Jack Scarbath

Football

College Football Hall of Famer Jack Scarbath Passes Away

The 1983 inductee from Maryland was 90.

Jack Scarbath, a 1983 College Football Hall of Fame inductee who played at the University of Maryland  from 1950-52, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 6. He was 90.

"Jack Scarbath was one of the best players in Maryland history," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "A Heisman runner-up and unanimous All-American, he will definitely be remembered as an all-time great. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."

Scarbath, who graduated from the University of Maryland in 1952, was extremely successful during his time as a Terp, putting together a 24-4-1 record and running Hall of Fame Head Coach Jim Tatum's Split-T offense in the early 1950s.

In 1951, Scarbath led Maryland to a 28-13 upset of National Champion Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl. In 1952, Scarbath was honored with unanimous First-Team All-America honors and was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. He was also selected as the Southern Conference's Player of the Year and named MVP of the East-West Shrine Game. He was inducted into the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984.

Scarbath was selected third overall in the 1953 NFL Draft by Washington. He played the 1955 season with the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League before returning to the NFL to finish out his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers the following season.

Scarbath, who was born in Baltimore and played football at Baltimore Poly, also played lacrosse for Maryland. A Terp through and through, Scarbath was also a member of the University of Maryland's Board of Regents. 

An industrial engineering major, he started a business selling abrasive materials and retired in 1992. He was also a celebrated artist, carving waterfowl of all shapes and sizes.
 
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