By Darin How does a lineman end up with the stat line of a star running back? For Alex Agase, the answer was simple: relentless pursuit and a knack for the big play. A rare three-time All-American who earned those honors at two different Big Ten schools, Agase was a defensive powerhouse and a scoring threat from the trenches. From stealing the ball mid-play to coaching the next generation of legends, Agase’s journey from the Chicago shipyards to the College Football Hall of Fame is a testament to the “Ironman” era of the gridiron.
Football Bio
March 27, 1922 – Chicago, Illinois – The stalwart Purdue guard of the seasons of 1941-1943 and 1946, Alex Agase was born. The FootballFoundation.org tells us that, though he was the starting right guard in the lineup, he had stats that running backs would be proud of.
Playing for Illinois against Minnesota in 1942, he scored two touchdowns. On the first, he stole the ball from Bill Daley and ran 38 yards to the goal line. On the second, he recovered Vic Kulbitski’s fumble. This was only the second time in history that a guard scored two touchdowns in a game. He was a defensive stud, credited with 22 tackles against Great Lakes in 1942.
Alex earned All-America status in 1942. He played at Purdue as a Marine Trainee in 1943 and again made All-America. He returned to play at Illinois in 1946, was All-America a third time, and the Big 10’s Most Valuable Player. Alex Agase received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1963. Agase played pro football 1947-53 and was on three championship teams with the Cleveland Browns. He then went on to be the Northwestern head coach from 1964-72 and the Purdue head coach from 1973-76. The Football Writers Association named him national coach of the year in 1970.
Conclusion
Alex Agase’s career is one of the most unique in football history, marked by his ability to dominate at every level of the game. He remains one of the very few players to earn All-American honors at two different major universities—Illinois and Purdue—while serving his country as a Marine during World War II. Whether he was scoring touchdowns as a guard or leading Northwestern and Purdue from the sidelines as a National Coach of the Year, Agase’s impact on the Big Ten was profound. His 1963 induction into the College Football Hall of Fame stands as a permanent tribute to a man who lived and breathed the game for over six decades.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1963.
- 3× First-Team All-American: 1942 (Illinois), 1943 (Purdue), and 1946 (Illinois).
- Big Ten Most Valuable Player: 1946 (Chicago Tribune Silver Football winner).
- 3× AAFC/NFL Champion: Member of the legendary Cleveland Browns dynasty (1948, 1949, 1950).
- FWAA National Coach of the Year: 1970 (Northwestern).
- Big Ten Coach of the Year: 1970.
- Scoring Guard Record: One of only two guards in history to score two touchdowns in a single game (vs. Minnesota, 1942).
- Head Coaching Legacy: Served as head coach for Northwestern (1964–1972) and Purdue (1973–1976).
- Marine Corps Veteran: Played for Purdue as part of the Marine V-12 program during WWII.
