Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Moultrie, Georgia, U.S. | July 12, 1903
Died | February 21, 1945 North Pacific Ocean, off Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, Japanese Empire | (aged 41)
Alma mater | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Playing career | |
1925–1926 | Georgia Tech |
Position(s) | T |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1928-1941 | Georgia Tech (assistant) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Awards | |
All-Southern (1926) Tech Athletic Hall of Fame | |
Mercer McCall "Mack" Tharpe (July 12, 1903 – February 21, 1945) was a college football player and coach, bomber pilot, and insurance salesman.[1] He was killed in action during the Second World War.[2]
Tharpe was a prominent tackle for William Alexander's Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team, selected All-Southern in 1926.[3]
He returned to his alma mater to coach in 1928, promoted to line coach in 1934.[1] In 1931, he sought a scouting report on North Carolina, and Robert Neyland had Bobby Dodd explain the defense to him.[4]
Along with Alexander he is the namesake of the Alexander-Tharpe fund.[5] Tharpe was inducted into the Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame in 1961.[6]