Frank Gnup

Frank Theodore Gnup (April 5, 1917 – September 27, 1976) was an American quarterback, halfback and coach who played Canadian football from 1946 to 1952.

Frank Gnup
Born:(1917-04-05)April 5, 1917
Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Died:September 27, 1976(1976-09-27) (aged 59)
Vancouver, British Columbia
Career information
Position(s)Halfback & Quarterback
CollegeManhattan College
Career history
As coach
1955–73UBC Thunderbirds
As player
1946–49Hamilton Wildcats
1950Toronto Argonauts
1952Brantford Redskins
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star1946
Awards1946 - Imperial Oil Trophy

A native of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania who was a star player at Manhattan College,[1] Gnup took the Ontario Rugby Football Union by storm in 1946 as a player-coach, leading his Hamilton Wildcats to the league championship game, was named an all-star, and won the Imperial Oil Trophy as ORFU most valuable player.[2] He played in Hamilton for 3 more seasons,[3][4] but had a falling out,[5] and played the 1950 season with the Toronto Argonauts (6 regular season games.)[6] He finished his playing days in 1952 with the Brantford Redskins of the ORFU.

After his playing days Gnup took up coaching in 1955 with the UBC Thunderbirds.[7] His 18 years at the University of British Columbia are legendary, and in 1999 he was enshrined in the UBC Sports Hall of Fame.[8] He has since been honoured by having the AAA Provincial Championships and the CWUAA Frank Gnup Memorial Trophy as Player of the Year named after him. The ever cigar chomping Gnup died of a heart attack September 27, 1976, aged 59.[9]

References
  1. Local boy makes good, by Havey Boyle Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 25, 1940
  2. O.R.F.U. Honors Coach Frank Gnup Edmonton Journal, November 14, 1946
  3. "Hamilton Tiger-Cats Alumni Association". www.htcaa.ca.
  4. Frank Gnup Plans Precision Plays Calgary Herald, October 15, 1947
  5. Frank Gnup is Suing Hamilton Calgary Herald, May 20, 1950
  6. 2008 Toronto Argonauts Media Guide
  7. Frank Gnup New Coach at UBC The Leader-Post, June 30, 1955
  8. "UBC Sports Hall of Fame: Frank Gnup". Archived from the original on April 15, 2012.
  9. "Frank Gnup". The New York Times. Vancouver, B.C. Associated Press. September 29, 1976. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
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