David Smukler David Smukler ( May 28 , 1914 – February 22 , 1971 ) , also known as “ Dynamite Dave , ” was an American football player who played in 36 National Football League games , mostly for the Philadelphia Eagles in the late 1930 ' s . He was also the star player for the Temple University Owls in the inaugural Sugar Bowl game on January 1 , 1935 , in New Orleans , Louisiana . High school . The youngest of seven children , Smukler was born in Gloversville , New York , to Russian immigrants . His family moved to Newark , New Jersey , in 1918 , where he played tackle at East Side High School in 1929 and 1930 , earning all - State honors the second year . Still in his teens , he returned to Gloversville to live with his oldest brother Lewis and became his apprentice , learning to shear gloves from skins . Playing football at Gloversville High School , Smukler was taken out of the line by Coach Lawrence A . ( Duke ) Miller and made into a fullback . He had never kicked a football for any team before , but he spent hours by himself punting the ball . Smukler kept his muscles strong by walking five miles uphill after every practice . When the football season began , he was considered a “ one - man team ” and lost only one game . Besides excelling in football , Smukler was also a high - scoring guard on the basketball team and a member of the track team . In May 1932 he participated in the annual Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute interscholastic track meet in Troy , New York , and broke two state records , the 12 - pound shot put and the discus throw . College . Smukler enrolled in the University of Missouri in Columbia , Missouri , and played fullback under Frank Carideo . He left before the year ended and continued to learn glove cutting under his brother Lewis . In September 1933 Smukler transferred to Temple University in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , and was chosen to play varsity fullback by Glenn “ Pop ” Warner one year later . After Smukler helped the Temple Owls achieve many wins , Warner stated , “ He is a better fullback now than Ernie Nevers was in Nevers ’ s sophomore year . Dave is the best sophomore fullback I have ever seen . He may become the greatest fullback I have ever seen , a greater football player than Nevers or Jim Thorpe . ” The coach also commended him as a defensive player , kicker , and forward passer , stating that “ he combines fine judgment with his versatility . He is not the type that will get puffed up by praise , either . ” Smukler played five consecutive games without ever letting the ball slip from his hand . On January 1 , 1935 , he played against Tulane University in the inaugural Sugar Bowl game in New Orleans , Louisiana . When the teams were awaiting kickoff , Tulane ’ s slogan was “ Stop Smukler . ” Smukler passed for one touchdown , kicked the extra point , and ran for a 25 - yard touchdown . His efforts brought the Owls a 14 - 0 lead , but Tulane would ultimately beat Temple with a score of 20 - 14 . Smukler was described after the game as “ a wild bull , a mad elephant , a rip - roaring locomotive , a human - battering ram . He was 212 pounds of speed and power , who asked nothing more of his own line but that it get out of his way and let him run . ” Smukler temporarily withdrew from Temple in December 1935 due to a knee injury but returned at the start of the second semester . However , in March 1936 Smukler announced that he was leaving Temple again for a business position that was " too promising to refuse . " He never graduated . Professional Football . It was announced in August 1936 that Smukler had a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles . Apparently , the contract was signed two months before , but it was not announced earlier due to the uncertainty of Smukler ' s injury . He played with the Eagles for four seasons from 1936 - 1939 . During his first year he had a career high of 99 rushes for 321 yards . Steve Owen , coach of the New York Giants , identified the Eagles as one of the teams he most feared “ because they are dangerous any time Dave Smukler , the erstwhile Temple Terror , carries the ball . ” Apparently , team owner Bert Bell once said that nobody could stop Smukler “ when he was having a good day . ” On Oct . 2 , 1938 , the Eagles played the Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Municipal Stadium . The National Football League ( NFL ) program described Smukler as a “ Powerhouse ball carrier and backer up on defense . Brilliant forward passer and terrific punter . Fifth best passer in the National Football League last year , completing 42 of 118 throws for a total gain of 432 yards . Carried ball from scrimmage 92 times to gain a total of 247 yards . ” After playing 34 games with the Eagles , Smukler was suspended in October 1939 for breaking training rules . When owner Bert Bell asked him why , Smukler allegedly told him , “ I ’ m through with football . ” Apparently , Smukler had broken training rules various times in the past . He had made a pledge to Bell that this would not happen again , only to break training once more . Bell said , “ In my opinion , Dave was one of the greatest football players in professional football when he wanted to be . But I believe for the best interests of the team and myself we can do better without him as he was a demoralizing influence . He is a good boy but he just can ’ t keep his promises . ” In April 1940 he was traded to the Detroit Lions in exchange for two rookie players . However , Smukler decided to leave football and join the United States Army . He said , “ I got $ 3 , 000 a year for playing football professionally . It was great during the season . Everybody shook your hand , slapped you on the back , and told you what a swell fellow you were . But the rest of the time , I couldn ’ t get a job . ” Between football seasons Smukler could only make money doing piecework as a glove cutter . “ It was enough to discourage any man , and I kept thinking about what I was going to do when I couldn ’ t play football anymore . I sat down and figured it out and then decided my best bet was the Army . ” Smukler was in active service for over three years . After serving as a first sergeant in Iceland , he received a medical discharge due to his old knee injury . He went back to work as a glove cutter in Gloversville and helped coach the football team at Gloversville High School . Smukler considered returning to football with the Detroit Lions , but he never appeared on their gridiron and was sold to the Boston Yanks in 1944 . Smukler played only two games for the Yanks before ending his professional football career . Later Years . In 1946 Smukler moved to California and was employed for three years as a station manager with the Standard Oil Company . He later worked in tire sales and held managerial posts with different companies . In 1947 it was reported that he joined the football coaching staff at Loyola University in Los Angeles as an end coach . Smukler later became West Coast commissioner for the Pop Warner Conference . He founded the Pop Warner Conference in Los Angeles and received the group ’ s first Joe Tomlin All - American Award for “ service beyond the call of duty . ” At time of his death Smukler was general sales manager for Bridgestone Tire Co . of America , Inc . He was stricken with a heart attack at Los Angeles International Airport while preparing to board a plane for a sales meeting in Tulsa , Oklahoma . Smukler was 56 years old . He had suffered from heart trouble and underwent surgery seven years earlier for the installation of a pacemaker . Notes . There is disagreement among sources as to whether David Smukler was born in Gloversville , New York , or Newark , New Jersey . The article “ Smukler ’ s Parents Wed 55 Years Ago ” ( The Morning Herald , March 16 , 1949 ) states that his parents moved from Gloversville to Newark in 1918 , four years after his birth . This would suggest that he was born in Gloversville , NY . The California Death Index also states that he was born in the state of New York . Most sources , including the California Death Index , state that he died on February 22 , 1971 . However , his obituary " Grid Great Dave Smukler Dead at 56 " ( Amsterdam Recorder , February 24 , 1971 ) suggests that he died on February 23 , 1971 . His obituary " All - American Dave Smukler , Ex - Glover Star , Dies At 57 " ( Schenectady Gazette , February 1971 ) states in the title that he died at age 57 , but the obituary itself states that he died at age 56 . All other records suggest or state that he died at age 56 .