Lon Stiner

College coach infobox
Name = Lon Stiner


Caption =
DateOfBirth = 1903
Birthplace =
DateOfDeath =
Deathplace =
Sport = Football
College = Oregon State
Title = Head Coach
OverallRecord = 74-49-17
Awards =
Championships =
CFbDWID = 2245
Position =
Coach = Y
CoachYears = 1933-1948
CoachTeams = Oregon State
FootballHOF =

Alonzo "Lon" Stiner was an American football coach at Oregon State University from 1933 to 1948. Due to World War II, there was no team in 1943 and 1944.

Coaching career

During his tenure as head football coach of Oregon State, he compiled a 74-49-17 record, setting school records for wins, and winning percentage (.589). His best season came in 1939, when his team went 9-1-1 and a win in the Pineapple Bowl against Hawaii, 39-6.

"Iron Men" Game

Stiner coached in one of the greatest upset ties in NCAA history. On October 21, 1933, eleven Beaver "Iron Men" fought USC to a scoreless tie in what many consider to be the greatest game in Oregon State football history. The Trojans, two-time national champions, brought an 80-man squad to Multnomah Stadium in Portland, Oregon, and saw a 25-game win streak splattered by the Beavers. The Beavers did not make a substitution, playing only eleven men, each of whom played both ways for the entire 60 minutes.

1942 Rose Bowl

Stiner was also the head coach of another famous game in Beaver football history. His 1941 team played in the 1942 Rose Bowl. This game produced two important firsts. It was OSU's first-ever trip to the famous New Year's Day classic, and it remains the only Rose Bowl ever played outside of Pasadena, California. The reason for the move out of Pasadena was due to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1941. The game was played at Duke University's Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, with the undefeated Blue Devils picked as 3-1 favorites. Oregon State pulled off the upset and won, 20-16. Stiner, at 38, was the youngest head coach in Rose Bowl history.

The Pyramid Play

Stiner also played a key role in another famous first in football history. The pyramid play, used in blocking kicks, originated as a prank at practice. Amazingly enough, the play was successful in blocking a kick. Stiner, upon noticing the success of the play, decided to attempt it in a game. The play consisted of hoisting the 6'5" center, Clyde Devine, onto the shoulders of 6'2" tackles Harry Fields and Ade Schwammel. At this height in the air, Devine could reach out and knock down any ball headed for the goal posts.

The first official use of the play was successfully executed against the University of Oregon in Multnomah Stadium in Portland. The Pyramid was banned by the NCAA rules committee within a year.

Despite going 5-4-3 and taking his team to the 1949 Pineapple Bowl after the 1948 season, Stiner was replaced as head coach by Kip Taylor in 1949. Stiner was 3-0 in bowl appearances.

Stiner is an inductee of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.

Head coaching record

CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name = Oregon State Beavers
startyear = 1933
conf = Pacific Coast Conference
endyear = 1948CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1933
name = Oregon State
overall = 6-2-2
conference = 2-1-1
confstanding = 4th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1934
name = Oregon State
overall = 3-6-2
conference = 0-5-2
confstanding = 9th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1935
name = Oregon State
overall = 6-4-1
conference = 2-3-1
confstanding = 7th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1936
name = Oregon State
overall = 4-6
conference = 3-5
confstanding = 6th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1937
name = Oregon State
overall = 3-3-3
conference = 2-3-3
confstanding = 6th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1938
name = Oregon State
overall = 5-3-1
conference = 4-3-1
confstanding = T-3rd
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1939
name = Oregon State
overall = 9-1-1
conference = 6-1-1
confstanding = 3rd
bowlname = Pineapple Bowl
bowloutcome = W 39-6
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1940
name = Oregon State
overall = 5-3-1
conference = 4-3-1
confstanding = 3rd
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
year = 1941
name = Oregon State
overall = 8-2
conference = 7-2
confstanding = 1st
bowlname = Rose Bowl
bowloutcome = W 20-16
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = 12CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1942
name = Oregon State
overall = 4-5-1
conference = 4-4
confstanding = 5th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1945
name = Oregon State
overall = 4-4-1
conference = 4-4
confstanding = 4th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1946
name = Oregon State
overall = 7-1-1
conference = 6-1-1
confstanding = 2nd
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1947
name = Oregon State
overall = 5-5
conference = 3-4
confstanding = 6th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1948
name = Oregon State
overall = 5-4-3
conference = 2-3-2
confstanding = 6th
bowlname = Pineapple Bowl
bowloutcome = W 47-27
bcsbowl =
ranking =
ranking2 = CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = Oregon State
overall = 74-49-17
confrecord = CFB Yearly Record End
overall = 74-49-17 (.589)
bcs =
poll = two
polltype =

References

ESPN College Football Encyclopedia