Sam Francis

Sam Francis is one of the greatest athletes in Husker sports history. Not only did Francis place runner-up in the Heisman Trophy to Yale’s Larry Kelley in 1936, but he also placed fourth in the shot put at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Francis is one of only four athletes to be named a First-Team All-American in both football and track.

Since Thursday is Veterans Day, Saturday will be Nebraska's annual Veterans/Military Salute, giving the Athletic Department another opportunity to honor our nation's heroes.

Lincoln -- Former Nebraska two-sport All-American Sam Francis died in his sleep at his home in Springfield, Mo., on Tuesday morning. He was 88. One of the finest two-sport athletes to ever compete at Nebraska, Francis was an All-American in both football and track and field during his Husker career. As a fullback for the Nebraska football team, Francis claimed All-America honors as a senior, while finishing second in voting for the Heisman Trophy, trailing only Yale's Larry Kelley. Francis also helped Coach Dana X. Bible's team to a Big Six title with a perfect 5-0 conference mark and a 7-2 overall record, while finishing ninth in the final Associated Press rankings. Francis lettered for the Husker football team in 1934, 1935 and 1936, helping the Huskers to a 19-7 overall record and a pair of Big Six titles. He was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 1972 and the National Football Foundation/College Football Hall of Fame in 1977. His brother, Vike Francis, also lettered in football at Nebraska in 1939 and 1940. After his college career, Francis played in the East-West Shrine Game and the College All-Star Game before being selected as the No. 1 overall pick of Philadelphia in the 1937 NFL Draft. He played the 1937 and 1938 seasons with the Chicago Bears, before splitting time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Brooklyn Dodgers in 1939. He finished his professional career with the Dodgers after the 1940 season. Along with his achievements on the gridiron, Francis earned All-America honors as a shot putter for the Nebraska track and field team, before capturing fourth place in the shot put at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Francis, who lettered as a member of the track and field team in 1935, 1936 and 1937, won the 1937 NCAA shot put title after finishing second in the event in 1936. The two-time All-American also won a pair of Big Six Indoor

Harrison Samuel "Sam" Francis (October 26, 1913 – April 23, 2002) was an American football player and coach, Olympic shot putter, and Army officer.