By Darin Lester Lautenschlaeger engineered the explosive offensive drives that established Tulane University as a premier national powerhouse. A master tactician at quarterback, he dictated the tempo of the legendary 1925 undefeated season and dominated defenses on both sides of the ball. From shattering opening-day records with a four-touchdown showcase to serving his community as a political leader, Lautenschlaeger cemented a legacy of excellence that lives forever in the heart of Louisiana sports history.
Unknown author – The Jambalaya 1925 (Tulane Univ. yearbook), p. 286
Football Bio
May 27, 1904 – New Orleans, Louisiana – Lester Lautenschlaeger was a quarterback for Tulane University from 1922 through the 1925 season, and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975 by the NFF.
He is also recognized in the Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. The 1925 season was a special one for the Tulane eleven, as they registered a 9-0-1 record; the lone blemish was a 6-6 tie against Mississippi. At the season opener against Louisiana College, Lautenschlaeger scored four touchdowns as the Wave rolled to a 77-0 victory.
Lester was the Tulane Green Wave’s first All-American in 1925. Mr. Lautenschaeger went on to serve as an assistant coach at Tulane and, after graduation, as a Louisiana State Representative.
Conclusion
Lester Lautenschlaeger sets the foundational standard for Tulane Green Wave athletics through his dynamic leadership and unmatched versatility on the gridiron. He remains a towering historical figure who effortlessly transitioned from his record-breaking playing days into a brilliant ten-season coaching tenure and a lifetime of dedicated public service. By capturing the program’s inaugural All-America honor and guiding the historic 1925 squad to undefeated glory, “The Little Dutchman” occupies an immortalized status in the annals of Southern football history.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in the Class of 1975.
- Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame: Inaugural member, inducted in 1977.
- Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1983.
- Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1980.
- Tulane’s First All-American: Earned Third-Team All-America honors from Grantland Rice for Collier’s Weekly in 1925.
- Undefeated 1925 Season: Quarterbacked the Green Wave to a historic 9-0-1 record.
- Single-Game Record Holder: Became the first Tulane player to score four touchdowns in a single game (September 26, 1925, against Louisiana College).
- School Punt Return Record: Scored two of his four opening-day touchdowns on punt returns during the 77-0 rout of Louisiana College.
- 95-Yard Touchdown Run: Executed a spectacular 95-yard touchdown run against North Carolina during his 1922 rookie campaign.
- Championship Coach: Co-coached Tulane to an SEC Championship tie and a victory in the inaugural 1935 Sugar Bowl.