Joe Schwartz former Rocket 69-71 passed away yesterday 4/10/19.

Wow. That is sad. I knew Joe a little personally and professionally through his work in probation. Great guy. Sad news.

Joe played HS Football at Adrian Catholic Central. I remember watching him as a kid when Toledo played in The Tangerine Bowl. He was truly the person who inspired me to attend UT. If I remember correctly, Joe was one of the All Time Best Players honored a few years ago. Rest in Peace Joe.

He actually played 70-72. He had a great 1971 junior season of over 1000 yards and 108 points scored. He took over the tailback spot from Tony Francis. I idolized him as a kid. I went to ALL the UT football games and he was a favorite player of mine. I wish him well. UT then thrusts him into the QB role his senior season 1972 and we struggle to get to 6-5 due to both the heavy loss of the all time great ‘71 class and using an inexperienced Schwartz at QB. I’m sure his senior year 1972 was very frustrating for him as well the fans, and staff. He did what he was asked to do. Good for him.

I have no idea what he did after UT but I hope he had a good life.

God bless

Go Rockets!!!

(04-11-2019 01:55 PM)IamN2daRockets! Wrote:  He actually played 70-72. He had a great 1971 junior season of over 1000 yards and 108 points scored. He took over the tailback spot from Tony Francis. I idolized him as a kid. I went to ALL the UT football games and he was a favorite player of mine. I wish him well. UT then thrusts him into the QB role his senior season 1972 and we struggle to get to 6-5 due to both the heavy loss of the all time great ‘71 class and using an inexperienced Schwartz at QB. I’m sure his senior year 1972 was very frustrating for him as well the fans, and staff. He did what he was asked to do. Good for him.

I have no idea what he did after UT but I hope he had a good life.

God bless

Go Rockets!!!

Schwartz replaced Tony Harris .

Thank you for the information about Joe. I too idolized him as a kid. I vividly remember speaking to him after his Senior year after The Jets drafted him. He said he could not pass their physical because of his knee. Joe is a retired Probation Officer out of Perrysburg.

(04-11-2019 02:53 PM)Michigan Rocket Wrote:  Thank you for the information about Joe. I too idolized him as a kid. I vividly remember speaking to him after his Senior year after The Jets drafted him. He said he could not pass their physical because of his knee. Joe is a retired Probation Officer out of Perrysburg.

Worked in Lucas County. IIRC, he was quite a hoopster as well. I think he was All-State in Michigan. I used to play ball with him when we both lived in a complex out by Franklin Park.

(04-11-2019 02:47 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(04-11-2019 01:55 PM)IamN2daRockets! Wrote:  He actually played 70-72. He had a great 1971 junior season of over 1000 yards and 108 points scored. He took over the tailback spot from Tony Francis. I idolized him as a kid. I went to ALL the UT football games and he was a favorite player of mine. I wish him well. UT then thrusts him into the QB role his senior season 1972 and we struggle to get to 6-5 due to both the heavy loss of the all time great ‘71 class and using an inexperienced Schwartz at QB. I’m sure his senior year 1972 was very frustrating for him as well the fans, and staff. He did what he was asked to do. Good for him.

I have no idea what he did after UT but I hope he had a good life.

God bless

Go Rockets!!!

Schwartz replaced Tony Harris .

One of the decisions that turned out to be unsuccessful by UT. Joe was truly not a college QB. Im guessing that had they took the route of letting Bruce Arthur move in at QB at the start of the season the record would have been closer to 10 wins. Nothing was going to help UT get past Tampa that first game. They were loaded with pro talent and an outlaw type of operation.
But it would not have been 7-5.

Joe's playing career was before my time, but I got to know him later in life. He was a good guy with a great sense of humor. I'm a big Indians fan and he was a diehard Tigers fan so we'd go back and forth about that.

One time I asked him if the NFL showed any interest in him and he told me some stories about his time with the Bridgeport Jets, which was a quasi farm team for the NY Jets at the time.

I used to run into him at Rocket games from time to time and it was always good to see him. He was always the same good guy.

(04-13-2019 08:23 AM)Henry Burlingame Wrote:  Joe's playing career was before my time, but I got to know him later in life. He was a good guy with a great sense of humor. I'm a big Indians fan and he was a diehard Tigers fan so we'd go back and forth about that.

One time I asked him if the NFL showed any interest in him and he told me some stories about his time with the Bridgeport Jets, which was a quasi farm team for the NY Jets at the time.

I used to run into him at Rocket games from time to time and it was always good to see him. He was always the same good guy.

That group was great on and off the field.

Does anyone have a link for an obituary?

understand that his service will be at Coyle on Saturday at 10 am. No obit as of yet.