Frank Steketee
Frank Steketee cropped from 1921 Michigan football team photograph
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| Michigan Wolverines | |
|---|---|
| Position | Halfback |
| Class | Graduate |
| Career history | |
| College | Michigan (1918–1921) |
| Personal information | |
| Date of birth | April 26, 1900 |
| Place of birth | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| Date of death | December 26, 1951 (aged 51) |
| Place of death | Lansing, Michigan |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Frank W. Steketee (April 26, 1900 – December 26, 1951) was an All American football halfback and fullback who played with the University of Michigan Wolverines in 1918, 1920, and 1921. As a freshman in 1918, he was the team's only All-American, scored three touchdowns and kicked three extra points in his first game, and led the Wolverines to an undefeated national championship season. He was regarded as one of the best kickers in football at the time and reportedly once kicked a 100-yard punt.
Steketee was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was the son of prominent Grand Rapids businessman Jacob Steketee. Steketee was a star athlete at Grand Rapids Central High School.
After graduating from high school, Steketee attended the University of Michigan, where he became known as "Stek." He played halfback and fullback for Fielding H. Yost's Michigan Wolverines football teams in 1918, 1920, and 1921, missing the 1919 season due to military service during World War I.
Though he was a skilled runner and "line-plunger," Steketee was principally known for his punting and place kicking. There are press accounts of Steketee once having kicked a record 100-yard punt. According to one account: “I remember The Saturday Evening Post doing a writeup on U. of M. It told how Frank Steketee stood behind his own goal posts and made a punt which was picked up by the opposing team behind their goal posts.” “As a result of his prodigious field goals, Stek is given credit for Michigan victories over Syracuse, Illinois and Minnesota.”
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