Xavier University Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1982
- Class:
- 1951
Tom Ballaban was one of the unsung heroes on the Xavier front line when the Musketeers won the 1950 Salad Bowl, the forerunner of today's Fiesta Bowl.
Ballaban, a fiery 6-foot, 200-pound offensive guard from Donora, Pennsylvania, helped open the holes through which runners like Cliff Wilke streaked.
After an outstanding high school career, Ballaban checked into the Army, where he continued to play football. While in the Army, he was named Army All-America and All-Pennsylvania.
Ballaban was a three-year starter on the offensive line and was an instrumental force on the Salad Bowl team that finished 10-1. Xavier posted victories over Dayton, Miami of Ohio, Cincinnati and Arizona State (33-12 in Salad Bowl on New Year's Day, 1950) that year.
During that 1949 season, Ballaban established himself as one of the premier offensive linemen in the area. At the conclusion of the season, he was named to the All-Ohio Team.
His senior year, 1950, the Musketeers continued their excellent play, finishing 7-1-1, losing only to Cincinnati, 33-20. Ballaban was again a major factor in the offense clicking the way it did, and was named 1950 Honorable Mention All-Ohio.
From Xavier University, he went on to coach both basketball and football at St. Xavier High School. In addition to his illustrious high school football coaching career, he also became well known as a fine basketball official. Ballaban is a former Officials Observer for the Midwestern Collegiate Conference and could be seen regularly courtside at Xavier basketball games.
