new ways to make the passing game pay off. In the spring of 1927, Morrison decided he must find a left-handed quarterback. Gerald Mann, SMU's right-handed starter pondered the thought of being replaced. "Don't worry, coach," he told Morrison, "you'll have your southpaw next year." Sure enough, Mann reported to fall practice ready to throw lefty. And, according to Morrison, Mann completed a number of left-handed passes in crucial situations. Mann played an important role in SMU's Southwest Conference Title in 1926, when the team finished the regular season at 8-0-1. The perfect record was marred only by a 7-7 deadlock with Missouri. Mann, known as the "Little Red Arrow" because of his accurate, strong passing, was chosen for All-America recognition that year. The Mustangs lost only one Southwest Conference game during the years that Mann operated at quarterback. "I have seen no quarterback who could better pick a defense to pieces," Morrison said in praise of his double-armed threat. Following graduation from SMU, Gerald Mann earned a law degree from Harvard and later served as Secretary of State and Attorney General of the state of Texas.
