Injuries that ruin a season and Indiana University football just seem to go together.
Conversing with Munster native Glenn Scolnik, one of many football greats who will be attending Munster High School’s reunion this weekend to celebrate 50 years of football, reminded me of how quickly a program can go south because of key injuries.
Last season, after quarterback Nate Sudfeld suffered a season-ending injury, the Hoosiers turned a 3-2 start into a 4-7 finish. That’s not exactly a unique problem for IU, which has frequently been sabotaged by a lack of depth.
Scolnik, who played for John Pont at IU, suffered through a nearly identical collapse in 1972. It was a bittersweet experience for the talented wide receiver, who had 53 catches for 727 yards and six touchdowns.
His career highlight came with three touchdowns and a two-point conversion in a 35-34 victory at Kentucky, which triggered a 4-1 start.
“That was my most productive game,” he said. “What made it even more special is that my mother and sister drove down to Lexington to see it.”
“We had one of the best passing offenses in the country. Then, our quarterback Ted McNulty and wide receiver Charlie Byrnes got hurt the week of the Ohio State game.”
Without the three-year starter taking snaps, the suddenly rudderless Hoosiers were crushed by the Buckeyes 44-7. They slumped to a 5-6 season, which finished Pont, whose credits included Indiana’s only Rose Bowl appearance in 1968. He bolted for Northwestern and Lee Corso was entrusted with picking up the pieces.
Scolnik starred in three sports at Munster, where he was part of the school’s third graduating class. That included baseball, which remains his favorite sport.
“Pitching and catching (a football) were my favorite athletic activities,” he said. “I wanted to try baseball at IU, but Pont didn’t want me to miss spring football.”
Life after IU included being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round. He spent the entire 1973 season with Hall of Fame coach Chuck Noll, who collected four Super Bowl victories in Pittsburgh.
Scolnik was one of three rookies, but he seldom played. He was one of four wide receivers on the team before the Steelers drafted future Hall of Famers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth for the 1974 season.
“All four of us (wide receivers) from the previous season got traded,” said Scolnik, who opted for law school instead of joining the New York Giants. “They wanted to pay me full salary and keep me on the taxi squad, but they were a mess. I think they only won two games (the Giants went 2-12 in 1974).”
Scolnik tried Calgary in the Canadian Football League in 1975 and also spent half a season with the Hamilton Tiger Cats. He was later invited to the Bears camp by coach Jack Pardee before permanently turning his back on football.
He grew up a Bears fan, but has lived in Indianapolis since 1978. Which explains his growing allegiance to the Colts.
“After a while, you adopt a new team,” he said.
The Munster reunion weekend starts with Friday’s football opener against Lake Central and includes Saturday’s golf outing and dinner.
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“It’s a pretty big deal,” Scolnik said. “I think we’ll have 18 from my graduating class.”
He’ll be exchanging war stories with former teammates like Mike Adley (Scolnik served as best man at his wedding), Tom Dixon, Jim Eidam, Rudy Higgins and former Michigan stars Larry and Keith Johnson
Scolnik is making the trip to Munster with Bob Grand, who coincidentally will be inducted into the Munster Hall of Fame (nonathletic) on the same weekend..
“Bob was our student-manager starting in eighth grade, which is unprecedented,” said John Friend, who coached Munster for the first 15 years before turning the program over to Leroy Marsh in 1980. Both are Hall of Famers, as is Scolnik.
Unquestionably, Friend was a major influence.
“I’ve played for a lot of coaches, but never a better one,” Scolnik said. “Coach Friend set the standard for excellence. He had opportunities to leave the area, but his family came first. I was lucky to hook up with him.”
This reunion serves as a reminder that there are many, many reasons to take pride in Northwest Indiana.
John Mutka is a freelance writer for the Post-Tribune.