Ailinger played center and tackle for the University of Buffalo football team and was captain of the basketball team for one year.
He played as a reserve on the line during the 1924 Buffalo Bisons (NFL) season.[2] He was part of an initiative to boost gate attendance for the Buffalo, New York franchise, mixing local talent such as Ailinger with big-name stars such as Benny Boynton, Eddie Kaw, Pete Calac and Swede Youngstrom. He was paid $50 U.S. for each game he was on the roster. After the 1924 NFL season, Ailinger swiftly retired despite an offer to return to the team in 1925. (As a future dentist, he was fearful of hurting his hands.) Ailinger put his NFL earnings toward tuition for dental school at the University of Buffalo.[3]
In addition to running a successful dental practice for over 60 years, Ailinger remained involved in sports. He served as an assistant football coach and assistant basketball coach at the University of Buffalo. He was once considered the dean of eastern collegiate football officials, officiating in over 425 college football games from 1925 to 1960. He was frequently sought after for prestigious collegiate football assignments and worked four Army–Navy Games and three Harvard–Yale games. He also spent time in the mid-1940s as the general manager of the Buffalo Bisons (AHL) minor league hockey franchise.
In 1998, he was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. He was, at the time of his death in 2001, the oldest surviving NFL player.[4] (Sam Dana, who was born in 1903, assumed that title after Ailinger's death.)
Referencesedit
^"Football's Living Legend," UBtoday - Spring/Summer, 1998.
^"He tackled Jim Thorpe," The Argus-Press - January 30, 1998.
^"James Ailinger, Ex-N.F.L. Player, Dies at 99," New York Times - April 1, 2001.
January 01, 1970
ailinger, james, joseph, ailinger, july, 1901, march, 2001, dentist, american, basketball, football, player, university, buffalo, football, player, buffalo, bisons, national, football, league, long, time, college, football, linesmen, born, july, 1901buffalo, y. James Joseph Ailinger July 10 1901 March 27 2001 was a dentist an American basketball and football player for the University of Buffalo a football player for the Buffalo Bisons of the National Football League NFL 1 and long time college football linesmen Jim AilingerBorn July 10 1901Buffalo New YorkDied March 27 2001 2001 03 27 aged 99 Rochester New YorkCareer informationPosition s Guard TackleCollegeBuffaloCareer historyAs player1924Buffalo BisonsCareer highlights and awardsGreater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame 1998 Oldest surviving NFL player 2001 Career statsPlaying stats at NFL com Ailinger played center and tackle for the University of Buffalo football team and was captain of the basketball team for one year He played as a reserve on the line during the 1924 Buffalo Bisons NFL season 2 He was part of an initiative to boost gate attendance for the Buffalo New York franchise mixing local talent such as Ailinger with big name stars such as Benny Boynton Eddie Kaw Pete Calac and Swede Youngstrom He was paid 50 U S for each game he was on the roster After the 1924 NFL season Ailinger swiftly retired despite an offer to return to the team in 1925 As a future dentist he was fearful of hurting his hands Ailinger put his NFL earnings toward tuition for dental school at the University of Buffalo 3 In addition to running a successful dental practice for over 60 years Ailinger remained involved in sports He served as an assistant football coach and assistant basketball coach at the University of Buffalo He was once considered the dean of eastern collegiate football officials officiating in over 425 college football games from 1925 to 1960 He was frequently sought after for prestigious collegiate football assignments and worked four Army Navy Games and three Harvard Yale games He also spent time in the mid 1940s as the general manager of the Buffalo Bisons AHL minor league hockey franchise In 1998 he was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame He was at the time of his death in 2001 the oldest surviving NFL player 4 Sam Dana who was born in 1903 assumed that title after Ailinger s death References edit Football s Living Legend UBtoday Spring Summer 1998 Jim Ailinger Career Stats NFL com He tackled Jim Thorpe The Argus Press January 30 1998 James Ailinger Ex N F L Player Dies at 99 New York Times April 1 2001 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jim Ailinger amp oldid 1187495450, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
