Frank
Stojack, former Brooklyn Dodger who tackled the likes of
Bronco Nagurski, was unstoppable on a Boeing Aero
Mechanics defensive line that went unscored upon all
season. So efficient was the Stojack led defense,
who was coincidentally the coach, that the "Bombers"
would punt on 1st and 2nd downs when the offense was
playing especially bad just to put the defense back on
the field. This frustrated the likes of the
Enumclaw Barons who lost a game in 1940, but tied the
Bombers 0-0 twice. They felt it was an unfair
thing to not put the offense out the full compliment of
plays, while Stojack felt better about his defense
creating a turnover and scoring than he felt about his
offense hanging on to the ball at crucial times.
The Bombers finished the season 4-0-4 with all four ties
being scoreless defensive battles which suited the
former wrestling champion just fine.
They may
not have liked his coaching tactics, but his defensive
line play was undeniable and league officials rewarded
him with the Northwest's Most Valuable Player honor of
1940.
The former
Tacoma product who won 13 varsity letters at Lincoln
High also carried the Richard Graff Trophy for combined
athletic and scholastic achievement. He carried a
92 grade average (on a 100 scale). At Washington
State he won all-coast honors in football and wrestling
and was mentioned as an all-american by several outlets,
was undefeated as a heavyweight wrestler winning the
Pacific Coast title three years. With sights on
the 1932 Olympic Trials, nobody would put up the funds
to send him, but a highly touted Gonzaga wrestler many
Spokane residents were booming about and raising funds
for, found himself staring at the lights as Stojack
pinned him and ended his hopes of an Olympic berth.
Stojak
appeared in the "Muscle Bowl" of 1953 playing against
the Seattle Ramblers in a charity event. The "Rasslers",
professional wrestlers along with former footballers
like Stojak, Luther Lindsey, Pepper Gomez and Bronko
Nagurski.
