Cassady, Howard ("Hopalong")
Football
b. March 2, 1934, Columbus, OH
The most exciting college player of his era, Cassady was a starting halfback for four years at Ohio State. In his first game, he scored three touchdowns against the University of Indiana.
The 5-foot-10, 172-pound redhead, who was nicknamed for the popular movie cowboy, starred on defense as well as offense and often played 60 minutes a game. His coach, Woody Hayes, said that Ohio State never gave up a long touchdown pass while Cassady was in the game on defense.
As a senior in 1955, Cassady rushed for 958 yards, scored 15 touchdowns, and led the team in both pass receptions and interceptions. A consensus All-American his last two seasons, Cassady not only won the Heisman and Maxwell Trophies as college football's outstanding player, he was named Associated Press Athlete of the Year in 1955, beating out boxer Rocky Marciano and pro quarterback Otto Graham.
Cassady joined the NFL's Detroit Lions in 1956. After six seasons there, he played for the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles in 1962, then returned to Detroit for a final year in 1963. During his 8 professional seasons, he rushed for 1,229 yards on 316 carries, a 3.9 average, scoring 6 touchdowns; caught 111 passes for 1,601 yards, a 14.4 average, and 18 touchdowns; returned 43 punts for 341 yards, a 7.9 average; and ran back 77 kickoffs for 1,594 yards, a 20.7 average.