Hopalong Cassady

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American football player, considered the most exciting college player of his era. Cassady, nicknamed "Hopalong" after the popular movie cowboy, was one of the best players in the history of Ohio State, where he was a starting halfback. He went on to play professional football in the NFL for eight seasons as a halfback, split end for the Detroit Lions (1956–1961, 1963), Cleveland Browns (1962) and Philadelphia Eagles (1962). As a boy, he attended prep school at Columbus Central and loved to sneak into Ohio Stadium to watch the Buckeyes play. Cassady went on to attend Ohio State from 1952-1955, where he played both football and baseball. The 5'10" (1.78 m), 172 lb. (83 kg) redhead grabbed the spotlight immediately when he scored three touchdowns during his first collegiate game. His sports ability was not, however, confined to offensive play; he excelled at defense as well, in the position of defensive back. During his last two seasons, he won both the Heisman and Maxwell Trophies and was named All-American. The Associated Press named him Athlete of the Year for 1955. In 1956, immediately after college, Cassady joined the NFL’s Detroit Lions, where he played for six seasons. In 1962, he played for both the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles, but returned to Detroit in 1963, his final season. After retiring from football, Cassady opened his own company, manufacturing concrete pipes. He sold that business in 1968 and began selling steel with Hopalong Cassady Associates. After a stint with American Shipbuilding in Tampa, Florida, he became a coach and scout for the New York Yankees. More recently he coached for the Columbus Clippers. Cassady and his wife Barbara had three children and four grandchildren and made their home in Florida. In 1979, he was inducted into the National Football Foundation and the College Hall of Fame. Cassady died on 20 September 2019, aged 85, at his home in Tampa, Florida. Link to Wikipedia biography