MORE ON HIRSCH'S DEATH: 'He had a magic about him'
8:17 AM 1/29/04
Tom Mulhern Wisconsin State Journal

After the 1978 NCAA hockey tournament semifinal game was over, the University of Wisconsin fans spilled outside, clogging the streets around the Providence Civic Center. <

The UW band started an impromptu concert across the street from the arena, attracting most of the estimated 3,000 Badgers fans at the game. And there, in front of the crowd, leading the cheers, was athletic director Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch. <

"He was the guy always spurring us on to do that," UW band director Mike Leckrone said. <

"He was always there leading the cheers and patting people on the back." <

When the crowd grew too large and started to snarl traffic, Hirsch went into a nearby tavern and plunked down several hundred dollars, according to Leckrone and other witnesses, telling the bartender to buy beer for anybody wearing red until the money ran out, while the crowd partied into the night. <

It should be noted that all this happened after the defending national champion Badgers lost, getting soundly thrashed 5-2 by Boston University. But that was Hirsch, who was at his best and happiest when surrounded by Badgers fans - win or lose. <

"He always made it fun," Leckrone said. <

The story of that night in Providence, R.I., was one of many recalled by Hirsch's friends after the news that he had died on Wednesday morning at the age of 80. <

Most of the stories revolved around the connection that existed between Hirsch and UW fans. Hirsch was like a Pied Piper to the Badgers faithful, entertaining the older ones with stories and the younger ones with magic tricks. <

"It didn't make any difference where you went," said Palmer "Butch" Strickler, a long-time UW booster. "You just walk in a place and all the focus of attention was on him, right now." <

Wayne Esser, the executive director of the Mendota Gridiron Club, which is the UW football booster club, was fielding telephone calls about Hirsch from newspapers from Los Angeles to small Wisconsin towns. "You could not believe how the people loved him," Esser said. <

Such was the far-flung appeal of Hirsch, who appeared in three movies - including playing himself in "Crazylegs" in 1953 - following his legendary football career and could fit in anywhere from Hollywood to rural Wisconsin. <

But Hirsch, who was born in Wausau, never lost his small-town roots that appealed so much to Wisconsin residents. <

"He had that great personality, and his fame that went with it," Esser said. "People recognized him. But he was a small-town boy." <

Hirsch played only one year at UW in 1942 as a triple-threat halfback, before entering the Marine Corps during World War II and transferring to Michigan. He later went on to star in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams. <

But Hirsch, who used to sign autographs with the phrase "always a Badger," said his heart always belonged in Wisconsin. <

He returned to the UW as athletic director in 1969, at a time when the athletic department was $200,000 in debt and the football team had gone 0-19-1 over the previous two seasons. <

Hirsch went around the state, selling the Badgers through the sheer force of his personality. <

"When he was here, the toughest times, there wasn't anybody in the world that could have done a better job," Esser said. <

Hirsch started a campaign to "Get the red out," and helped increase attendance at football games from an average per game of 43,000 to 70,000 in just four years. <

"The first place he started was the students," Strickler said. "He went down State Street and shook hands. From there, he went to the business people. That's how he started to fill the stadiums." <

When the football team snapped a 23-game winless streak with a 23-17 victory over Iowa in 1969, Hirsch joined celebrating students at campus bars. <

Although the football and basketball teams never enjoyed much success in Hirsch's 18 years as athletic director, the hockey team captured four national titles. <

"He always looked at us, 'Hey, we've got one mainstay program that's really doing the job, thank you for that,' " said former UW hockey coach Jeff Sauer, who was hired by Hirsch in 1982. <

However, Hirsch's biggest disappointment, according to friends, was that the football team never made it to the Rose Bowl under his watch. <

"I think the struggles that football had over the course of time really wore on him quite a bit because he was a football player and a football fan at heart," Sauer said. <

Yet it was Hirsch, more than anybody else, who was responsible for getting the excitement to return to Camp Randall Stadium. The football team had only six winning seasons and went to three minor bowls during his tenure as athletic director, but the school ranked among the nation's leaders in attendance for much of the 1970s. <

That's why Leckrone believes Hirsch's legacy is on display at every home football game, from the antics of the student section to the band taking the field for the Fifth Quarter. <

"I think his legacy is the spirit that we see at Wisconsin games, that attitude that it's supposed to be a fun event and we want to win, but it's not the most important thing," Leckrone said. "He had a magic about him. I can't put it any other way."

Hirsch lives on with Crazylegs Classic
Former University of Wisconsin athletic director Elroy Hirsch never missed a running of the Crazylegs Classic, the annual race that is named after him and draws thousands of runners and walkers to downtown Madison every spring. <

Not only was Hirsch always at the starting line on the Capitol Square, he also stuck around at the finish inside Camp Randall Stadium, slapping hands with participants until the last straggler crossed the line. <

"He'd be there giving them high-fives to the point his hands would get sore," said Tom Grantham, one of the original race organizers. <

Still, due to Hirsch's failing health, there were concerns going into last year's event about whether he would be able to make an appearance. <

Hirsch was only expected to show up at the starting line, while riding in a red Cadillac convertible. But he surprised everybody by insisting on getting out of the car and talking to the runners. <

"Elroy always knew when he was in the spotlight," joked Terry Murawski, the executive director of the National W Club. <

That marked the last appearance at the race by Hirsch, who died Wednesday morning at the age of 80. <

There will definitely be something missing at this year's 23rd annual Crazylegs, which has become one of the rites of spring here and will continue without Hirsch. <

"It'll certainly be a different one and a special one," Murawski said. "I see no reason why the race should not go on as long as I'm around. Certainly it will be a goal." <

Hirsch always had a special place in his heart for the race that was named after him. <

"Of all the things that Elroy was around, I think that was one of his favorites, probably because it was his namesake and it started (in 1982) while he was athletic director," Murawski said. <

Grantham, a former UW football player, conceived of the race with a couple of running buddies and also came up with the name. <

"I said, 'You know what would be a good name? Why don't we call it Crazylegs?' - out of the blue," Grantham said. "I'm not that smart (but) the name popped up. I said I'll talk to Elroy and see what he thinks." <

Hirsch agreed to lend his name to the race, which grew beyond anyone's wildest dreams. The race has raised more than $2 million for the UW athletic department, including some years when money was extremely tight. <

"There was a time when that money was, I would use the word critical, because of the financial situation of the department," Murawski said. <

Grantham said the Crazylegs Classic is as strong as ever, with new features on the horizon following the stadium renovation. Starting in 2005, there are plans to show each runner crossing the finish line on the giant replay board that will be installed in the stadium. <

Of course, it will be hard to replace the thrill of a high-five from Hirsch. Still, the race will continue to honor the memory of a beloved sports icon in the state. <

"It's a sad thing about life, when we leave this world, some of us are forgotten more quickly than others," Murawski said. "Certainly, Elroy will be remembered longer than most of us. But something like the Crazylegs run will carry his legacy well into the future."

Hirsch displayed lots of star power in NFL
HOUSTON - When he first met Elroy Hirsch in 1951, Mike McCormack was a rookie offensive lineman for the New York Yanks, and Hirsch was already one of the NFL's brightest stars. But when McCormack arrived in Los Angeles for his first NFL Pro Bowl, Hirsch was drawn to him immediately. <

"He kind of took care of me," McCormack recalled from his home outside San Diego after learning of Hirsch's death Wednesday. "I was a 21-year-old rookie back then, and it was the first time I'd ever spent any time in Los Angeles. I don't think there are many stars - especially one of his caliber - that would pal around with a rookie offensive lineman. He was a great ambassador for all of football." <

Word of Hirsch's death spread quickly through Super Bowl XXXVIII, and McCormack, who like Hirsch is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was among a host of NFL types who fondly remembered him as a great player who redefined the game. <

"Elroy Hirsch was a big star in a town of stars," NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said in a statement. "He was an electrifying player who brought a lot of glamour to the NFL." <

Hirsch came to the NFL after three seasons with the Chicago Rockets of the rival All-America Football Conference, and joining the Los Angeles Rams proved to be the perfect fit. Not only did Hirsch play in an offense that was ahead of its time - led by Hirsch, fellow receiver Tom Fears and quarterback Bob Waterfield - but he also went to a city tailor-made for his personality. <

After moving from halfback to receiver, Hirsch had his best season in 1951, when he led the league in receptions (66), yards (1,495), yards per catch (22.7) and touchdowns (17) and the Rams won the NFL title. <

McCormack, a former team president for the Carolina Panthers, said Hirsch "was one of the first receivers to catch the ball and run away from people. He was the standard-setter for receivers who, after they caught the ball, would turn into halfbacks and would take it further." <

Veteran Sports Illustrated writer Paul Zimmerman called Hirsch "a glimpse into the future. He was as great as they got. They didn't come any greater than that. He could do it all." <

But Hirsch's style off the field also made him perfect for Hollywood - he eventually starred in three movies - and allowed the NFL to expand its popularity. <

"When he went out to Los Angeles, the game had come to the West Coast for the first time, and it was he and Tom Fears that brought a real star power to the NFL," said Joe Horrigan, vice president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "He had star power to go with his skills. Obviously that sells well in a lot of places, but it was huge in Los Angeles." <

Gil Brandt, the Dallas Cowboys' vice president of player personnel from 1960 through 1989, got his start in the league because Hirsch got him a job with the Rams. <

"We knew each other in Wisconsin, so he got me doing some part-time scouting for the Rams when he was a player there," said Brandt, a Wisconsin native who now works for the NFL as a consultant. "He was a tremendous guy. A real legend." - Jason Wilde

Hirsch was a star in Hollywood, too
You've seen or heard of his exploits on the football field, been on the Madison street named after him, maybe run in his race. <

But how's your knowledge of Elroy Hirsch, the actor? <

As a professional athlete in Los Angeles, Hirsch had ample opportunities, with his leading-man looks and high profile, to do television and films. <

In 1955, Hirsch played the lead role, a prisoner named Steve Davitt, in "Unchained," the story of life in a state prison in Chino, Calif. The movie featured Barbara Hale, and is probably best known for the debut of the song "Unchained Melody," which was nominated for an Oscar but didn't win. <

The 1953 film "Crazylegs" was an autobiographical picture in which Hirsch starred as himself, featuring many of his Rams teammates and a wealth of newsreel footage. <

He also appeared in the thriller "Zero Hour!" (1957) as Capt. Bill Wilson, a pilot on a routine flight gone bad after food poisoning strikes the crew members. <

The film, which also starred Dana Andrews and Sterling Hayden, was spoofed by UW-Madison graduates Jim Abraham, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker in their riotous parody, "Airplane!" <

Andrews played a pilot named Ted Stryker; Robert Hays played Ted Striker in "Airplane!" Hayden's Stryker says the line, "I guess I picked the wrong week to give up smoking," later uttered, with some alterations, by Lloyd Bridges in "Airplane!" <

Hirsch also appeared as himself on television shows several times, most notably in "The Munsters" in 1965, in an episode called "Herman the Rookie," in which Herman Munster is signed to play baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers. <

Despite being in his 30s when "Crazylegs" was made, Hirsch played himself as a high school student-athlete, including a scene in which he engages in a bit of a contentious discussion with his parents regarding his choice of college. <

At one point, his mother, played by Joan Vohs, says: "You should go where you want to go." <

To which Hirsch replies: "If I'm gonna play football anywhere, it's got to be Wisconsin!" <

None of the films in which Hirsch appeared are available on DVD or VHS. "The Munsters" episode that features Hirsch is out on VHS, in a compilation of episodes. <

Information compiled from imdb.com, amazon.com and blackstar.com.

Elroy Hirsch timeline
1923: Hirsch is born June 17, 1923, in Wausau, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Hirsch. Raised in Wausau. <

1941: He graduates from Wausau High School and is praised as one of the greatest prep athletes in the history of the Wisconsin Valley League. <

1942: He comes to the UW and plays football for the Badgers. Hirsch leads the Badgers in rushing, passing, kick returns and interceptions. <

On Oct. 17, Hirsch is first tagged with the nickname "Crazylegs" after a 61-yard touchdown run at Soldier Field in Chicago. A reporter from the Chicago Daily News is credited with giving him the nickname. <

In track and field, he wins the Amateur Athletics Union state title in the long jump and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, which is accepted as the world record. <

Hirsch, a lieutenant in the Marine Corps, is ordered to transfer to the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor to start basic training. <

1943: He competes at Michigan and becomes the first person to letter in four sports in one season at the school. Besides football, he plays baseball and basketball and competes in track and field. <

1946: He scores both touchdowns for the College All-Stars and is named MVP as the All-Stars beat the Los Angeles Rams 16-0 at Soldier Field. <

He joins the Chicago Rockets of the All-America Football Conference. <

He marries Ruth Stahmer. They have two children during their marriage, a son, Winn, and a daughter, Patty. <

1948: He suffers a skull injury while playing for the Rockets that nearly ends of his career. <

1949: Hirsch joins the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. <

He receives a bachelor's degree from Baldwin-Wallace (Ohio). <

1951: He leads the Rams to their first NFL championship, setting league records for receptions (66), receiving yards (1,495) and touchdowns (17). <

1953: The story of Hirsch's life, "Crazylegs" is released as a movie. <

1955: He appears in the movie "Unchained." <

1957: Hirsch retires from pro football after nine seasons in the NFL. <

He appears in the film "Zero Hour!" <

After his retirement, he accepts a position with Union Oil Co. in Los Angeles. <

1960: He becomes general manager of the Rams. <

1965: Hirsch is inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. <

1968: He is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. <

1969: He returns to Wisconsin to become athletic director at UW. <

His No. 40 is retired by UW, and he is named to the school's all-time football team. <

1973: He sues S.C. Johnson and Son of Racine over the use of his nickname for a women's shaving gel. <

1974: He becomes a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. <

1975: Hirsch is considered for the athletic director's position at the University of Hawaii. He turns the job down. <

1976: Hirsch hires Bill Cofield, the first black men's basketball coach in the Big Ten Conference. <

1977: Hirsch is inducted into the Madison Sports Hall of Fame. <

Rep. Richard Pabst, a state assemblyman from Milwaukee, calls for Hirsch's firing due to his inability to produce winning football and basketball programs. <

John Jardine resigns under pressure after just one winning season in his nearly eight years as UW football coach. Hirsch hires Dave McClain to succeed Jardine as football coach. <

1980: Hirsch admits that an alumnus of the university may have committed a recruiting violation in the football program. <

1982: Cofield resigns under pressure after producing one winning season during his tenure. <

The first Crazylegs Run is held. <

1983: Hirsch goes on a Caribbean cruise in the midst of hiring Cofield's replacement. Bob Donewald of Illinois State rejects the offer and Ken Anderson of UW-Eau Claire accepts, but changes his mind two days later. Steve Yoder of Ball State finally accepts the job. A storm of criticism swirls around the UW Athletic Department because of Hirsch's absence. <

The football program comes under fire again as new instances of recruiting violations are alleged. <

1984: Hirsch is inducted into the University of Michigan's Hall of Honor. <

1985: Hirsch comes under fire for participating in the statewide raffle organized by Palmer "Butch" Strickler and for giving away sides of beef and other perks to friends. Chancellor Irving Shain is persuaded by Gov. Anthony Earl not to fire Hirsch. <

1986: McClain dies of a heart attack. Jim Hilles, McClain's assistant, is named interim coach. After the 1986 football season, Hirsch hires Don Morton as football coach, bypassing Hilles. <

1987: On June 30, Hirsch retires as athletic director. He is succeeded by Ade Sponberg. The day before Hirsch's retirement, a resolution is passed in the state legislature praising him for the job he did as athletic director. One senator, Michael Ellis of Neenah, refuses to sign on, saying Hirsch did a "lousy job." <

Hirsch joins WTMJ radio in Milwaukee as a UW football commentator. <

He is criticized for appearing in a commercial with then UW football coach Don Morton, promoting a brand of beer to raise money for an indoor practice facility. <

1990: Hirsch is enshrined as one of the inaugural members of the UW Athletic Hall of Fame. <

2000: He is admitted to Meriter Hospital for tests. No further information is made available. <

2003: Hirsch attends his final Crazylegs Classic April 26. <

2004: Hirsch dies of natural causes Jan. 28 at age 80. Sources: Wisconsin State Journal archives. Research by Ron Larson, State Journal library director