Hank Lauricella
Encyclopedia
Francis E. Lauricella, known as Hank Lauricella (born October 9, 1930, in Harahan
, Louisiana
) was a Hall of Fame
American football
player for the Tennessee Volunteers football
team. He served as a Democrat
in the Louisiana State Senate
from Jefferson Parish
in the New Orleans
suburbs from 1972 to 1996. On his retirement, Lauricella was succeeded by the Republican
Art Lentini
.
at the University of Tennessee
from 1949 to 1951. He was a member of the 1950 National Championship team
and the 1951 National Championship team
. Lauricella gained fame as the running back
in the single wing offense, at the time that most schools had switched to the T-formation. At that position, Lauricella was responsible for the majority of the rushing and passing. Due to his skill at both aspects, Lauricella was dubbed "Mr. Everything."http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/fballamerica/lauricella.htm
In 1951, Lauricella was named as an All American and was the first runner up in the Heisman Trophy
voting to Dick Kazmaier
of Princeton University
. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1981.
Harahan, Louisiana
Harahan is a city in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 9,885 at the 2000 census.Harahan was named in honor of James Theodore Harahan, president of the Illinois Central Railroad from 1906-1911...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
) was a Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player for the Tennessee Volunteers football
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
team. He served as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in the Louisiana State Senate
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from Jefferson Parish
Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Jefferson Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States that includes most of the suburbs of New Orleans. The seat of parish government is Gretna....
in the New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
suburbs from 1972 to 1996. On his retirement, Lauricella was succeeded by the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Art Lentini
Art Lentini
Arthur J. "Art" Lentini, , is an attorney in Metairie, Louisiana, United States, who served from 1996 to 2008 as a Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate from District 10 in Jefferson Parish in the New Orleans suburbs. For eight years he was the Senate parliamentarian...
.
High school career
Lauricella was a star at Holy Cross High School in New Orleans. His team there won the city championship in 1947 with use of the single wing offense.College career
Lauricella played under Coach Robert NeylandRobert Neyland
Robert Reese Neyland, MBE was an American football player and coach and and officer in the United States Army, reaching the rank of brigadier general. He served three stints as the head football coach as the University of Tennessee...
at the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
from 1949 to 1951. He was a member of the 1950 National Championship team
1950 Tennessee Volunteers football team
The 1950 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1950 college football season. Led by head coach Robert Neyland, the Volunteers lost only one game, a 7–0 upset at Mississippi State in the second game of the season...
and the 1951 National Championship team
1951 Tennessee Volunteers football team
The 1951 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1951 college football season. In his next to last season as head coach, Robert Neyland led Tennessee to their second consecutive national title and the fourth during his tenure. 1951 was also Neyland's ninth...
. Lauricella gained fame as the running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in the single wing offense, at the time that most schools had switched to the T-formation. At that position, Lauricella was responsible for the majority of the rushing and passing. Due to his skill at both aspects, Lauricella was dubbed "Mr. Everything."http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/fballamerica/lauricella.htm
In 1951, Lauricella was named as an All American and was the first runner up in the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
voting to Dick Kazmaier
Dick Kazmaier
Richard Kazmaier was an American football player for Princeton University from 1949 through 1951 and winner of the 1951 Heisman Trophy. As a halfback, kicker and quarterback, he ended his career third all time in Princeton history with over 4000 yards of offense and 55 touchdowns...
of Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1981.
Sources
- 2006 University of Tennessee Football Media Guide
- Hall of Fame Bio
- Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Bio
- UTSport.com Bio and Stats