Johnny Druze
| Sport(s) | Football |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
July 3, 1914 Newark, New Jersey |
| Died | December 27, 2005 (aged 91) Scottsdale, Arizona |
| Playing career | |
| 1936–1937 | Fordham |
| 1938 | Brooklyn Dodgers |
| Position(s) | End |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1956–1958 | Marquette |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 2–26–1 |
John F. "Johnny" Druze (July 3, 1914 – December 27, 2005) was an American football player and coach.
In 1936, Tim Cohane, Fordham University's publicist, discovered a newspaper clipping from 1930 paying tribute to Fordham's linemen by calling them the Seven Blocks of Granite. Cohane revived the nickname for the Rams' 1936 and 1937 lines, and it was this second version that gained the greatest renown.
Druze, who was known as "Tarzan", was the right end. He was captain of the 1937 team and was also its placekicker.
The 1936 Rams finished 5–1–2 and lost a possible Rose Bowl bid when they were upset by New York University at Yankee Stadium, 7–6, in the season's final game.
"That was always a blood game", Druze told Newsday in 1986, referring to the rivalry. "Forget about the records. It was like Purdue and Notre Dame."
Fordham's 1936 team shut out three opponents and gave up only 33 points. The 1937 Rams were 7–0–1 and held five opponents scoreless.
Druze's best-known teammate on the Seven Blocks of Granite was Vince Lombardi, the Pro Football Hall of Fame coach of the Green Bay Packers, who played right guard. But Alex Wojciechowicz, the All-American center and later a Hall of Fame player with the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles, was the star of the Fordham line.
The other linemen were right tackle Al Babartsky, who later shortened his name to Bart, and was, by his recollection, the biggest block at 6 foot 1 and 220 pounds; left guard Nat Pierce; left tackle Ed Franco; and left end Leo Paquin.
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