Ernie Zeller played football at Indiana State from 1930 to 1933 but his most notable accomplishment may have been becoming the first All-American at Indiana State in another sport … wrestling. Zeller was inducted posthumously into the 22nd Class of the Indiana State Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct., 3, 2013.
Athletics was always a part of Zeller’s life although he played only one year of football in high school at Terre Haute Gerstmeyer. As a student-athlete for Indiana State Teachers College, Zeller excelled in both football and wrestling even though Indiana State did not have a wrestling program at the time.
Zeller was nicknamed “The Beast” during his three seasons on the varsity football team at Indiana State. He was a starting tackle on both offense and defense with several special plays designed for him as a running back. The 1933 Yearbook noted that “when the ‘Beast’ was in the lineup, no off-tackle smashes were directed over his side of the line.” Zeller was noted for being exceptionally fast for his weight and one of the hardest tacklers State has ever had. He was also a kicker on the team.
His prowess on the gridiron resulted in Zeller being named to the All-State team as a junior and a senior along with numerous weekly state selections. He also received the Bigwood Award in football as a senior.
Although Indiana State did not have a wrestling program, Zeller did represent the school at the 1932 NCAA Collegiate Championships at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., and the 1933 NCAA Collegiate Championships at Lehigh in Bethlehem, Penn. Competing in the heavyweight division, Zeller became Indiana State’s first All-American with a third place finish at the 1933 National Championship.
Zeller also wrestled in the 1932 U.S. Olympic Trials in Columbus, Ohio, and won three matches.
He may also have had a part in Indiana State Teachers College and the City of Terre Haute hosting the 10th Annual NCAA Wrestling Championships which marked the first time that Terre Haute or a teacher’s college hosted an official national intercollegiate athletic championship event.
After graduating from Indiana State, Zeller went on to play on the first professional football team in Toronto, Canada, as an offensive and defensive lineman. However, just as they had at Indiana State, Zeller had several plays drawn up for him in the backfield. He played on the Crosse & Blackwell team in 1934 where he also coached the line and was a member of the Wrigley Aromints in 1935.
Zeller returned to the Wabash Valley to become an assistant football and track coach at Robinson High School in Robinson, Ill. He was promoted to head football coach in 1937 and guided the Maroons to the Eastern Illinois Conference championship in 1941. He also served as the Eastern Illinois Conference football representative to the Interscholastic High School Football Association
He left the coaching ranks to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II, returning to the Wabash Valley at the end of his tour. Zeller was also an official for high school and college football games in Illinois and Indiana from 1946 to 1950.
Zeller moved into school administration in 1951, serving as Superintendent of the Metropolitan School District of Butler in Butler, Ind., (1951-1966) and as Vice President of the International Junior College in Ft. Wayne, Ind. (1966-1971).
Zeller was born on Sept. 1, 1909, and passed away on July 1, 1987. He was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame on August 18, 1979, in Richmond, Ind.
He is the 29th multi-sport athlete to be inducted into the Indiana State University Athletics Hall of Fame and the second to have played competed in football and wrestling. He is the 28th football player to be inducted and the sixth wrestler to be inducted.
- First All-American at Indiana State after third place finish at 1933 NCAA Collegiate Championships.
- Competed in 1932 U.S. Olympic Trials
- Played four years of football for Indiana State
- All-Indiana college team (1932, 1933)
- Bigwood Award winner in football (1932-33)
- Played professional football in 1933 for Toronto Crosse & Blackwell Chefs in the first Canadian Football League
Played for Toronto Wrigley Aromints in1934 also served as the line coach
- Head football coach at Robinson High School (1937-1941)
- Eastern Illinois League Football Representative in Interscholastic High School Football Association
- Officiated high school and college football in Indiana and Illinois (1946-1950)
- Inducted into Indiana Football Hall of Fame (1979)
- Principal of Mill Creek High School of LaPorte County and served as Superintendent of the Butler Township Schools in Dekalb County
- Died on July 1, 1987
- Inducted into Hall of Fame October 3, 2013
