Peter George Kmetovic (Pronounced: "Kuh-MET-o-vick") (December 27, 1919 – February 8, 1990) was an American professional football player and coach. A high school football star and acclaimed track and field sprinter, as a junior Kmetovic was the starting left halfback for the undefeated 1940 Stanford University team, remembered as "The Wow Boys," leading the squad in scoring and yards per carry. The team's season culminated with a victory in the 1941 Rose Bowl over the Nebraska Cornhuskers, with Kmetovic named as Player of the Game.
Although selected third overall in the 1942 NFL draft, due to World War II Kmetovic was not able to play in the National Football League (NFL) until 1946, missing four complete seasons. He ultimately played in just 16 professional games, primarily as a reserve, as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1946 and the Detroit Lions in 1947.
Biography Early life
Pete Kmetovic was born on December 27, 1919 in San Jose, California. He attended San José High School in that city, where he distinguished himself as a track and field sprinter, turning in a 10.1 second time in the 100-yard dash at one meet in the spring of 1936."Sixteen Points, 4th Place Appear Palo Alto High School's Cinder Future," Redwood City Tribune, March 24, 1936, p. 5. He also ran the distance in a wind-assisted time of 10.0 that same season."Palo Alto Coach Refuses to Predict Win for Prep Tracksters in PAL Meet," Peninsula Times Tribune, May 7, 1936, p. 10. His performance in the 4x100 relay won San Jose the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) title over Palo Alto High School that month."Stacy Gives Sequoia Lone PAL Track First: Relay Decides Meet as Kmetovic Beats Willard Jones," Redwood City Tribune, May 11, 1936, p. 5.
Regarded as one of the two fastest sprinters competing in the PAL during his junior year of 1936, Kmetovic also played football for the Bulldogs, starting at the fullback position.Douglas Guy, "The Prep Parade," The Enterprise [South San Francisco], Sept. 25, 1936, p. 6. He was a feared and effective punt returner"Kmetovic Returns Win for San Jose," Peninsula Times Tribune, Oct. 31, 1936, p. 9. and used his speed to great advantage on the defensive side of the ball, with one newspaper reporter noting that "Little Pete" had befuddled the locals with "long, scintillating sprints downfield" and "broke up a tricky aerial offense with interceptions.""Sequoia Loses to San Josie High at Spartan Stadium," Santa Cruz Evening News, Oct. 24, 1936, p. 4.
Kmetovic was named to the All-PAL team for three seasons."Stanford Frosh Hopefuls Report: Papoose Eleven to Have Three Good Lines But Backfield Material Short," The Free Lance [Hollister, CA], Sept. 9, 1938, p. 4. He was named first team left halfback and captain of the 11 man All-PAL team in 1936 by the seven coaches of the league,"Official All-PAL: Chosen by Vote of 7 Coaches," Redwood City Tribune, Nov. 21, 1936, p. 5. equivalent to Most Valuable Player honors.
He continued to run track in the spring of 1937"Stanford Freshmen Win Track Meet," Los Angeles Times, April 4, 1937, p. 29. and 1938,"Results of NCS Track Meet Finals," Oakland Post Enquirer, May 16, 1938, p. 8. competing regionally at a high level in the 100 and 220 yard events.
College career
Kmetovic graduated in June of 1938 and enrolled at Stanford University in September.Douglas Guy, "S.J. Favored for Third Year," Redwood City Tribune, Sept. 5, 1938, p. 5. In this era the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) required students attend a university for one year prior to playing varsity football, so Kmetovic found himself one of 60 prospects trying to win a spot on the school's freshman team. He was listed at a height of 5'8½" and a weight of 168 pounds at the time he first joined the team.
Kmetovic found his place on the squad, starting at right halfback in the team's single-wing offense."Huskies, Card Frosh Favored on Local Gridirons: Injuries Put Four Cubs Out of Game," Oakland Post Enquirer, Nov. 4, 1938, p. 23. In an offense running through future varsity teammate single-wing fullback Frankie Albert, Kmetovic was put to use as an effective pass receiver out of the backfield, helping the junior varsity drub their peers from University of Southern California 22–6 and run roughshod over junior college teams on their schedule.JC in Conference Game with Marin Here Friday Evening: Card Frosh Get Hard Contest," Salinas Morning Post, Oct. 18, 1938, p. 7.
In the spring of 1939, Kmetovic hung up the football pads and continued running track, running the 220 yard dash and the quarter-mile and earning accolades as a freshman team star."Kmetovic No. 1 Man on Frosh Track Team," Peninsula Times Tribune, Feb. 20, 1939, p. 7. A foot injury during this inaugural season derailed his track career, however."Pete Kmetovic Named Valley College Grid Mentor: Ex-Stanford All-American to Coach Indians' Eleven," San Bernardino Sun Telegram, March 26, 1948, p. 27.
Future NFL players Albert and Kmetovic were promoted to the Stanford varsity by head coach Tiny Thornhill ahead of the fall 1939 season. Both were moved to the left halfback position, through which much of Thornhill's offense moved, with Albert the starter and Kmetovic his backup.Associated Press, "Tiny Uncovers Backfield Flash," Los Angeles Times, p. 25. Both sophomores performed admirably in fall practice, with Thornhill remarking to the press, "I don't know which is my first team."
The 1940 Stanford team would go down as among the most important offensive units of mid-century American football. New head coach Clark Shaughnessy, formerly with the University of Chicago, would import a new system — one being simultaneously employed by the NFL's Chicago Bears — the T formation with motion.
In the single-wing and the closely related double-wing formations, the ball would be shotgun-snapped to either the fullback or one of the two halfbacks, with the quarterback generally serving as a "blocking back." Under the T, offensive decisions ran through the quarterback, who took the ball under center and distributed it to one of the three backs arrayed behind him. Generally, one of the two halfbacks would go into motion immediately before the snap, running parallel with the line of scrimmage. Mismatches were thus generated as defenses remained befuddled how to stop the new form of offensive attack. Stanford prospered.
Nine regular season wins in a row were reeled off by the Stanford squad, starting with a 27–0 drubbing of the University of San Francisco, and including convincing wins over Southern California rivals UCLA and USC, both conference opponents from Oregon and Washington, and a dramatic 13 to 7 triumph over arch-rival Cal in The Big Game.Walter R. Okeson, The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide, Including the Official Rules, 1941. New York: A.S. Barnes & Co., 1941; p. 137.
The undefeated 1940 Stanford team with its unorthodox offense captured the public imagination and its players were tagged "The Wow Boys" in the press.Two monographs have been written about the 1940 Stanford team. The team featured four future NFL players in the backfield — Albert, Kmetovic, Norm Standlee, and Hugh Gallarneau — as well as two pros on the line. Of these, Kmetovic was the leading scorer, with 10 touchdowns in 10 games, as well as the leader in yards rushing per carry, with 6.8. He was remembered as "extremely fast and shifty with a marvelous change of pace — a real breakaway artist who was a threat every time he got his hands on the ball." Playing both ways, offense and defense, Kmetovic was on the field for 452 minutes out of a possible 600 during Stanford's 10 games.
As conference champions, Stanford was the Pacific Coast Conference's representative to the 1941 Rose Bowl. Once again, Kmetovic proved his mettle, rushing for 141 yards and returning a punt 39-yards for a touchdown to lead the Indians to a 21–13 victory over Nebraska. For his efforts, Kmetovic was named the player of the game.
World War II
Kmetovic and Albert were not immediately sought for induction into the US military as in December 1941 both were classified 1-B for physical ailments."The Sports Desk," Zanesville Times Recorder, Jan. 1, 1942, p. 5. Albert's designation was the result of his having flat feet, while Kmetovic was downgraded for having false teeth and a broken nose — football-related infirmities. With World War II raging, Kmetovic attempted to join the military effort as an ensign in the US Navy Reserve in the physical training program in the wake of rumors that the Stanford University campus was to be converted into a training school for aviators."Pete Kmetovic Applies for Ensign's Post," Peninsula Times Tribune, Feb. 6, 1942, p. 1.
Kmetovic's application was accepted, along with those of Frankie Albert and three other Stanford football teammates, and the group were slated to enter basic naval training at Norfolk Naval Air Station in Virginia in April.Associated Press, "Albert Among Five Card Stars Under Tunney," Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, Feb. 7, 1942, p. 7. The physical training program in which they served was under the direction of lieutenant commander Gene Tunney, a former heavyweight boxing champion. Kmetovic was accepted and sworn in February 23, 1942.International News Service, "Kmetovic Joins Tunney's Training Corps in Navy," Sacramento Bee, Feb. 24, 1942, p. 20.
Despite his position as a physical fitness trainer in the Navy, Kmetovic was not done with football. On August 28, 1942, Kmetovic played a game as part of the College All-Stars team that took on the reigning NFL Champion Chicago Bears. His former Stanford teammate Hugh Gallarneau, already with one year in the NFL for the Bears, scored a touchdown that helped the professionals to a 21–0 victory over the collegians."Any Old Position Just So Its a Score," (photo) Minneapolis Star, Aug. 29, 1942, p. 5.
Kmetovic was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the 1942 NFL draft, with the team making him the third overall pick of that season's lottery. Due to the war, however, it was not until 1946 that Kmetovic was able to join that team."Pete Kmetovic Stats," Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com
Kmetovic spent the fall of 1942 at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, located near Chicago, where he played service football for head coach lieutenant Tony Hinkle and the Bluejackets,"Kmetovic Reports for Navy Football," San Francisco Examiner, Sept. 2, 1942, p. 17. one of the strongest teams in the country.
Professional career
Four NFL seasons were lost to Kmetovic due to the disruption of the war. In the summer of 1946, the former college star reported to training camp for the Eagles. Time had taken a toll, and Kmetovic found himself in a reserve role with the Eagles, seeing action in just 5 games, during which he carried the ball 5 times for 30 yards — 27 of which came through a single run. He additionally caught 4 passes for 38 yards out of the backfield during his first year in the league.
When he was with the Eagles, Kmetovic also worked as a football coach for a private prep school in Philadelphia.
In 1947 Kmetovic moved to the Detroit Lions, where he reprised his role as a substitute, playing in 11 games, only one of which he started. His statistics were again lackluster, with his 14 carries generating only 23 yards — an average of just 1.6 yards per tote. He was rather more effective as a pass receiver, fortunately, catching 6 balls for 143 yards with two touchdowns — the longest being a 53 yard grab.
Coaching career
Kmetovic served as the head football coach at San Bernardino Valley College in 1948. The following year, he was hired as backfield coach at the University of San Francisco. In 1950, he returned to alma mater, Stanford, where he began a 13-year stint as an assistant coach under Marchmont Schwartz.