A three-sport star at New Bedford, Gurl went on to play two sports at Brown University

Editor's note: Spotlight is the theme for the latest installment in the Buddy’s Best series, which kicked off last year. Former athletes, coaches and pioneers are among the people who will be highlighted.

Back in the mid-1920s Francis “Finkie” Gurl was a three-sport high school athlete. But it wasn’t until he got to college that Finkie got funky.

Gurl was a big-time, all-around athlete during his three-year varsity career at New Bedford High School. In the fall he played quarterback for football teams that ranked somewhere between competitive and less-than-mediocre  while, in the spring he was a slap-style .300 hitting infielder on the baseball team. He also ran for the school’s track team but his standout sport was football, where his slick running out of the backfield and deadly-accurate drop kicks were often overlooked and underappreciated as his Crimson teams struggled to achieve winning records.

That was especially true his senior year when Gurl ranked among the area’s top backs despite his team’s losing record — one that included a shutout loss to Durfee in his final high school gridiron appearance.

But while Gurl was being overlooked by some, scouts from Brown University were paying close attention and were envisioning the New Bedford native as its starting quarterback of the future — a future that would prove to be just two seasons away.

Graduating from New Bedford High School in 1927 and after a year at Dean Academy helped pave the route, Gurl found himself under center as the quarterback of the Brown freshman team. Over the course of his final two seasons, he had turned the school’s one-time vision into reality by earning the starring role as Brown’s starting varsity quarterback.

His head coach, “Tuss” McLaugry summed up Gurl’s contributions in a 1934 newspaper interview.

“Finkie Gurl? I’d give a lot to have a player like him again,” the coach was quoted as saying. “He was the best quarterback I’ve had over a period of eight years. He was smart and had plenty of dash and fire and that was what I liked in particular about him. He could lug the ball places and he could kick. We haven’t had as good a booter around since (he graduated).”

When he had the ball in his hands, Gurl had the ability to run around and over any defender standing in his way. He wasn’t big but proved on numerous occasions he was both quick and overpowering. And when he couldn’t get his offense into the end zone via the run or pass, Finkie could always turn to his accurate right foot.

For all of his accomplishments on the football field, Gurl’s spotlight achievement may have been provided by the missile-launcher at the end of his right leg. The memorable moment came during a 1930 clash against Syracuse … a game Gurl almost missed because of injury.

Brown had been projected as a preseason power in the East, but had slumped in recent weeks and found itself in the role of underdog going into the game against the Orangemen. With the injured Gurl on the sidelines, Finkie could only watch as his team advanced the ball to the Syracuse 35-yard line and the clock ticking down the final seconds.

Trailing 15-12 and with time for one final play, McLaugry scanned his bench until he focused in on Gurl.

Getting the call, Finkie entered the game and after taking the snap from the center he calmly dropped-kicked a high-arching twirler that split the uprights, turning what would have been a disappointing three-point loss into a clutch 15-15 tie.

In addition to football, Gurl also starred for the Brown baseball team and, prior to his senior year, was presented the Michael J, Lynch Scholarship of $200 for the academic year of 1930-31.

Following his graduation, Gurl went into the teaching profession that was interrupted by a stint in the military (Navy) where he served aboard the carriers Ranger, Bunker Hill and Essex in World War II. He returned to teaching following his discharge and taught at several private schools, including the Arizona Desert School, where he was named headmaster.

Gurl and his family eventually moved to Riverside, CA after being named registrar and administrations officer at the University of California Riverside.

And, just to prove Finkie could still get funky, he was known to go skiing and rattlesnake hunting on the same day.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Francis "Finkie" Gurl became star football player at Brown University