Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1997
Some of the greatest times for Wake Forest football came during the 1940s when famed coach Peahead Walker's valiant band of Deacons earned respect of every opponent Saturday after Saturday, winning more than their share, and establishing themselves as being one of the toughest teams in the South.
Central to the accomplishments of those Deacon squads was the effectiveness of Walker's single-wing offense. The system was unusual in addition to being productive, in that the quarterback in the single wing backfield was actually, in most instances, a blocker.
The quarterback for Wake Forest and Walker on three winning teams (17-10-1 overall record) in 1945, 1946 and 1947 was Nick Ognovich, one of the finest ever to play that position. How good was Ognovich? In all three of his years on the Deacon varsity, he was named recipient of the prestigious Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the most outstanding blocker (lineman or back) in the Southern Conference.
In its history, Wake Forest has had four individuals win the Jacobs trophy one time each. Ognovich won it three times in three seasons.
The native of Uniontown, Pa., also was an all-conference selection in 1946 and 1947. He obviously was an important figure as well in Wake Forest's memorable 1945 season, which concluded with a victory in the Gator Bowl.
Following a brief professional playing career, Ognovich became a community leader in the Charlotte area, remaining active in football as a Southern Conference official and with the popular Shrine Bowl high school all-star game. He passed away at his home in Charlotte in 1991.
Nick Ognovich was inducted into the Wake Forest University Sports Hall of Fame on January 24, 1997.
