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John Tavener

Center

Inducted 1990

Date of Birth

1/10/1921

Birthplace

Newark, OH

School

Indiana University (1941-1944)

Bio

John Tavener was a four-time letterman at Indiana, was captain for two years, 1943-1944, and was elected Most Valuable Player on the team for two years, 1943-1944. In 1944, he called offensive signals while playing center. He backed up the line on defense and place- kicked extra points. He made the consensus All-America team in 1944. Under the unusual rules of the time, Tavener played in three College All-Star Games, 1944-1945-1946. He scored a touchdown by recovering a fumble in the 1944 game. After college, Tavener entered the banking business in Ohio. He was in it 38 years, retiring in 1986. In 1987, at age 64, he became a volunteer coach for Denison University in Granville, Ohio. Denison used a single-wing offense, and Tavener coached the centers, using the long-snap to the tailback as he had been taught 40 years previously.