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Bill Hollenback

Halfback

Inducted 1951

Date of Birth

2/22/1886

Birthplace

Blueball, PA

School

University of Pennsylvania (1904-1908)

Bio

Penn halfback Bill Hollenback had played the full 60 minutes of a bitterly contested game and limped back to the dressing room. A short time later it was discovered that Hollenback had played the better part of the game with a leg fracture, dislocations of both shoulders, shin splints and hip bruises. Thus was the toughness of football's Pioneer Era players - and Hollenback was undoubtedly one of the toughest. A hard-nosed running back, Hollenback opened and closed his playing career on national championship teams in 1904 and 1908, serving as the Penn captain as a senior. He started every game during the 1906, 1907 and 1908 campaigns and merited consensus All-America recognition in 1906 and 1908. And second-team status in 1907. (He skipped the 1905 season). Hollenback was head coach at Penn State, Missouri, Syracuse and Widener, then became a football official.