1. Howard Albert "Hopalong" Cassady was an American professional football halfback and split end who played in the National Football League.
19 Facts About Howard Cassady
1. 2.
Howard Cassady played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1955.
3.
Howard Cassady was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
4.
Howard Cassady was born in Columbus, Ohio and attended the now closed Central High School.
5.
Howard Cassady played football for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1952 to 1955.
6.
Howard Cassady played defensive back; a pass was never completed on him in his four years at the university.
7.
Howard Cassady was twice selected as a unanimous All-American, in 1954 and 1955.
8.
That year Howard Cassady finished third in the vote for the Heisman Trophy, behind Alan Ameche of Wisconsin.
9.
Howard Cassady earned the nickname "Hopalong" during his first game as a freshman for Ohio State.
10.
In that game, Howard Cassady came off the bench to score three touchdowns in a win over Indiana University.
11.
At this point Coach Woody Hayes told Howard Cassady to take a seat and brought in backup running back Robert Croce, who executed the play flawlessly and carried the ball for 20+ yards.
12.
Howard Cassady held some Ohio State career records for many years following his graduation.
13.
Howard Cassady held the career rushing record until it was surpassed by Jim Otis in 1969, the career all-purpose yards record until surpassed by Archie Griffin in 1974, and the scoring record until surpassed by Pete Johnson in 1975.
14.
Howard Cassady led the team in home runs in 1955, and stolen bases in 1956.
15.
Howard Cassady became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity there.
16.
Howard Cassady was a member of The Pigskin Club Of Washington, DC National Intercollegiate All-American Football Players Honor Roll.
17.
Howard Cassady played eight seasons in the National Football League: seven for the Detroit Lions, and one season split between the Cleveland Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles.
18.
Howard Cassady died on September 20,2019, at his home in Tampa, Florida.
19.
Howard Cassady is one of at least 345 NFL players to be diagnosed after death with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is caused by repeated hits to the head.