Rosenberg, Aaron : Jews In Sports @ Virtual Museum

Rosenberg, Aaron

Rosenberg was considered the greatest guard in college football in the early 1930s. One of the finest offenseive linemen in USC's history, Rosenberg became a Hollywood movie producer following his collegiate football career. He produced Mutiny on the Bounty.

Stanford All-America Robert "Horse" Reynolds, who played opposite Rosenberg, said, "He was a real talker, a whale of a holler guy. And he could live up to that talk." After naming him to his All-America team in 1933, Grantland Rice said, "Howard Jones (USC coach) calls him the best running guard in football and because of his great defensive skill Jones gave him a roving assignment behind Southern California's six -man line. Playing in a line with two inexperienced tackles this year (1933), he still held the Southern California defense together. He was the spearhead of the Southern California running game and his effective blocking was responsible for much of (quarterback Cotton) Warburton's success as a ball carrier."

Birth and Death Dates:
b. August 26, 1912 - d. September 1, 1979

Career Highlights:
Aaron entered USC in 1930 when the Trojans were a major football power. In 1931, the Trojans lost to St. Mary's in the first game of the season and then proceeded to win their next 10 matchups. Included in that streak was a 16-14 victory over Notre Dame at South Bend. The Trojan victory ended the Irish winning streak at 26 games and was the first time the Notre Dame Stadium was filled to capacity; it is considered one of the greatest games in college football history and 300,000 Trojan fans awaited the team's arrival in Los Angeles that night! USC finished the 1931 season with a record of 10-1-0 after defeating Tulane, 21-12, in the Rose Bowl to win the National Championship. USC coach Howard Jones said it was the "greatest offensive machine I have ever coached" after they outscored their opponents, 363-52.

The following year, both the Trojans and Rosenberg improved on their previous success. In 1932, Aaron was named INS All-America first team, UP All-America second team, Grantland Rice, AP All-America honorable mention, and AP All-Pacific Coast first team. He helped lead the Trojans to the National Championships and an undefeated season (10-0-0), capped by a 35-0 victory over Pittsburgh in the Rose Bowl. Many football experts say the 1932 team was the greatest USC team of all time.

In 1933, USC finished 10-1-1, with their only loss being to Stanford (which ended the Trojans' 27 game winning streak). Rosenberg was Grantland Rice, INS, UP, Real Magazine All-America first team, AP All-America second team, and AP All-Pacific Coast first team. Rosenberg is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the USC (University of Southern California) Athletic Hall of Fame.

Origin:
Brooklyn, New York

Career Dates:
Rosenberg played guard at the University of Southern California from 1930-1933.

Physical description:
6'0", 200 pounds



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References:
encyclopedia of JEWS in sports by Bernard Postal, Jesse Silver, and Roy Silver (New York: Bloch Publishing Co., 1965)
Great Jews in Sports by Robert Slater (New York: Jonathan David Publishers, 2000)