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Steve Sitko

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Steve Sitko
Personal information
Born(1917-11-18)November 18, 1917
Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.
DiedJanuary 8, 2003(2003-01-08) (aged 85)
Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High schoolCentral (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
CollegeNotre Dame (1937–1940)
PositionGuard
Career history
1940–1941Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
1941–1944Akron Collegians
1942–1943Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
1943–1944Dayton Bombers
1944Cleveland Allmen Transfers
1947–1948Akron Collegians
Career highlights and awards

Steven Joseph Sitko (November 16, 1917 – January 8, 2003) was an American football player for the University of Notre Dame, and a professional basketball player.

As a student at Fort Wayne Central High School, Sitko was best known for his basketball skills, earning the Gimbel Prize for scholastics and sportsmanship in 1936 and reaching the state finals.

Sitko became the starting quarterback at Notre Dame for two seasons, and would often confuse broadcasters when running Elmer Layden's "S" backfield, where all of the backs would be heavily involved in all aspects of the running and passing attack. His teams finished 8-1 (ranked #5) in 1938 and 7-2 (ranked #13) in 1939. He was named to the 1939 College Football All Polish-American Team.[1]

Although he was selected by the Washington Redskins in the 22nd round of the 1940 NFL draft,[2] Sitko chose instead to play in the National Basketball League for the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots. Meanwhile, his cousin Emil Sitko would have a stellar career at Notre Dame as a halfback under Frank Leahy.

Sitko was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Rosiak, A. J. (December 24, 1939). "In The Polish Colony". The Sunday Morning Star. p. 14. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  2. ^ "1940 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023.