Member Biography

This local Maryland boy made very good with Jim Tatum's Split-T in the early 1950s. Jack Scarbath was born in Baltimore and played football at Baltimore Poly, where he was noticed by Dr. Harry C. Byrd, former Maryland coach turned University president. Byrd recruited Scarbath, and the youngster accepted a full four-year scholarship, and made Maryland football history. One historic event was Maryland's 28-13 upset of national champion Tennessee in the 1951 Sugar Bowl. Another was Maryland's undefeated streak of 22 games while Scarbath was calling signals for the Terps. In 1951, AP and UP polls named Scarbath to honorable mention All-America citations. In 1952, he was honored with first team All-America citations by the All-America Board, AP, UP, International News Service, Colliers, and Look. And he was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. Scarbath was also Southern Conference "Player of the Year" and the "South's Most Valuable Player" in the North-South Game in Miami. After graduation, Scarbath played pro ball with the Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers, and coached at South Carolina before going into business in Maryland.