Hickman, Herman M.
Football
b. Oct. 1, 1911, Johnson City, TN
d. April 25, 1958
Hickman was both a great football player and a great entertainer. Only 5-foot-10, he weighed about 240 pounds in his prime and, although he looked chubby, he was very fast. His line coach at the University of Tennessee said that Hickman consistently finished second only to a halfback in the team's wind sprints.
He entered Tennessee in 1929 and became a starting tackle as a sophomore, but was moved to guard before the season ended. Largely because of his brilliant performance in 13-0 win over New York University at Yankee Stadium, he was named to Grantland Rice's 1931 All-American team.
After graduating, Hickman became a professional wrestler and also played for the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers for three seasons. He was named All-Pro at left guard in 1933. Hickman retired from football after the 1934 season but kept wrestling for several years, eventually taking part in more than 500 bouts.
He worked as an assistant coach at a number of colleges, meanwhile developing a reputation as an after-dinner speaker. He used his Tennessee drawl to great effect in telling anecdotes and reciting poetry.
In 1948, he became head coach at Yale. In four seasons there, his teams won just 16 games while losing 17 and tying two. He resigned after the 1951 season. During the last several years of his life, he frequently appeared on radio and television panel shows.