John Isenbarger, one of the star players on Indiana’s lone Rose Bowl team, died Thursday at age 76.
Isenbarger is one of only four IU football players to earn first team All-America recognition on two different occasions. Isenbarger and the 1967 Indiana squad were co-Big Ten champions and played in that Rose Bowl game against USC. After going to IU as a quarterback, Isenbarger switched to running back when Harry Gonso was named that team’s starter.
For his career the Muncie, Ind. native averaged an impressive 5.0 yards per carry. Isenbarger is currently tenth on IU’s all-time rushing yards list despite not playing his freshman year (1966).
In 1969, Isenbarger had a career-best 184 yard performance against Minnesota. He ended his career with a bang, with a 165 yard outburst against Purdue. He finished his senior season with 1,217 yards, the 11th best total in program history. Isenbarger also had a career total of thirteen 100-plus yard games.
At the time he graduated, Isenbarger was IU’s all-time leading rusher and he held the single-season rushing mark as well.
Isenbarger was also the starting punter for the Hoosiers, and he was quite good at it — when he decided to kick the ball. He is the name behind one of the most iconic slogans associated with the IU football program. His judgment (or lack thereof) in deciding whether to punt the football or run is the story behind the “Punt John Punt!” expression you’ve likely heard before. You can read about that story here.
Isenbarger was Indiana’s Most Valuable Player in 1969 and first team All-Big Ten that same year.
He was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1970 NFL Draft and played professionally for San Francisco. He played four seasons with the 49ers and caught two touchdown passes.
Isenbarger was inducted into the IU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991.
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