A.J. the Juice Man
Wayne State's 1960s Standout
Team-first “Apple Juice” Vaughn thrust WSU into football spotlight
By Kyle Stefan
Simply mentioning the name – Apple Juice – provides Wayne State loyalists a flashback to what many consider the golden era of college football.
During the 1960s, Michigan State and Notre Dame dueled for a national championship in the Game of the Century, Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes re-ignited a dormant rivalry, and O.J. “Orange Juice” Simpson was running roughshod over defenses across the country.
Not to be outdone, Wayne State football had its own dynamic playmaker of the late 1960s – A.J. “Apple Juice” Vaughn.
While “Orange Juice” Simpson was winning the Heisman Trophy at Southern California, “Apple Juice” Vaughn was dismantling defenses in the NCAA Small College Division for head coach Vern Gale and the then-Wayne State Tartars.
And his legacy, and famed nickname, lives on to this day.
“At the time, it was great,” Vaughn said. “I was noticed a little around campus, got some boxed apple juice, had some commercials with the [NFL's Atlanta] Falcons. I would run into people after Wayne, and they always brought it up.
“It has since lost some luster, because I was not in the class of O.J. Simpson, and he has since had some hard times. But it's always nice when people remember you, and at the time, it was pretty neat.”
Flashy nicknames aside, Vaughn was hardly all show and no substance. Setting 15 individual game, season and career records as a running back, quarterback and punter, he left his mark on the Wayne State football program after a lauded three-year college career.
Vaughn was inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985, and remains very proud of his metro-Detroit roots that instilled competitiveness and teamwork for a record-setting career – along with a very productive life after football.
“I always played team sports, and I was always around great coaches. It was gratifying to be part of something bigger than yourself. You can't replace that family-type feeling. We had that at [Dearborn] Fordson, and we definitely had that at Wayne.”
Strong Upbringing
Vaughn grew up in Dearborn, playing summer baseball in the long-running Adray Leagues, hockey in the outdoor rinks of Ford Woods, and, of course, football for Dearborn Fordson, long considered one of the state's traditional power-running teams and standout prep programs.
“We lost two games my senior year, and we were considered trash,” joked Vaughn. “That's just how it was. You really didn't play much until you were a senior – the guys ahead of you were just better. You learned from those ahead of you, and we had some good players, good quarterbacks – and exceptional coaches.”
Over time, Wayne State has forged an identity of grit and toughness on and off the football field. Players like Vaughn have contributed immensely, which he credits to the people in his hometown and the area mentality.
“Coming from the area, Detroit, and Dearborn, are tough towns,” Vaughn said. “Fordson has always been known as a tough football team. Athletes from there are expected to be tough, and are expected to be good. That's just the mentality.
“I can't tell you how many national championship teams I played with, growing up with baseball, football, and hockey. We were expected to win. Some places, you aren't, but when you come from that area – Dearborn and Detroit – you are expected to win. You grow up with that mantra.”
Dearborn Fordson has a legacy of tough, running quarterbacks, and Vaughn added to that as an All-Border Cities prep player. He knew he wanted to pursue football at the next level, and found a solid program – albeit a little up and down at the time – close to home that was more than happy to have him.
“I knew I wanted to play football, and I knew I wanted to get an education. Wayne was a great opportunity for me. I had the chance to sign and play baseball, like a couple of my friends, but I knew I wanted to keep playing football.”
Team Oriented
To glance at Vaughn's career records and accolades – most plays and total yards in WSU history – and then dissect his 1967 season, where he set single-season marks in total offensive yards and touchdowns thrown, one might categorize “Apple Juice” as a one-man wrecking ball.
Vaughn essentially quoted longtime ESPN analyst Lee Corso: “Not so fast, my friend.”
Former teammates like Mitch Ritter, Bob Schroeder, and Ron Solack are now renowned football names around the WSU athletic campus, and Vaughn still remembers their individual contributions to the team as much as anyone.
“We had a lot of other good players out there,” Vaughn said. “I would go back and watch tapes of my games, and I would see guys that made two blocks in one play. We had lots of guys out there doing their jobs, and doing them well.”
Vaughn started his Tartar career in 1965-66 as a running back and punter, but when Gale switched to the Wing-T offense, “Apple Juice” took control under center.
“I played quarterback in high school, but it was a maturing thing once I got to college. I understood the game better; I saw lots more things happening in the game. If you don't have good players, if you don't block, don't tackle, you don't win. That's just how it is. I was fortunate to learn that early on, and fortunate we were in a good place.”
Block and tackle, the Tartars did. In a 39-31 win over Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1967, Vaughn set the NCAA individual total offense record with 555 yards – 271 rushing and 284 passing, shattering a mark that stood for 25 years prior.
Life After Football
Vaughn's highlight show and offensive prowess earned him a NFL draft selection and tryout with the Atlanta Falcons.
But it wasn't a good fit, as the fledgling franchise was struggling with leadership and management.
“Professional sports are strictly business, and it's a different state of mind,” said Vaughn, no doubt swayed from his team-first approach. “It sours you if you don't have the right environment. In that situation, it was real bad.”
Fueled by his passions as a youth and college standout, Vaughn embarked on a successful post-playing career. He taught secondary education and coached high school football in Michigan, and worked privately in sporting goods and transportation industries.
Most notably, Vaughn returned to his hockey roots, playing competitively for a season in Hamilton, Ontario before landing the head coaching position with the Detroit Junior “A” Red Wings, where he coached Mark and Marty Howe – the sons of “Mr. Hockey” Gordie Howe.
“As a hockey player,” Vaughn said of being around the Howes, “there's nothing better.”
Currently living in Delaware, Vaughn hasn't forgotten his roots – or his alma mater.
“That athlete philosophy, the team approach -- through everything I've done as a coach, teacher, and trainer – it works,” Vaughn said. “Athletics focuses people. People build their foundations playing sports. I was blessed to have a good career, good education, and be around so many good people and professional athletes.
“It was all a byproduct of athletics. You run into people occasionally, from Fordson, from Wayne, and it's like we haven't missed a beat. Wayne has built some real traditions – and it's a lot tougher in football – through some great people and coaches, that I was fortunate enough to be around.”
Kyle Stefan is a former Editor In Chief of the South End, Wayne State University's student newspaper. He is a frequent writing contributor to the WSU Sports Information Office.
