Pinckert, Ernie (Ernest)
Football
b. May 1, 1908, Medford, WI
d. Aug. 30, 1977
The first player from Southern California to be named an All-American twice, the 5-11, 190-pound Pinckert was a back on the Associated Press team in both 1930 and 1931, and he was also named by Grantland Rice in 1931.
Although best known for his blocking, Pinckert was a fast, dangerous runner, and Coach Howard Jones installed a double reverse to take advantage of his speed. Pinckert had touchdown runs of 75 yards against Stanford in 1930 and 80 yards against Montana in 1931. He scored two touchdowns on the double reverse, on runs of 27 and 30 yards, to lead Southern California to a 21-12 victory over Tulane in the 1932 Rose Bowl.
Pinckert joined the Boston Redskins of the National Football League in 1932 and spent nine seasons with the team, which moved to Washington in 1937. He was used mainly as a blocking back. Incomplete statistics credit him with 114 yards on 28 carries, a 4.1 average, and 21 receptions for 269 yards.