Alan Ameche

  • Heisman Trophy winner (1954 )
  • Locked back number at the College
  • NFL Rookie of the Year
  • 4x Pro Bowl selection ( 1955-1958 )
  • 4x All- Pro ( 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959) 1 2 team
  • NFL Championship (1958, 1959)
  • NFL 1950s All- Decade Team
  • Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
  • College Football Hall of Fame (1975 )
  • Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame (1967 )

Alan Dante Ameche ( born March 1, 1933, Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA; † August 8, 1988 in Houston, Texas, born Lino Dante Amici ), nicknamed " The Horse ", a U.S. American football player was. He played fullback for the Baltimore Colts in the National Football League ( NFL).

Youth

The parents of Alan Ameche, August and Elizabeth Ameche, came from Italy and immigrated to the United States, but decided to return to Italy. After a stay of a year, she made ​​her decision reversed and returned to the United States. The original name of the family was converted into Ameche. At the age of 16 years, Alan Ameche then gave himself his new name because he was of the opinion that his previous name not listen to " hard " enough. Ameche played in Kenosha at the high school American football and was voted player selection due to his athletic achievements. In 1950, it was his team's undefeated and he scored 108 points. Ameche was also a good athlete and was honored by his school as both Athlete, as well as a football player.

Playing career

College career

Alan Ameche studied from 1951 to 1954 at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. He got his nickname from an assistant coach of his college football team, as he was " working like a horse " after his remarks. In the years 1953 and 1954 he was elected to the All- American. In 1954 he was awarded the Heisman Trophy. During his college career, he scored 25 touchdowns and 673 runs at an area gain of 3,212 yards. In 1955, he played under head coach Curly Lambeau in college all-star game against the Cleveland Browns. His team won with 30:27.

Professional career

Alan Ameche was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1955 in the first round in second place. The Colts paid Ameche a salary of $ 15,000. Weeb Ewbank was coach of the team that managed over the years to form from the Colts a top team. Many other top players like Johnny Unitas, Lenny Moore and Raymond Berry could be bound by the Colts. In 1958 the team moved from Baltimore in the NFL a championship game. Opponents were the New York Giants, who could be defeated by 23:17. Ameche carried thereby into the NFL history books. Repeatedly set of Unitas in scene, get him two touchdowns. The last touchdown decided the game, as he scored in overtime. The game is considered by many football fans as the best football game ever.

In 1959 Ameche was able to win his second title. Again were the Giants in the NFL playoff opponent. They had to again, this time with a pass 31:16, beaten.

After the 1960 season Alan Ameche ended his career.

Familial

Alan Ameche was the cousin of Hollywood actor Don Ameche and Jim Ameche.

After the NFL

Together with his teammates Gino Marchetti founded Ameche 1957, the restaurant chain " Gino's ". Alan Ameche was married and had six children. He died of a heart attack and is on the Calvary Cemetery in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, buried.

Honors

Alan Ameche won the Heisman Trophy in 1954. His shirt number is no longer assigned to his college. He played four times in the Pro Bowl, the final game of the best players of the season. Ameche was elected four times to the All- Pro. He is a member of the NFL 1950s All- Decade Team, the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, in the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.

Runningback NFC Championship Game Indianapolis Colts Athletics (sport) Coach (sport) National Football League 1950s All-Decade Team Bobby Layne Bobby Walston Rosey Brown Bob St. Clair Jim Parker (American football) Len Ford Ernie Stautner Joe Schmidt Jack Butler (American football) Dick Lane (American football) Jack Christiansen Emlen Tunnell
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