By Darin Can one man really be a team’s most bruising blocker and its most accurate kicker? Augie Lio didn’t just play for Georgetown; he defined an era of Hoya dominance that saw a staggering 23-game winning streak. A rare “double threat” in the trenches, Lio possessed the brute strength to move defensive lines and the finesse to split the uprights from distance. When legendary sportswriter Grantland Rice calls your performance the “greatest exhibition of power and skill” he ever saw, you aren’t just a football player—you’re a gridiron legend. From the streets of East Boston to the College Football Hall of Fame, this is the story of the man who nearly beat Boston College single-handedly.
Football Bio
April 30, 1918 – East Boston, Massachusetts – Georgetown University’s tough guard, Augie Lio, was born. According to his bio on the NFF’s website, he was known as a bruising blocker and acclaimed for his uncanny accuracy as a place kicker. In both of these capacities, Es Agostine “Augie” Lio was a valuable asset to the Georgetown Hoyas.
Beginning in the fall of 1938, Lio’s first year on the team, Georgetown started out on a 23-game winning streak. Boston College unfortunately ended the Hoyas’ winning streak in the narrowest of margins… The game had started great as Lio scored the first 10 points virtually by himself. He led the team to the first touchdown by executing key blocks, kicking the extra point, and adding a field goal soon afterward. Despite his efforts, the team went down to defeat, 19-18.
Lio’s potent performance spurred writer Grantland Rice to write, “It was the greatest all-around exhibition of power, skill, deception, and spirit that I ever saw. Lio booted the early field goal with the ease of a pro.” Lio received All-America honors before going on to play professional football. Augie Lio’s collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame after his induction in 1979.
Conclusion
Augie Lio remains the gold standard for versatility in the pre-specialization era of football. His ability to anchor a line that protected the quarterback while simultaneously serving as the team’s primary scoring threat via his toe is a feat rarely seen in the modern game. While the narrow loss to Boston College ended a historic streak, Lio’s individual brilliance in that contest cemented his national reputation. His professional career and eventual induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979 serve as a permanent reminder of a time when the “tough guys” in the middle were also the most skilled players on the field.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1979.
- First-Team All-American: 1940.
- Georgetown Athletic Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1953.
- Historic Winning Streak: Anchored the Hoyas during a 23-game undefeated stretch (1938–1940).
- Orange Bowl Participant: Led Georgetown to the 1941 Orange Bowl.
- Pro Career: Played 5 seasons in the NFL with the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and Boston Yanks.
- All-Pro Selection: Named a first-team All-Pro in the NFL (1941).
- Grantland Rice Citation: Cited for the “greatest all-around exhibition” in his famous coverage of the 1940 BC-Georgetown game.
- Versatility Specialist: One of the few linemen in history to serve as a primary placekicker and leading scorer.