Bill Corbus

Bio

There were nine sophomores in Stanford's varsity lineup in 1933, a group called the "Vow Boys" because as freshmen they had promised never to lose a game to arch rival Southern California. They never did, but it took senior guard Bill Corbus to win the first encounter for them. Bill's two second-half field goals gave Stanford a 13-7 victory over USC in the 1933 meeting. Corbus and his teammates completed the vow by beating the Trojans the next two years (16-0 and 3-0). Corbus was the steadying influence when the "Vow Boys" were sophomores. They called him the "Baby Faced Assassin." Although he stood 5-11, and weighed 195-pounds, Bill had a low-slung build which helped him upend opposing players. He was hailed as the finest pulling guard of his era and received consensus All-America recognition in his junior and senior seasons. Like so many great athletes, Bill exercised as much discipline in the classroom as he did on the gridiron. He was an honor student and president of the student body. Stanford posted a 21-8-4 record during his three varsity seasons. Corbus graduated magna cum laude from Stanford and was student body president. He joined the A&P grocery chain and rose to the rank of vice-chairman. The Stanford Athletic Board awarded him its Distinguished Achievement Medal in 1978. His high school in Vallejo, California, named a stadium for him.

Career Highlights

• 1933 Consensus All-America
• 1932 Consensus All-America
• 1931 Second Team All-America