Tony Adamle (1924-2000)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2020-12-29-at-7-07-55-am.png?1612618209)
Linebacker/Fullback—(Ohio State) Cleveland Browns (AAFC/NFL) 1947-51,1954 [All-Pro 1951]
Sam "Amblin Sam from Alabam" Agee (1915-2006)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-8-11-23-pm.png?1611544468)
Fullback/Defensive Back—(Vanderbilt) Chicago Cardinals 1938-39
Sam Bartholomew (1917-1999)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-8-28-53-pm.png?1611545372)
Fullback/Linebacker—(Tennessee) Philadelphia Eagles 1941; Fort Benning 1942, Eastern Army All-Stars 1942
I played against Washington Redskins in Washington on day Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.
Sam Bartholomew, note to Mel Bashore, 1992
Sam Bartholomew, note to Mel Bashore, 1992
Steve Belichick (1919-2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-8-42-10-pm.png?1611546197)
Fullback/Linebacker—(Western Reserve) Great Lakes Naval Training Station Bluejackets 1942; Detroit Lions 1941; Coach—Southwest Louisiana Institute V-12 1943
You know how they paid the equipment man in those days? You're not going to believe this. Each player chipped in a dollar a week. And there were, what, 25 or 30 guys on the team? . . . . You could buy a new Ford back then for $600. Things were cheap. I was paying $1 a day to stay at the Hotel Saverine [in downtown Detroit].
Steve Belichick, on starting 1941 as equipment man/fullback coach for the Lions before making the team and getting paid $115 per game
Steve Belichick, on starting 1941 as equipment man/fullback coach for the Lions before making the team and getting paid $115 per game
"Doc" Blanchard (1924-2009)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-08-at-3-18-30-pm.png?1612822750)
Fullback—(Army) [#1 Scoring NCAA 1945, All-American 1944-46, Heisman Trophy 1945, Sullivan Memorial Award 1945, Maxwell Award 1945, Walter Camp Trophy 1945, College Football Hall of Fame 1959, "Mr. Inside"]
Most big fullbacks are crashers, divers, or pushers. Blanchard is different. Doc explodes off the mark. I've never seen another big man start so quickly . . . . Imagine a big bruising fullback who runs one hundred yards in ten seconds flat, who kicks off into the end zone, who punts fifty yards, who can also sweep the flank as well as rip the middle, who catches laterals or forward passes with sure-fingered skill, and who makes his own interference. That's Blanchard! What makes him a great fullback is the fact that he's really a halfback, that is he's fast enough to play halfback. He starts like a flash and he never stops driving. He does everything as well an any fullback I ever saw, and he does some things better. It's strange. There's something about the terrific power with which Blanchard runs that makes people think he's much bigger than he really is.
Red Blaik
Red Blaik
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/docbl663.jpeg?1612822626)
"I've just seen Superman in the flesh. He wears number 35 and goes by the name of Blanchard," were the words of Notre Dame coach Ed McKeever on first watching Felix "Doc" Blanchard. At Army 1944-46, Blanchard teamed with Glenn Davis to form college football's most honored backfield combination. Known as "Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside," Blanchard and Davis became the only members of the same backfield to become three-time consensus All-Americans and Heisman Trophy winners. During his three seasons at Army, Blanchard never played on a losing team , as only a 0-0 tie with Notre Dame in 1946 blemished a 27-0-1 record. In 1944, Army scored 56 points a game as the Cadets won the first of back-to-back national championships. The following season Blanchard won the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award. He also became the first football player to win the Sullivan Award as America's top amateur athlete. In a 28- game career he scored 38 touchdowns, leading the nation in scoring in 1945. Blanchard also played linebacker on defense and handled the Army kicking duties.
Ernie "The Wizard" Bonelli (1919-2009)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-12-at-5-21-49-am.png?1613132642)
Fullback/Linebacker/Halfback/Defensive Back—(Pittsburgh) Third Air Force Gremlins 1944; Chicago Cardinals 1945, Pittsburgh Steelers 1946
We didn't make the money they do today. We got $400 a game, which was good money in the 1940s.
Ernie Bonelli, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore, August 1, 1992
Ernie Bonelli, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore, August 1, 1992
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/bonell64_orig.jpeg)
This is a portion of a 3-page handwritten letter Ernie sent me on August 1, 1992. At the time, Todd Gill and I were collaborating on researching WWII service football teams. In another letter to me, Bonelli wrote that he wanted to help us with our project. He sent me photocopies of nine service football programs, amounting to about 50 xerox copies. Unfortunately, Gill and I decided that the research couldn't be completed without taking research trips to distant repositories. Although we collected much documentation, the project wasn't completed because we couldn't take those at-a-distance research trips. As mentioned, I have several letters and notes and a signed 3x5 card from Bonelli.
Nick Borrell (1905-1992)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-05-at-1-55-32-pm.png?1609880191)
Fullback/Wingback/Tailback/Blocking Back—(Muhlenberg) Newark Tornadoes 1930
Without a question, I believe Nick was the only one-man team I have ever seen in my athletic and professional life. Nick is one of the greatest football players this country has ever had.
Pat Tedesco
Pat Tedesco
Arda Bowser (1899-1996)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-6-04-57-am.png?1611579927)
Fullback/Wingback/Tailback/Kicker—(Bucknell) Frankford Yellowjackets 1922, Canton Bulldogs 1922, Cleveland Indians 1923 [All-American (Grantland Rice) 1921]
The fellows today would be in for a shock if they had to play the game the way we did. Our helmets were really nothing but a little bit of felt with a piece of leather on top. They would get so hot, we'd just take ’em off sometimes. [Bowser is credited with inventing the kicking tee] The tee idea started when I played for Bucknell. The ball was a bloated thing back then and I needed a way to get under it, so I made a tee with mud. I sent one of the freshmen to town to buy a steel washtub with handles. We put dirt in it, mixed it into mud and then had the kid run up and down the sidelines with it. I'd come over, scoop out a handful of mud and go build my tee.
Arda Bowser
Arda Bowser
Les Bruckner (1918-2014)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-30-at-5-43-13-am.png?1612010904)
Fullback/Linebacker—(Michigan State) Kenosha Cardinals (Independent) 1941, Fort Pierce Naval Amphibious Training Base Commandos 1944, Chicago Cardinals 1945
Fred Carideo (1911-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2020-12-29-at-1-40-12-pm.png?1609274450)
Fullback—(Notre Dame) 1933-35
Jim Castiglia (1918-2007)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-6-10-51-am.png?1611580288)
Fullback/Linebacker—(Georgetown) Personnel Distribution Command Comets 1945; Philadelphia Eagles 1941,1945-46, Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1947, Washington Redskins 1947-48 [All-American 1940, he played MLB for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1942]
The Redskins did me a favor taking me on when I was released by the Colts. In return, I did them a favor. I'd have played for $5 a game, instead of what they gave me, just to prove to myself and Washington I wasn't washed up. Now the Redskins and I are even.
Jim Castiglia
Jim Castiglia
John "Cutz" Cavosie (1908-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2020-12-29-at-1-48-28-pm.png?1609274980)
Fullback/Linebacker/Blocking Back/Defensive Back/Wingback/Offensive End/Defensive End/Tackle—(Butler) Portsmouth Spartans 1931-33
He once drop-kicked a 55-yard field goal when playing for Ironwood High School. He played at Butler and was a charter member of the Portsmouth Spartans who became the Detroit Lions.
Al Cornsweet (1906-1991)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-6-19-57-am.png?1611580851)
Fullback—(Brown) 1926-28; Cleveland Indians 1931; Coach—Cleveland Indians 1931
Rufus "Gus" Deal (1917-2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-6-27-45-am.png?1611581643)
Fullback/Defensive Back—(Auburn) Washington Redskins 1942
Jeff Durkota (1923-2013)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-19-at-5-13-21-pm.png?1613780072)
Fullback/Linebacker—(Penn State) Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1948
Tony "Hawk" Falkenstein (1915-1994)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-6-38-26-am.png?1611581957)
Fullback/Linebacker/Blocking Back—(St. Mary's, Calif.) Oakland Giants (PCFL) 1940,1946, San Francisco Packers (PCFL) 1941, Green Bay Packers 1943, Brooklyn Tigers 1944, Boston Yanks 1944, Camp Beale Bears 1945
I did play against the Salt Lake Seagulls . . . .I had my nose caved in and had to have it repaired.
Tony Falkenstein, note to Mel Bashore
Tony Falkenstein, note to Mel Bashore
Gary Famiglietti (1913-1986)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/famigl594.jpeg?1613650733)
Fullback/Linebacker/Halfback—(Boston University) Chicago Bears 1938-45, Boston Yanks 1946 [#1 Rushing TDs 1942]
Andrew "Anvil Andy" Farkas (1916-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-13-at-6-54-54-am.png?1610546127)
Fullback/Defensive Back/Halfback/Wingback/Linebacker—(Detroit) Washington Redskins 1938-44, Detroit Lions 1945 [All Pro 1939, #1 Scoring 1939]
He was an exceptionally good ballplayer. He wasn’t the fastest guy on the team, but he was very shifty when he ran the ball.
Clyde Shugart
Clyde Shugart
Gene Fekete (1922-2011)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-18-at-7-04-49-am.png?1616072724)
Fullback/Linebacker—(Ohio State) Fort Bragg 3rd Field Artillery Replacement Training Center Cannoneers 1943, Cleveland Browns (AAFC) 1946
Harrison "Sam" Francis (1913-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2020-12-30-at-10-49-29-am.png?1609350632)
Fullback/Defensive Back/Halfback/Linebacker—(Nebraska) Chicago Bears 1937-38, Pittsburgh Steelers 1939, Brooklyn Dodgers 1939-40 [1936 Olympics, shotput, bronze medal; All-American 1936, College Football Hall of Fame 1977]
Francis is a left-handed passer and a left-footed kicker, but he does everything right, if you get what I mean. He can throw the ball a mile, and at a mile a minute clip, yet it lands "soft." And if he isn't the best kicker in college football, where is his superior?
Henry McLemore
Henry McLemore
Lucien "Galloping Lou" Gambino (1923-2003)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-13-at-8-46-37-am.png?1610552867)
Fullback/Linebacker—(Indiana/Maryland) Maxwell Field Eastern Flying Training Command Eagles 1945; Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1948-49
[I was the] highest scorer in the nation [in] 1947 [and received the] Washington Touchdown Club Award as [the] outstanding halfback in the country.
Lou Gambino
Lou Gambino
Bobby Grayson (1914-1981)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-07-at-2-00-40-pm.png?1612731666)
Fullback—(Stanford) [All-American 1934-35, College Football Hall of Fame 1955]
Johnny “Bam” Grigas (1920-2000)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-6-42-45-am.png?1611582216)
Fullback/Linebacker/Defensive Back—(Holy Cross) Chicago Cardinals 1943, Card-Pitt 1944, Boston Yanks 1945-47 [All Pro 1944]
Pat Harder (1922-1992)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/screen-shot-2020-12-31-at-3-26-24-pm_orig.png)
Fullback/Linebacker—(Wisconsin) Georgia Pre-Flight Skycrackers 1943-44, Chicago Cardinals 1946-50, Detroit Lions 1951-53 [All-American 1942, College Football Hall of Fame 1993, #1 Field Goals 1947, #1 Scoring 1947-49, All Pro 1947-49]
He was without a doubt the toughest son of a bitch I ever met in football. “You do the fancy shit, kid, I'll take care of the rest.” I remember him telling me. Happiness to Pat Harder meant knocking somebody on their ass. If he could loosen a few teeth or fracture somebody's nose in the process, he was happier for it.
Don Paul
Don Paul
Clarke Hinkle (1909-1988)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-20-at-8-41-16-am.png?1613835761)
Fullback/Linebacker/Halfback/Defensive Back—(Bucknell) Green Bay Packers 1932-41 [All Pro 1932,1935-38,1940-41, #1 Rushing TDs 1937, College Football Hall of Fame 1971, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1964]
Dick Hoerner (1922-2010)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/hoernerr87.jpeg?1617539521)
Fullback/Linebacker/Defensive Back—(Iowa) Los Angeles Rams 1947-51, Dallas Texans 1952
Hoerner was tough.
Ed Sprinkle
Ed Sprinkle
Mike Holovak (1919-2008)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-6-48-06-am.png?1611582520)
Fullback/Linebacker—(Boston College) Melville Torpedo Boat Training Center Night Raiders 1945 (player/coach), Los Angeles Rams 1946, Chicago Bears 1947-48; Coach—New England Patriots 1961-68, New York Jets 1976 [All-American 1942, College Football Hall of Fame 1985]
An old fashioned kind of line bucker whom Gil Dobie, former B. C. coach, rated as "20 per cent of the football team." A triple threat back, he was rated as one of the nation's best as a backer-up [1942].
Leo H. Petersen
Leo H. Petersen
Roy Horstmann (1910-1998)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-6-58-35-am.png?1611583398)
Fullback/Linebacker/Defensive Back/Wingback—(Purdue) Boston Redskins 1933, Chicago Cardinals 1934 [All-American 1932]
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/horst6_orig.jpeg)
Roy Horstmann autographed this early 1930s Jack Sords cartoon on April 11, 1990. On the 3x5 card I have he wrote, "1933 was the beginning of the more extensive use of the forward pass. The goal posts were placed on the goal line. The side line stripes came into use. It was the start of a more open game with less running and more passing."
Ralph Horween (1896-1997)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-16-at-10-23-22-am.png?1613496266)
Fullback/Wingback/Blocking Back/Tailback—(Harvard) Racine Cardinals 1921, Chicago Cardinals 1921-23
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/horwen6.jpeg?1613496312)
I bought this 3x5 card (and original request envelope) in 2014 for $30 from Bill Butts, an autograph/rare books dealer in Galena, Illinois. He acquired it from the estate of Rich Laade, my autograph collecting mentor. Rich passed away in 1994 and Bill Butts bought Rich's autograph collection from Rich's brother. Before he died, Rich had sold many of the more valuable and prominent items in his collection.
Chester "Swede" Johnston (1910-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-10-26-06-am.png?1611422806)
Fullback/Linebacker/Defensive Back/Guard/Wingback—(Marquette/Elmhurst) Green Bay Packers 1931,1934-38, St. Louis Gunners (Independent/NFL) 1932-33, Cincinnati Reds/St. Louis Gunners (Independent/NFL) 1934, Pittsburgh Pirates 1939, Pittsburgh Steelers 1940 [Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame 1981]
I just didn't like wearing [a helmet], but Charley Malone and I made them change the rules. They made a rule making it mandatory to wear a helmet. I still didn't like it but Curley said "wear it" and I knew he meant it so I put it on.
Swede Johnston
Swede Johnston
George “Automatic” Karamatic (1917-2008)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-30-at-12-26-02-pm.png?1612034811)
Fullback/Defensive Back—(Gonzaga) Washington Redskins 1938; Los Angeles Bulldogs (AFL) 1939, San Diego Bombers (PCFL) 1940, Milwaukee Chiefs (AFL) 1940
Bob Kennedy (1921-2010)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/lrmed36.jpeg?1614600432)
Fullback/Defensive Back/Linebacker/Halfback—(Washington State) Third Air Force Gremlins 1944-45; New York Yankees (AAFC) 1946-49, New York Yanks 1950 [All-American 1942]
Some of the records I made in college are as follows:
1. Broke the total yards gained in a season held by Kenny Washington.
2. Broke national record for most times carried ball in a season.
3. Led Pacific Coast Conference in scoring [in] 1942, 2nd in 1941.
4. Scored 3 touchdowns in 3 minutes against Univ. Of Idaho [in] 1941.
Also I played in more All Star games [6] than anyone in history.
Bob Kennedy, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore, Dec. 28, 1995
1. Broke the total yards gained in a season held by Kenny Washington.
2. Broke national record for most times carried ball in a season.
3. Led Pacific Coast Conference in scoring [in] 1942, 2nd in 1941.
4. Scored 3 touchdowns in 3 minutes against Univ. Of Idaho [in] 1941.
Also I played in more All Star games [6] than anyone in history.
Bob Kennedy, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore, Dec. 28, 1995
John "Jarrin' John" Kimbrough (1918-2006)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-7-42-44-am.png?1611585833)
Fullback/Linebacker—(Texas A & M) New York Americans (AFL) 1941, Western Army All-Stars 1942, Kirtland Field Flying Kellys 1943, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1946-48 [All-American 1939-40, College Football Hall of Fame 1954, #12 All-Time AAFC Rushing, #15 All-Time AAFC Scoring]
He was the best fullback of all time . . . Kimbrough had power, speed, and determination. I class him with the best.
Homer Norton (Coach)
Homer Norton (Coach)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/jarridr66.jpeg?1612736973)
The passing game was dominating Southwest football during the late 1930s, yet a fullback named John Kimbrough was proving at least one team was still getting the most out of the ground game. The hulking Texas A&M star ran through opposing defenses with a force that usually created its own holes in the line. This pile-driving back rushed his way to All- America honors in 1939 and 1940 and led the Aggies to 20 victories in 21 games during those two years. In 1939, it was a perfect 11-game record, a 14-13 victory over Tulane in the Sugar Bowl and the national championship. The following year, the Aggies went 9-1-0, beating Fordham in the Cotton Bowl, 13-12. There was no more familiar sight than that of the 6-2, 210-pound Kimbrough crashing across the goal line, his high knee action breaking tackle after tackle. Kimbrough's coach, Homer Norton, compared him to the legendary Red Grange, Jim Thorpe and Bronko Nagurski. There were few who disagreed. His nickname was Jarrin' John. In the Sugar Bowl victory over Tulane 14-13, he rushed for 152 yards in 26 carries and scored two touchdowns. Kimbrough served as a pilot in the Army Air Corps in World War II, retiring with the rank of captain. He played three years professionally with the Los Angeles Dons 1946-1948. Kimbrough became a rancher at Haskell, Texas, and served one term in the Texas Legislature.
Carl Kinscherf (1919-2006)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-11-03-12-am.png?1611597848)
Fullback/Defensive Back—(Colgate) New York Giants 1943-44, Paterson Panthers (AFL) 1946, Bethlehem Bulldogs (AFL) 1946
I don’t think that I averaged more than two yards a carry. I definitely don’t remember any breakaways.
Carl Kinscherf
Carl Kinscherf
John "Flying Dutchman" Kitzmiller (1904-1986)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-11-08-12-am.png?1611598174)
Fullback—(Army/Oregon) New York Giants 1931 [College Football Hall of Fame 1969]
Kitz can do all eight things, perfectly, required of a great back. In fact, the kid has only one weakness. He can't read!
John McEwan
John McEwan
Stan "Hammer of the North" Kostka (1912-1997)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-11-14-17-am.png?1611598536)
Fullback/Linebacker—(Minnesota) Brooklyn Dodgers 1935
Kostka was like a runaway tank when he had the ball.
George Svendsen
George Svendsen
Vic Kulbitski (1921-1998)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-11-26-41-am.png?1611599311)
Fullback/Linebacker—(Minnesota/Notre Dame) Buffalo Bisons (AAFC) 1946, Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1947-48
Jim Langhurst (1919-2008)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-12-at-5-40-20-am.png?1613133751)
Fullback—(Ohio State) Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks 1942 [Iowa Pre-Flight MVP 1942]
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-6-50-56-am.png?1611409901)
Alphonse “Tuffy” Leemans (1912-1979)
Fullback/Defensive Back/Quarterback—(Oregon/George Washington) New York Giants 1936-43 [#1 Rushing 1936, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1978]
Ernie "Moose" Lewis (1924-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-12-at-5-25-10-pm.png?1613175971)
Fullback/Linebacker/Punter—(Colorado) El Toro Marine Corps Air Station Flying Marines 1944-45; Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1946-48, Chicago Hornets (AAFC) 1949
Francis "Pug" Lund (1913-1994)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-03-at-8-20-13-pm.png?1609730465)
Fullback—(Minnesota) [All-American 1933-34, College Football Hall of Fame 1958]
Lund is a star all-around back—one of the best competitors I ever saw. You might break him in two but you couldn't stop him. He can kick, pass, run, block, and tackle, and he hits . . . hard . . . .As a ballcarrier, passer, kicker, blocker and tackler, he carried out every heavy assignment we gave him. He was battered and broken up. Teeth knocked out, finger amputated, thumb broken . . . but he carried on.
Bernie Bierman
Bernie Bierman
My son, William, sent this colored pencil drawing of Pug Lund to him in about 1990. William was about thirteen years old at the time.
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![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/puglu84.jpeg?1612736994)
It was Minnesota's ball, fourth down and four yards to go at the Pittsburgh 17. Time was running out when Gopher back Pug Lund found himself clutching a teammate's lateral and looking for daylight. Then he spotted end Bob Tenner in the open field, fired a strike to the rangy receiver and Minnesota suddenly had the touchdown which beat Pitt, 13-7, and ignited a Gopher charge to a perfect eight-game record and the National Championship. Lund averaged almost six yards per carry and passed with uncanny accuracy during that 1934 season, earning repeat laurels as an All-American. However, he was more than a limelight performer. Lund was a magnificent blocking back, blessed with a feel for play flow and timing. He was also an indestructible athlete, as Minnesota coach Bernie Bierman was quick to proclaim. "He was our spark plug," Bierman said. "He was battered and broken up, teeth knocked out, finger amputated, thumb broken, and through all that he carried on. Our opponents might break him in two, but they couldn't stop him." Hall of Fame coach Bierman would later call Lund the greatest competitor he had ever seen. Few Big Ten opponents would argue the point, for Lund left his imprint in the sod of many a gridiron across the land. He was, indeed, the ideal football player.
Frank McCormick (1894-1976)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-18-at-7-12-36-am.png?1616073279)
Fullback—(South Dakota) Camp Dodge 1917, Akron Pros (APFA) 1920-21, Cincinnati Celts (APFA) 1921
Clarence "Pug" Manders (1913-1985)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-16-at-5-35-17-pm.png?1613522158)
Fullback/Linebacker/Defensive Back/Blocking Back—(Drake) Brooklyn Dodgers 1939-43, Brooklyn Tigers 1944, Boston Yanks 1945, New York Yankees (AAFC) 1946, Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1947 [All Pro 1941]
Joe "The Maniac" Maniaci (1914-1996)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-09-at-5-13-03-pm.png?1612916027)
Fullback/Linebacker/Halfback/Defensive Back/Tailback—(Fordham) Passaic Red Devils (American Association) 1936, Paterson Panthers (American Association) 1938; Brooklyn Dodgers 1936-38, Chicago Bears 1938-41; Coach—Bainbridge Naval Training Station Commodores 1943-44, Norfolk Shamrocks (Dixie League) 1946, Paterson Panthers (AFL) 1947 [#1 Rushing Average 1939]
He was a great runner.
Sid Luckman
Sid Luckman
Andy “Anvil Andy” Marefos (1917-1996)
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Fullback/Defensive Back/Quarterback/Linebacker—(St. Mary's, Calif.) New York Giants 1941-42, San Francisco Packers (PCFL) 1943, Los Angeles Bulldogs (PCFL) 1943-44, Los Angeles Wildcats (AFL) 1944, Pearl Harbor Army Air Force Hawaiian Flyers 1945, San Francisco Clippers (PCFL) 1945,1948, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1946, Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) 1949 [#2 PCFL Scoring 1943, #1 PCFL Field Goals 1943, #1 PCFL Rushing 1943, AFL All-League 1944]
I spent 1943-44 and 45 in Uncle Sam's Air Force . . . .After the war I left the New York Giants because Slip Madigan, the General Manager of the Los Angeles Dons, was my former coach at St. Mary's College and he offered me twice the money I was getting with the Giants . . . .As for the P.C.F.L. players that I played against, they all played under fictitious names as they were in the service and did not want their C.O. service to know they were playing without permission.
Andy Marefos
Andy Marefos
Leonard "Mickey" Masini (1922-2000)
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Fullback/Linebacker—(Fresno State) San Francisco 49ers (AAFC) 1947, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1948
George "Mink" Melinkovich (1911-1994)
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Fullback—(Notre Dame) Tooele High School 1927-29; Coach—Utah State 1949-50 [All-American 1932, Utah Old Time Athletes Hall of Fame 1990]
[Knute Rockne would] sort of yodel my name . . . drawing out every syllable. And did he ever enjoy needling me about the Mormons in Utah . . . . I was fifth-string running back as a freshman. I was switched to fullback in 1932 and by the third game of my sophomore year, I started against Drake and had three touchdowns. We were all playing for Rockne [who was killed in an airplane crash on March 31, 1931]. I know I was.
George Melinkovich
George Melinkovich
Few Utahns could boast of once having played football for Notre Dame’s legendary Knute Rockne, but stellar Tooele athlete George Melinkovich could make that claim. He was an all-around sports star at Tooele who played football, basketball and track, earning All-State honors in football in 1928 and an All-American award in 1929. “Mink” attended Notre Dame in 1930, playing for Rockne, Elmer Layden and Hunk Anderson. He was the first sophomore to start first team for the Fighting Irish. He was selected as a first-team All-American fullback in 1932. Melinkovich returned to Tooele after his college career where he coached for 22 years.
Tom Mikula (1926-2014)
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Fullback/Linebacker—(William & Mary) Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1948
Marion Motley (1920-1999)
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Fullback/Linebacker—(South Carolina State/Nevada) Great Lakes Naval Training Station Bluejackets 1945, Cleveland Browns 1946-53, Pittsburgh Steelers 1955 [Pro Football Hall of Fame 1968]
The greatest back I ever had was Marion Motley. You know why? The only statistic he ever knew was whether we won or lost. The man was completely unselfish.
Paul Brown
Paul Brown
Frank "Moose" Muehlheuser (1926-2006)
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Fullback/Linebacker—(Colgate) Boston Yanks 1948, New York Bulldogs 1949
Jack "Moose" Myers (1924-2020)
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Fullback/Linebacker—(UCLA) Philadelphia Eagles 1948-50, Los Angeles Rams 1952; Coach—Pacific 1953-60
Bronko Nagurski (1908-1990)
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Fullback/Linebacker/Tackle—(Minnesota) Chicago Bears 1930-37,1943 [All-American 1929, College Football Hall of Fame 1951, All-Pro 1932-34,1936, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1963]
I learned that if you hit him by yourself, you were in trouble. If you hit him high, he'd take you about ten yards. The best way to tackle Bronko was to have your teammates hit him about the same time—one or two low, one or two high. He was the most powerful fullback that I ever played against in all my career. Bronko had a knack of running fairly low. He had a big body and he could get that body, that trunk, down and be able to throw his shoulder into you. If you didn't get under his shoulder, he just knocked you butt over tea kettles.
Mel Hein
Mel Hein
At the University of Minnesota he played the 1927 season at tackle. In 1928 and 1929, he started six games at tackle and 10 as fullback. In 1929, he was consensus choice as All-America tackle. In 1969, he was named tackle on the all-time All- America team picked by the Football Writers Association. Playing fullback in 1928 against Wisconsin, he scored a touchdown with six tacklers trying to hold him. In 1929, against Iowa he was in the lineup at five positions - end, tackle, guard, halfback and fullback. Minnesota had a record of 18- 4-2 in his time. At 6-2, 217-pounds, he became the Chicago Bears fullback 1930-37, came out of retirement for an additional season in 1943. He was a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame.
Ernie Nevers (1902-1976)
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Fullback—(Stanford) Jacksonville All-Stars (Independent) 1926, Duluth Eskimos 1926-27, Chicago Cardinals 1929-31, Memphis Tigers (Independent) 1932; Coach—Duluth Eskimos 1927, Chicago Cardinals 1930-31,1939, Lafayette 1936 [All-American 1925; College Football Hall of Fame 1951, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1963]
Ed “Bronco” Nowogroski (1915-2003)
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Fullback—(Washington) [2nd Team A.P. All Pacific Coast 1935]
He was a fast and good line plunger.
Howard H. Jones
Howard H. Jones
Oliver "Ollie" Olson (1912-1995)
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Fullback—(Northwestern) 1930-32
Bill Osmanski (1915-1996)
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Fullback/Linebacker—(Holy Cross) Chicago Bears 1939-43,1946-47; Coach—Camp Lejeune Marines 1944 (Coach) [College Football Hall of Fame 1973, #1 Rushing 1939, All-Pro 1939]
They [Chicago Bears] had a fullback, Bill Osmanski, who liked to file his cleats real sharp, although he was a good, clean ballplayer. Well, those games between the Bears and Packers were always bloodbaths, and in this one I was backing up the line when Osmanski came through on those sharpened cleats and tore open my leg so bad that the shinbone was all exposed.
Clarke Hinkle
Clarke Hinkle
Bill Osmanski provided the backfield leadership for the greatest teams in Holy Cross history, using his bursting speed, instinctive balance and awesome power to bolster one of the finest offensive threats in Eastern football during the late 1930s. The Holy Cross record in Osmanski's three years was 23-3-3; the losses were by scores of 13-12, 7-6, and 3-0. In 1936 his 85-yard run gave Holy Cross a 7-0 victory over Dartmouth. He had other runs of 92, 68, 65, and 45 yards, was given the nickname "Bullet Bill" and was named All-America in 1938. In 1939, he won the Most Valuable Player trophy in the College All-Star Game. He played pro with the Chicago Bears 1939-43, 1946-47. In between his two terms with the Bears, he served in the Marines in World War II and was at Okinawa, Guadalcanal, and Guam. The Bears won four league championships in his time, and he led the league in rushing yardage in 1939. Osmanski, in addition to playing with the Bears, earned a dental degree from Northwestern University. Osmanski was head football coach at Holy Cross 1948-49. After that he devoted full time to his dentistry practice in Chicago. Holy Cross retired his jersey, No. 25, and instituted the Osmanski Award for scholarship and athletics. Northwestern named an alumni award for him. The Chicago Catholic High School started the Osmanski award for the best scholar in the football ranks. Sports Illustrated in 1963 gave him its Silver Anniversary Award. A YMCA branch in Evanston, Illinois, was named for him.
Bill Paschal (1921-2003)
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Fullback/Defensive Back/Linebacker—(Georgia Tech) Service All-Stars 1944, First Air Force Aces 1945; New York Giants 1943-47, Boston Yanks 1947-48 [#1 Rushing 1943-44, All Pro 1944]
"Roaring" George Paskvan (1918-2005)
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Fullback/Defensive Back—(Wisconsin) Green Bay Packers 1941, Iowa Pre-flight Seahawks 1942 [Big Ten All Conference 1939-40]
Joe "The Jet" Perry (1926-2011)
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Fullback/Defensive Back—(Compton J.C.) Alameda Naval Air Station 1947, San Francisco 49ers (AAFC/NFL) 1948-60,1963, Baltimore Colts 1961-62 [All-AAFC 1949, AAFC No. 1 Rushing 1949, No. 1 Rushing 1953-54, All Pro 1953-54, NFL Player of the Year 1954, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1969]
I'm telling you, when that guy gets a handoff, his slipstream darn near knocks you over. I've never seen anybody get such a fast start. He's strictly jet-propelled.
Frankie Albert
Frankie Albert
Milt Piepul (1918-1994)
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Fullback/Linebacker—(Notre Dame) Detroit Lions 1941
He was blind as a bat. He was the first guy I was aware of who used contact lenses, and sometimes he had a hell of a time getting them in and keeping them in. That was a problem, because the fullback got the snap on every play except one in that offense.
Steve Belichick
Steve Belichick
Milt "Mia" Popovich (1915-2005)
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Fullback/Defensive Back/Wingback/Linebacker/Guard/Blocking Back—(Montana) Chicago Cardinals 1938-42
Eddie Price (1925-1979)
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Fullback—(Tulane) New York Giants 1950-55 [All-American 1949, College Football Hall of Fame 1982]
Dewey “Bull” Proctor (1920-2009)
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Fullback—(Furman) Great Lakes Naval Training Station 1943, Bainbridge Naval Training Station Commodores 1944, Pearl Harbor Pacific All-Stars 1945; New York Yankees (AAFC) 1946-47, Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1948, Brooklyn-New York Yankees (AAFC) 1949
Dick Renfro (1919-1998)
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Fullback/Linebacker—(Washington State) Second Air Force Superbombers 1944, Fourth Air Force Fliers 1945, San Francisco 49ers (AAFC) 1946
John Rogalla (1917-1999)
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Fullback/Linebacker—(Scranton) Jersey City Giants (American Association) 1940-41, Philadelphia Eagles 1945, Bethlehem Bulldogs (AFL) 1946, Wilkes-Barre Barons (AFL) 1947, Wilkes-Barre Bullets (AFL) 1948-49
"Jumping Joe" Savoldi (1908-1974)
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Fullback—(Notre Dame) Chicago Bears 1930 [he was a professional wrestler from 1931-50]
Walt Schlinkman (1922-1994)
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Fullback—(Texas Tech) Green Bay Packers 1945-49
Jerry Shipkey (1925-2009)
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Fullback/Defensive Back/Linebacker—(USC/UCLA) Pittsburgh Steelers 1948-52, Chicago Bears 1953
Jules Siegle (1923-2008)
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Fullback/Linebacker—(Northwestern) New York Giants 1948
Norm Standlee (1919-1981)
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Fullback/Linebacker—(Stanford) Chicago Bears 1941, Eastern Army All-Stars 1942, Camp Davis Blue Brigade 1943, San Francisco 49ers (AAFC/NFL) 1946-52
Bob Steuber (1922-1996)
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Fullback/Halfback/Linebacker/Defensive Back—(Missouri) 1940-42, (DePauw) 1943; Chicago Bears 1943, Ottumwa Naval Air Base Skyers 1944, Cleveland Browns (AAFC) 1946, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1947, Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1948 [All-American 1942, #1 Scoring NCAA 1942, College Football Hall of Fame 1971]
Ken Strong (1906-1979)
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Fullback/Defensive Back/Tailback/Kicker—(NYU) Memphis Tigers (Independent) 1929,1931, Staten Island Stapletons 1929-32, New York Giants 1933-35,1939,1944-47, New York Yankees (AFL) 1936-37, Jersey City Giants (American Association) 1938,1940, Service All-Stars 1944 (Asst. Coach) [All-American 1928; Helms Athletic Foundation Professional Football Hall of Fame 1950, College Football Hall of Fame 1957, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1967]
Strong . . . can do everything. He's a great punter, place kicker, pass thrower, and how he could carry his 198 pounds! I played with and against Strong, and he always stood out. He is tops when the chips are down . . . Ken is also a brilliant blocker, so I guess that makes him the class.
Red Cagle
Red Cagle
Charlie "Cotton" Timmons (1917-1996)
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Fullback/Linebacker—(Clemson) Georgia Pre-flight Skycrackers 1942, Memphis Naval Air Technical Training Center Blues 1943, Jacksonville Naval Air Station Fliers 1945; Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1946
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Mario "Motts" Tonelli (1916-2003)
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Fullback/Defensive Back—(Notre Dame) Chicago Cardinals 1940,1945; Keesler Field Fliers 1944
One year, and I'm out, boys. I’ll be back knocking you in the head before you can kick the mud off your cleats. Just don't give away my locker.
Mario Tonelli, to his teammates on his decision to join the Army on a one-year hitch in 1941
Mario Tonelli, to his teammates on his decision to join the Army on a one-year hitch in 1941
Tonelli caught nine passes for the Chicago Cardinals in 1940 before entering the Army as an artillery sergeant. After being captured by the Japanese, Tonelli was forced to march 70 miles under inhumane conditions. The march was responsible for the deaths of about 10,000. His 42 months as a prisoner of war included 60 days in darkness aboard a “hell ship” to Japan. There, he contracted diseases while working in rice paddies and factories. Tonelli went from 212 pounds to 92 at liberation, but he came back to play in one pro game. “I owe everything to Charlie Bidwell. He came to the hospital after the war and said, ‘Motts, before you left the Cardinals, you still had a three-year contract. We expect you to honor it.’ By renewing it, he provided me with a wonderful opportunity because, under the rules of the NFL, you had to play both before and after the war to get credit for your pension. Both of us knew it was nearly impossible for me to play again, but I was determined to do my best for him. I tried to play as an outpatient. Don Hutson came up, shook my hand and said, “Don't worry, kid. I'll make you look good.” The above autographed article entitled "Tonelli Makes Grid Comeback" discusses his brief return to the NFL after the war. He wrote that Wee Willie Wilkin and Byron "Whizzer" White were the toughest players in his estimation.
Morrie “Dit” Warren (1923-2002)
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Fullback/Linebacker—(Phoenix College/Arizona State) Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1948
He was a great guy and a great person. He was a real tough football player.
Wilford "Whizzer" White
Wilford "Whizzer" White
Howie Weiss (1917-1997)
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Fullback/Linebacker—(Wisconsin) Detroit Lions 1939-40, Milwaukee Chiefs (AFL) 1941
Pat West (1923-1996)
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Fullback/Linebacker—(Pittsburgh/USC) Los Angeles Bulldogs (PCFL) 1945, Los Angeles Rams 1945-48, Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) 1949
Roy "Buck" White (1901-1993)
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Fullback—(Valparaiso/Daniel Baker) Chicago Bears 1924-25,1927-29, Chicago Bulls (AFL) 1926
He was the best blocking back I ever played with.
Red Grange
Red Grange
Theodore "Ted" Williams (1916-1993)
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Fullback/Linebacker/Halfback/Defensive Back—(Notre Dame/Boston College) Philadelphia Eagles 1942, Boston Yanks 1945
Hugh Wolfe (1912-2010)
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Fullback/Defensive Back—(Texas) New York Giants 1938; Coach—Honolulu Bears (Hawaii Senior Football League) 1939, Waco Army Flying School 1942
I was actually drafted by Pittsburgh, but was traded right away to the New York Giants for "Whizzer" White. Whizzer demanded a $15,000 a year contract, and the most the Giants were paying was $8,000 to Tuffy Leemans. They couldn't pay what Whizzer wanted, so they traded horses for me. My contract with the Giants was for $4,000.
Hugh Wolfe
Hugh Wolfe
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I picked this article reporting a forthcoming game between the Giants and a hand-picked all-star team of pro players on Jan. 15, 1939. Among the players "waiting on the bench" behind the starting backfield were Tuffy Leemans, Hugh Wolfe, and Leland Shaffer. At the bottom of the page, Wolfe wrote that he was 94 1/2 years old. His daughter, Jill, mailed me a nice note and printed booklet about his life on Mar. 13, 2007. She explained, "I hope this one autograph will suffice. Although his mind is sharp his vision and hearing are impaired." She invited me to give him a telephone call, writing "he would be happy to speak to you on the phone." I did, but he wasn't up to speaking with me on the day that I called.
Vinnie Yablonski (1923-2008)
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Fullback/Linebacker—(Fordham/Columbia) Third Air Force Gremlins 1945; Chicago Cardinals 1948-51
Ray Zeh (1914-2003)
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Fullback—(Western Reserve) [national college scoring leader 1935]
Zeh wears the crown of high scorer for the 1935 football season. Zeh ran for 15 touchdowns in ten games and scored 22 points after touchdowns to roll up a total of 122 points.
A.P. report
A.P. report