RIP John Isenbarger

[steubenhoosier 862]

One of the stars of the’67 Rose Bowl team.

All-American and IU football HOF

 

[Stuhoo 80,438]

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2024/03/08/indiana-hoosiers-football-hall-of-famer-john-isenbarger-dies-1968-rose-bowl-iu-muncie/72893470007/

He led the Hoosiers in rushing and punting for three straight years and was drafted in the second round by San Francisco and played four seasons with the 49ers.

After football, he went into a career in sales and lived in Fishers.

[rayl456 489]

Punt John Punt!!  And RIP.

[cthomas 6,412]

I'm not sure there has ever been a more exciting IU football team than the '67 Rose Bowl team. I was helping my dad harvest corn and listening to the IU / Purdue game on the radio. That goal line stand was incredible. I'm hoping that CCC can restore some of that magic.

[rayl456 489]

On 4/2/2024 at 5:46 PM, cthomas said:

I'm not sure there has ever been a more exciting IU football team than the '67 Rose Bowl team. I was helping my dad harvest corn and listening to the IU / Purdue game on the radio. That goal line stand was incredible. I'm hoping that CCC can restore some of that magic.

Terry Cole right up the gut twice for long td runs.  

[Dave from Dayton 3,151]

On 3/8/2024 at 11:17 AM, Stuhoo said:

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2024/03/08/indiana-hoosiers-football-hall-of-famer-john-isenbarger-dies-1968-rose-bowl-iu-muncie/72893470007/

He led the Hoosiers in rushing and punting for three straight years and was drafted in the second round by San Francisco and played four seasons with the 49ers.

After football, he went into a career in sales and lived in Fishers.

I remember clearly the '68 Rose Bowl and that '67-'68 season. RIP John I.

Arrived in Bloomington for my freshman year in late '69.  Had a speech class with Jade Butcher in it.  Heard waaay too much about Tartan Turf, Astro Turf, sports management, and why he wanted to coach etc.  But his talks were better than mine.

Had season tickets to football and basketball.  Protested against the Vietnam War.  Practiced for the Little 500 but was injured in practice while switching riders.  It was a long way from Briscoe to Swain calculus classes. Lot closer to the basketball Field House and the stadium...and the pool at midnight.

Far out! 

[cthomas 6,412]

2 hours ago, Dave from Dayton said:

I remember clearly the '68 Rose Bowl and that '67-'68 season. RIP John I.

Arrived in Bloomington for my freshman year in late '69.  Had a speech class with Jade Butcher in it.  Heard waaay too much about Tartan Turf, Astro Turf, sports management, and why he wanted to coach etc.  But his talks were better than mine.

Had season tickets to football and basketball.  Protested against the Vietnam War.  Practiced for the Little 500 but was injured in practice while switching riders.  It was a long way from Briscoe to Swain calculus classes. Lot closer to the basketball Field House and the stadium...and the pool at midnight.

Far out! 

Great memories for sure. I was at ISU as an undergraduate but was an IU fan from birth. ISU had astroturf on its football field and the IU team came to Terre Haute to practice on it. I wasn't on campus until graduate school in the spring of '76. All in all, a pretty good time to be there. I remember John I. had a tendency to take off running out of the punt formation. Thus the chant, " punt John punt". Great times.

[Hovadipo 55,735]

2 hours ago, cthomas said:

ISU had astroturf on its football field and the IU team came to Terre Haute to practice on it.

First stadium to have AstroTurf I believe. Maybe just the first CFB stadium?

[RoadRage 1,763]

Harry Gonzo to John Isenbarger for the touchdown! I remember rooting for him with the Niners too, sadly I never felt like Brodie looked for him enough! Wasn't OJ Simpson the running back for USC in our Rose Bowl game?

[cthomas 6,412]

37 minutes ago, RoadRage said:

Wasn't OJ Simpson the running back for USC in our Rose Bowl game?

Yes he was. As I remember, it was a close game. Maybe 14 to 3 off the top of my head. A pretty good defensive effort against a really talented offense by IU.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,524]

And USC led by Ron Yary on defense if I remember correctly.