Stephan Wadiak (January 8, 1926 – March 9, 1952), nicknamed "The Cadillac", was an American football running back. He was a star college football player for the South Carolina Gamecocks, being named the Southern Conference Player of the Year in 1950. He was selected in the third round (30th overall) of the 1952 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but was killed in a car crash before his first season. Wadiak's number is retired by the school, having been the first to receive the honor.[1][2]

Steve Wadiak
South Carolina Gamecocks – No. 37
PositionRunning back
Personal information
Born:(1926-01-08)January 8, 1926
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died:March 9, 1952(1952-03-09) (aged 26)
Richmond County, Georgia, U.S.
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career history
CollegeSouth Carolina (1948–1951)
High schoolFenger Academy (1939–1940)
Chicago Vocational (1941–1943)
Career highlights and awards

References

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  1. ^ "Steve Wadiak Stats". Pro Football Archives – via Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ Morris, Ron (November 2, 2008). "The Heartbreak Kid". The State. p. 27, 30, 31, 32, 33 – via Newspapers.com.  

Bibliography

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  • Chibbaro, Mike (July 2014). The Cadillac: The Life Story of University of South Carolina Football Legend Steve Wadiak. Thirty-Seven Publishing. ISBN 9781495114397.