Hall of Fame
Strong-armed T-formation QB in 5-foot-11, 175-pound package. Two-time all-league pick. Selected on Northern Illinois All-Decade (1940s) squad during gridiron Centennial (1999). Ranked No. 4 nationally among College Division passers as senior (1948). Averaged 18.4 yards-per-completion in final campaign?second only to fellow HOF QB Lew Flinn (22.4 ypc. in 1957)?in modern era of NIU football (1948-2006). Completed 65-of-164 passes for team-leading 1,214 yards and five TDs and led Huskies in total offense (1,125 yards) (1948). Named First-Team All-Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and nominated for All-Midwest accolades as junior (1947). Earned varsity "NI" monograms on combined 17-9-2 won-lost-tie teams (8-2 in 1946, 4-3-2 in 1947, and 5-4 in 1948) for HOF coach George "Chick" Evans. Picked Second-Team All-Little 19 Conference on historic league title eleven and first Huskie postseason unit (Turkey Bowl in 1946). Produced career-high 297 air yards and one TD on 13-of-33 passes vs. Illinois State (10-9-48). Completed 12-of-27 aerials for 227 yards and one TD vs. Eastern Michigan (10-29-48). Transferred from Illinois. Played in five Illini games (1945). Signed free agent contract with NFL Chicago Cardinals (1949). Ex-NIU grid aide (1949) and head football coach at Glenbard West (1950). Inducted into Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame (1980). Prepped at Chicago Taft High. Co-founder of Balcor Corporation?one of nation's largest real estate firms.
