Burt
Matthies is a 1966 graduate of Wayne State College. At
the time of his induction he was the Chief Probation Officer
for the entire Nebraska District of the U.S. Court system,
and he resided in Omaha.
A Stanton
native, he graduated from Stanton High School and then
joined the service. After leaving the service he attended
WSC from 1962-66, receiving a bachelor's degree in physical
education with a minor in biological science.
A four-year
football letterman for Coach John Jermier's Wildcats,
Burt served as captain his senior year. He broke in with
a bang, tallying 23 touchdowns and gaining 1,399 yards
during his freshman and sophomore seasons. He averaged
better than 100 yards per game during his sophomore and
junior years, and had better than an 80-yard average per
game over his career. Perhaps the least known but most
impressive fact is that he lost just 35 rushing yards
throughout his career.
He was
the Wildcat's punter his junior and senior seasons, and
boasted a sparkling 43.4-yard average his last year, including
a school-record 83-yarder against Minnesota-Morris. He
was nationally-ranked as a punter both seasons.
Wayne
State was 21-14 during Burt's playing days. He was an
All-Conference selection all four years, and an honorable
mention All-America during three of those campaigns. At
the time of his induction, he stood as the all-time football
scoring king in the WSC annals with 234 points. His 2,882
rushing yards were third on the 'Cats all-time charts,
and his 2,958 yards in total offense was fourth-best at
WSC.
Burt
was drafted in the ninth round by the NFL's Los Angeles
Rams back in the days of the 20-round draft. After being
cut by the Rams, he returned to Nebraska and played for
the semi-pro Omaha Mustangs for three seasons.
In 1980,
Burt was honored by induction into the Nebraska Football
Hall of Fame. He taught for six years, then joined the
U.S. court system as a probation officer.
Matthies
was inducted into the WSC Athletics Hall of Fame September
18, 1982.