United States Naval Academy Roger Staubach Jersey

Object Details

wearer

Staubach, Roger

Eddie Leonard Sporting Good Company

Description

This dark blue football jersey with three quarter length sleeves belonged to Roger Staubach and was worn during his final college football game at the United States Naval Academy. There are gold numbers on the back and front of the jersey, as well as the player's name, "Staubach", also in gold on the back of the jersey. "Navy" is on each shoulder and an of an Indian's head is located on each sleeve (could be Chinese Bandit caricature). The jersey is from the 1964 Army-Navy Game (when the United States Military Academy plays the United States Naval Academy in football). The game was the last game of Roger Staubach's collegiate career. Staubach had never lost to Navy in his career; however, a powerful Army pass rush would consistently pressure him, creating a safety in the first 53 seconds. Army would hold on to defeat Navy 11-8.

The unusual uniform design is the handiwork of Navy head coach Wayne Hardin who brought an unusual "in-your-face" coaching style to the typically reserved Naval Academy. Ever since Hardin's first season (1959) he would outfit his team is specialized uniforms that often were meant to mock or insult the opposing Army squad. This included having "Beat Army" placed on helmets, "Drive for Five" replacing name plates on the back of jerseys and, perhaps most famous, having Jolly Roger flags placed on the front of helmets with the Chinese characters for "Defeat" and "Army" being placed on each side of the helmet. The use of Chinese characters and pirates flags was Hardin's direct way of challenging new Army coach Paul Dietzel who created and coached the Chinese Bandits at LSU (Louisiana State University).

Staubach would win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Memorial Trophy in 1963. After graduating in 1964, Staubach would do a tour in Vietnam for a year before returning to the United States to complete his service requirement at domestic bases where he would play on naval service teams. Due to his colorblindness, Staubach was the Naval Academy's first graduate to be commissioned directly to the Supply Corps. Staubach would join the Dallas Cowboys in 1969 where he would eventually lead the team to NFL Championships.

Credit Line

Gift of Roger Staubach

1964

ID Number

2002.0061.01

accession number

2002.0061

catalog number

2002.0061.01

Object Name

Football Jersey

jersey, football

Physical Description

fabric, cotton (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 35 in x 27 in; 88.9 cm x 68.58 cm

See more items in

Culture and the Arts: Sport and Leisure

Military

Exhibition

Entertainment Nation

Exhibition Location

National Museum of American History

National Museum of American History

subject

Sports

Football

collegiate

Record ID

nmah_997479

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ae-3571-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa