Jack Abendschan was the leading scorer in Saskatchewan Roughriders history when his legendary CFL career concluded 50 years ago.
A throwback to an era when placekickers conventionally played on offence or defence, the perennial All-Star guard performed at such a high level that he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
But when accolades came his way, he routinely deflected the praise.
“I know Jesus gave him his talent and he always gave that credit,” Marjorie Abendschan, Jack’s wife, said on Tuesday from Lubbock, Texas.
“He loved the game of football and everyone there. To know him is to love him.”
Marjorie’s love for her husband was a source of strength and inspiration throughout a health struggle that began in 2008 when he was diagnosed with dementia.
He passed away in Lubbock, Texas on Monday, three days shy of his 83rd birthday and 60 years after the former University of New Mexico standout signed with the Roughriders. Then a 225-pounder, he was undersized by NFL/AFL standards.
In July of 1965, Abendschan made the northward trek to Saskatchewan with New Mexico Lobos teammate Wayne Tvrdik, who was also trying out for the Roughriders.
“I was driving a Studebaker Lark,” Abendschan recalled in a Dec. 28, 2005 interview. “We had it packed full of clothes and stuff.
“We kept checking the radio to see what language they were speaking in Canada. We didn’t know if we were going to have interpreters. I just didn’t look into it that much.
“When I was in Eunice, New Mexico and went to the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, I didn’t hardly know anything about Canadian football. We just never heard much about it. I didn’t know anything about Canada, so everything was all new.’’
Born in San Francisco, he subsequently resided in Eunice, where his father (Rev. Jack Abendschan) was a minister. The junior Abendschan then enrolled in university and became a fixture on the Western Athletic Conference All-Star team.
Shortly after Abendschan’s graduating season in 1964, then-Roughriders Head Coach Bob Shaw travelled to New Mexico. First impressions were favourable.
However, Abendschan never played for the coach who made the initial overtures as part of the recruiting process.
Shaw resigned on Dec. 11, 1964 to join the Toronto Argonauts, who offered a lucrative contract the community-owned Roughriders could not match.
Shaw was succeeded by his assistant, Eagle Keys, who compiled an eye-popping 68-25-3 record over six seasons as Saskatchewan’s Head Coach.
In Year 1 under Keys, George Reed rushed for a franchise-record 1,768 yards and was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player. As a rookie, Abendschan was among the blockers who cleared paths for Reed during his landmark season.
In 1966, Abendschan excelled for a Saskatchewan team that won the first Grey Cup in franchise history. He converted all four Saskatchewan majors and made a key block on a 31-yard, fourth-quarter TD run by Reed in a 29-14 victory over the Ottawa Rough Riders.
Earlier that year, Abendschan had become the first Roughrider to kick a field goal of 50-plus yards. He had kicked a school-record 50-yarder at New Mexico.
A 52-yarder was one of three game-tying field goals he kicked as a Roughrider. He produced 11 game-winners, the most memorable of which propelled Saskatchewan into the Grey Cup.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers had yet to lose at home in 1972 when they opposed Saskatchewan in the Western Final. Winnipeg led 24-7 in the third quarter before Saskatchewan stormed back with 20 unanswered points.
With the score tied 24-24 and six seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, an Abendschan field-goal attempt was wide.
The Bombers’ Mike Law, desperate to avert a game-winning single, punted the ball out of the end zone. Roughriders holder Ron Lancaster retrieved the ball and punted it back.
The Bombers’ Paul Williams (a future Roughrider) responded with another punt, which was fielded by Charlie Collins. A rival player was bearing down on Collins when he caught the football. The home team was flagged for no yards with time expired.
Because a game cannot end on a penalty, the Roughriders were given another opportunity to attempt a game-winning field goal. Abendschan’s 32-yarder produced a classic, 27-24 win.
Abendschan soon played in his fourth and final Grey Cup Game.
Also in 1972, he was named a CFL All-Star for the fourth of five times. The final All-Star berth would follow in 1973. He was also a seven-time divisional honouree.
Additionally, Abendschan led the Western Conference in scoring in 1969 and 1970, registering 110 points each season.
He missed the 1974 campaign after undergoing surgery to repair torn knee cartilage, but returned the following season to help Saskatchewan reach its 10th consecutive Western Final.
Abendschan announced his retirement on March 4, 1976. At the time, he was the Roughriders’ career leader in points (863), field goals (159) and converts (312).
All these years later, Abendschan is fourth on the Roughriders’ points list, behind Dave Ridgway (2,374), Paul McCallum (1,615) and Brett Lauther (1,110). Ridgway, McCallum and Abendschan are all in the Hall of Fame. Lauther is an active player.
Abendschan entered the Plaza of Honour in 1992. In 2008, he was inducted into the University of New Mexico Athletics Hall of Honor.
Post-football, Abendschan initially remained in Saskatchewan, working as a personnel superintendent in the potash industry and volunteering as a minor football coach.
He later relocated to Abilene, Texas, where he was employed in the oil and gas industry. And, of course, he remained involved in football as a coach. He and Marjorie moved to Lubbock late in 2023.
Despite being more than 2,000 kilometres removed from Saskatchewan, this part of the world was always close to his heart. Nearby at all times was a giant photo of Abendschan in his No. 53 Roughriders jersey.
“Everybody just loved playing the game,” he reflected in 2005. “You could still play football and get paid for it.
“Wow … that was awesome.”