In April 1944, Tavener was selected by the Chicago Cardinals in the fourth round of the 1944 NFL draft, with the 28th overall pick.[7][8] However, after first accepting a role as line coach for the Denison University football team in Granville,[9] he decided early in September 1944 to return to Indiana for an additional college season, rather that coaching at Denison or playing professionally in the National Football League (NFL).[10] By playing an extra season, he became the first Indiana player to be awarded four varsity letters in a single sport.[11]
Tavener served as team captain of the 1943 and 1944 Hoosier squads,[12] and was a consensus selection to the 1944 College Football All-America Team.[13] He was not accepted to military service during World War II, due to a concussion he suffered during the 1942 season.[9]
Tavener played in several all-star games of the era. Following the 1943 season, he played in the 1944 edition of the East–West Shrine Game, held on January 1 in San Francisco, kicking an extra point for the East.[14] In August 1944, he played in the Chicago College All-Star Game, on a college team that lost by three point to the Chicago Bears—he scored a touchdown when his quarterback fumbled at the goal line and Tavener recovered the ball in the end zone.[15] He was also selected to play in the 1945 edition of the game, but had to withdraw after breaking his hand in practice.[16] He did participate in the 1946 edition of the game as a substitute,[17] on loan from his professional team at the time.[18] Tavener played in the Blue–Gray Football Classic following the 1944 season, contested in December in Montgomery, Alabama, kicking an extra point for the North.[19] He was also selected to play in the 1945 Blue–Gray game, but was dropped upon signing a professional contract.[20]
In 1945, Tavener returned to his high school as the head football coach.[21] Late in December 1945, Tavener signed a contract with the Miami Seahawks of the All-America Football Conference.[22] Due to injury,[23] he was limited to three games with the 1946 Miami Seahawks.[24] In December 1946, he was part of a multi-player trade with the league's Brooklyn Dodgers,[25] but there is no indication that he played for them.
Tavener went on to work for Banc Ohio Corporation for 38 years, retiring as a vice president.[2] He was honored as an inductee to the athletic hall of fame at his high school in 1987–88,[26] was inducted to the athletic hall of fame at Indiana University in 1990,[27] and was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990.[4]
Tavener died in September 1993 at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio.[28] He was survived by his wife, Lucy Tavener née Ashbrook, and by three sons and a daughter.[2]
