Alan Rock came to Maryville without considering any other college. “if MY Brother Les has made it his choice, it had to be the best one” stated the late Scots dual athlete. It was an easy transition from Blue Island, Illinois while big brother even took him in as a roommate. By the end of the decade there were five men from the same Chicago suburb enrolled at Maryville College and all of them contributed to the Scots football program. Alan would soon leave his mark while creating a legacy within the Highlands.
In 1942, Rock joined his brother and team Captain on Honaker’s offensive and defensive line. He later shared the same glove displayed on today’s podium with his brother as a Scots diamondman.
The War would put this young man’s education and athletic sills on hold for the next three years.
Upon his return to Maryville College after the War, Rock would anchor a line that would be remembered forever in the history of Scots athletics. Shutouts against Hiwassee, Tennessee Wesleyan, and Centre were the pre-curser for great things to come. MC beat ETSU 25-2 and then rang the victory bell against rival Emory & Henry 19-6. Another shutout over Sewanee put MC at 7-0 on the season. Carson Newman fell to the Scots 33-7 and Rock’s Scots closed out the season with a 41-0 trouncing of Tusculum College. Maryville ended the regular season 9-0 and were invited to the Inaugural Tangerine Bowl, 62 years later known as the Citrus Bowl. Maryville fell to Catawba 35-7 in the Florida Bowl game. The Scots held Catawba scoreless for the first quarter, but surrendered 18 second period points. MC’s Artie Spears provided their only score with a 2-yard plunge into the end zone. Rock and Davis blocked a punt while Berrong haulded in an interception.
The lads of Lombe earned the nickname “Giant Killers” during Rock’s junior season. MC beat two previously undefeated teams on the season en route to a 7-1-1 season. MC’s lone loss can at the hands of Tennessee Tech 13-7. Centre, ETSU, Sewanee, MTSU, Carson-Newman, and Tusculum all felt the sting of defeat at the hands of MC.
The spring of 1947 saw the return of varsity baseball at Maryville College. Rock helped Honaker’s diamondmen to a 15-5 effort.
Alan Rock was named team captain during his senior campaign. He consistently open holes for quarterback William Fogarty and tailback Leon Berrong. Rock ended his career on the gridiron with a 4-4 mark after victories over Western North Carolina, Emory & Henry, Carson-Newman, and Hiwassee. Alan really enjoyed beating the rivals of E&H and C-N!!
All of the Blue Island Boys had found their wives at Maryville College and after graduation three of them and Bob Smith migrated to the University of Tennessee to attain their Masters Degree. MC wasn’t that far and Alan’s wife, Jean, soon found herself complaining that during football season at UT game on Saturday afternoon and a Scots game on Honaker field on Saturday night was too much of a good thing!
After receiving his Master’s Degree, Alan found that other veterans had flooded the market for football coaches. As a “temporary” job to wait for a good opportunity he interviewed at the Insurance Exchange in downtown Chicago. 37 years later he retired from this temporary opportunity.
From Michigan, Alan was recalled to active duty and was sent to Korea. After he resigned his commission, he was assigned to offices in Ohio and Chicago. He retired in Akron, Ohio as a senior adjuster for Industrial Insurance claims.
In 1982, Alan and his wife Jean, built a log house at the foot of the Chilhowee Mountains as a second home. 26 years later, Alan had almost forgotten where he came from, but knew where he wanted to die. He wanted to rest close to Maryville College. At the age of 85 this 2009 Wall of Fame inductee passed away.
Ladies and gentlemen, please let me introduce Alan’s wife Jean and welcome Alan Rock to the Maryville College Wall of Fame Class of 2009.
