Gerhard H. “Ger” Schwedes, the Syracuse College standout who helped lead the Orange to their solely nationwide soccer championship, died Aug. 23 at his residence in Fayetteville, N.Y. He was 88.
Schwedes was born April 23, 1938, in Freiburg, Germany, and raised in Ulm. His father was a German Military officer who spent a part of World Conflict II as a prisoner of battle. The household moved to New Jersey when Schwedes was 12.
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Schwedes recalled taking shelter from Allied air raids and seeing the consequences of the battle round him in a 2020 interview. The Syracuse obituary stated American troopers had given youngsters in his village an American soccer, an expertise that later influenced his path into the game.
Schwedes acquired just one faculty soccer supply, from Syracuse. He grew to become a beginning halfback in 1957 and in addition performed security and quarterback. He was an All-American and Educational All-American and was named a Nationwide Soccer Basis Scholar-Athlete in 1959.
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As a senior in 1959, Schwedes captained Syracuse to a 10-0 regular-season report and a berth within the Cotton Bowl — the place he cemented his place at school historical past.
Within the Jan. 1, 1960 sport in opposition to Texas, Schwedes threw an 87-yard landing go to Ernie Davis on Syracuse’s third play from scrimmage. He later scored on a three-yard run as Syracuse received, 23-14, finishing an undefeated season and securing the nationwide championship. It stays the one NCAA soccer championship in Syracuse historical past.
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Schwedes completed ninth within the 1959 Heisman Trophy voting and performed within the Senior Bowl. In November 1959, the newly fashioned Boston Patriots chosen him within the first-ever American Soccer League draft. He was additionally drafted by the NFL’s Baltimore Colts, however performed all 10 of his skilled video games within the AFL with the New York Titans (the forerunner to immediately’s Jets) and Patriots from 1960-61.
Schwedes later served within the U.S. Military, rising to captain. He was inducted into the Better Syracuse Sports activities Corridor of Fame in 2014. He’s survived by two sons, two brothers and 5 grandchildren. His son Scott performed 4 seasons within the NFL with the Miami Dolphins as a large receiver and returner.
