Bertelli, Angelo B.
Football
b. June 18, 1921, W. Springfield, MA
Known as the "Springfield Rifle" because of his strong, accurate arm, Bertelli was also a clever ball-handling quarterback and Notre Dame's punter for most of three seasons. In 1941, his sophomore year, he played tailback in the Notre Dame box formation and completed 70 of 123 passes for 1,027 yards.
The following season, Coach Frank Leahy switched to the T formation, in part to take full advantage of Bertelli's skills, and the junior quarterback responded by completing 74 of 165 passes for 931 yards.
In 1943, Notre Dame relied much more on the run. Bertelli completed 25 of only 36 passes for 512 yards and 10 touchdowns in 6 games before being drafted into the service. Despite his abbreviated season, he was named an All-American and won the Heisman Trophy as the outstanding college player of the year.
His successor at Notre Dame, Johnny Lujack, called him "the finest short passer that I've seen in the collegiate ranks" and sportswriter Grantland Rice said he was the finest ball-handler he'd ever seen.
After World War II, Bertelli played with the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference in 1946 and with the AAFC's Chicago Rockets in 1946 and 1947. He completed 76 of 166 passes for 972 yards and 8 touchdowns as a professional.