Marty Huff
Encyclopedia
Ralph Martin Huff is a former American football
linebacker
. He played for the University of Michigan
from 1968 to 1970. As a senior, he was selected as a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association
. After graduating from Michigan, Huff played professional football for the San Francisco 49ers
(1972), Edmonton Eskimos
(1973), and Charlotte Hornets
(1974–1975).
in 1948, but he grew up in the Old West End of Toledo, Ohio
. He was one of the five sons of Ralph and Martha Huff. Ralph Huff was an All-Indiana football player who attended Indiana University
in the 1930s. Each of the five Huff sons played football at St. Francis de Sales High School in Toledo. Huff later recalled:
As a freshman at St. Francis de Sales, Huff was 6 feet, 2 inches tall, weighed 145 pounds, and had no intention to play football. He liked basketball, but the school's football coach, Dick Mattingly, persuaded Huff's brother to get Marty to try out for the team.
Huff became a multi-sport star at St. Francis de Sales. He received two varsity letter
s in basketball, four in track and three in football. In track, he won the City League discus
and shot put
championships and set a school record in the shot put with a throw of 59 feet, 2 inches.
He played fullback for the St. Francis de Sales and, along with his brother Andy Huff (who later starred for Notre Dame
), led the team to a City League championship and a 10-0 record in 1966. That same year, Huff also set the school's single season record with 1,191 rushing yards, a record that stood for 10 years.
on a football scholarship in 1967. He played fullback for the freshman team in 1967, but switched to linebacker in his sophomore year. He recalled the transition from fullback to linebacker as follows:
debut with the 1968 Michigan football team
. In his first game for Michigan, a 31-10 victory over Duke in September 1968, Huff intercepted a pass and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown. He also accumulated 16 tackles and a fumble recovery in six games for the 1968 team.
. He also started three games for the offense, two at right tackle and one at left halfback.
The 1969 team was the first Michigan team coached by Bo Schembechler
. In Schembechler's first game as head coach, Huff returned a blocked punt 31 yards for a touchdown in a 42-14 win against Vanderbilt
.
In an October 1969 game against Purdue
, Huff intercepted three passes thrown by quarterback Mike Phipps
(later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
) to help Michigan win a close game, 31-30.
In November 1969, the Wolverines upset Ohio State
, 24-12. Huff had 10 tackles in the game and later recalled it as his college highlight. He said, "They were a powerhouse and nobody gave us a chance. I think we took them by surprise. We were psyched up, in control but high as a kite. Everything clicked for us."
After the 1969 season, Huff was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference
player by the Associated Press
.
that finished the season with a 9-1 record. Huff had 124 tackles, 5 interceptions, 85 interception return yards, and 4 pass break-ups in 1970.
After the 1970 season, Huff was selected as a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association
. He was also selected to play on the East All-Star team in the 1970 East–West Shrine Game.
in the 5th round (127th overall pick) of the 1971 NFL Draft
. He appeared in three games for the 49ers during the 1972 NFL season
.
In September 1973, the 49ers traded Huff to the Buffalo Bills
. Huff opted to play for the Edmonton Eskimos
of the Canadian Football League
during the 1973 season.
In September 1974, Huff signed to play for the New York Stars in the new World Football League
. Huff stayed with the team when it moved to Charlotte, North Carolina
and became the Charlotte Hornets
. He played for Charlotte in the 1974 and 1975 seasons.
In April 1976, Huff signed with the Washington Redskins
, but he did not play in the 1976 NFL regular season
.
, where he started a stonemasonry
business. He remained in that business for 16 years. In 1992, Huff moved to Temperance, Michigan
, and became a supervisor at Toledo Molding & Die.
Huff has a daughter and two sons from his first marriage. His youngest son, Ben Huff, played linebacker at Michigan from 1994 to 1996 and with the Atlanta Falcons
from 1998 to 1999.
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...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. He played for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1968 to 1970. As a senior, he was selected as a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
. After graduating from Michigan, Huff played professional football for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
(1972), Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
(1973), and Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets (WFL)
The Charlotte Hornets were an American football team in the short-lived World Football League. They were relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, from New York City in the middle of the 1974 season.-History:...
(1974–1975).
Early years
Huff was born in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
in 1948, but he grew up in the Old West End of Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
. He was one of the five sons of Ralph and Martha Huff. Ralph Huff was an All-Indiana football player who attended Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
in the 1930s. Each of the five Huff sons played football at St. Francis de Sales High School in Toledo. Huff later recalled:
"It was kind of crazy. I had two brothers who picked on me, but I had two other brothers to pick on. Dad was a pretty big guy, so we didn't mess around too much in the house. As far as football goes, Dad never forced the issue. If we didn't want to play, that was OK with him."
As a freshman at St. Francis de Sales, Huff was 6 feet, 2 inches tall, weighed 145 pounds, and had no intention to play football. He liked basketball, but the school's football coach, Dick Mattingly, persuaded Huff's brother to get Marty to try out for the team.
Huff became a multi-sport star at St. Francis de Sales. He received two varsity letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
s in basketball, four in track and three in football. In track, he won the City League discus
Discus throw
The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus...
and shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
championships and set a school record in the shot put with a throw of 59 feet, 2 inches.
He played fullback for the St. Francis de Sales and, along with his brother Andy Huff (who later starred for Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
), led the team to a City League championship and a 10-0 record in 1966. That same year, Huff also set the school's single season record with 1,191 rushing yards, a record that stood for 10 years.
1967 season
Huff enrolled at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
on a football scholarship in 1967. He played fullback for the freshman team in 1967, but switched to linebacker in his sophomore year. He recalled the transition from fullback to linebacker as follows:
"As a freshman you were there to be meat. One day in practice I'm playing fullback and, when I go out for a pass, this little linebacker named Dennis Morgan who had forearms like Popeye just about ripped my head off. Right then and there I said 'I want to be that guy, not this guy.' I had no problem switching to linebacker."
1968 season
As a sophomore, Huff made his college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
debut with the 1968 Michigan football team
1968 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1968 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1968 college football season. Bump Elliott served as the team's head coach for his tenth and final season...
. In his first game for Michigan, a 31-10 victory over Duke in September 1968, Huff intercepted a pass and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown. He also accumulated 16 tackles and a fumble recovery in six games for the 1968 team.
1969 season
As a junior, Huff started at linebacker in all 11 games for the 1969 Michigan Wolverines football team1969 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1969 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1969 college football season. The team was head coached by Bo Schembechler in his first year at Michigan. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium....
. He also started three games for the offense, two at right tackle and one at left halfback.
The 1969 team was the first Michigan team coached by Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
. In Schembechler's first game as head coach, Huff returned a blocked punt 31 yards for a touchdown in a 42-14 win against Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Commodores football
The Vanderbilt Commodores football program is a college football team that represents Vanderbilt University. The team currently competes in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Southeastern Conference...
.
In an October 1969 game against Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
, Huff intercepted three passes thrown by quarterback Mike Phipps
Mike Phipps
Michael Elston Phipps is a former professional American football quarterback who played collegiately for the Purdue University Boilermakers , and professionally for both the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears .-College career:After playing high school for Columbus High School in Columbus,...
(later inducted into 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...
) to help Michigan win a close game, 31-30.
In November 1969, the Wolverines upset Ohio State
1969 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1969 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1969-1970. The Buckeyes compiled a 8–1 record.-Schedule:-1970 NFL draftees:-References:Win/Loss statistics*...
, 24-12. Huff had 10 tackles in the game and later recalled it as his college highlight. He said, "They were a powerhouse and nobody gave us a chance. I think we took them by surprise. We were psyched up, in control but high as a kite. Everything clicked for us."
After the 1969 season, Huff was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
player by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
.
1970 season
Huff started all ten games at middle linebacker for the 1970 Michigan Wolverines football team1970 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1970 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1970 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler...
that finished the season with a 9-1 record. Huff had 124 tackles, 5 interceptions, 85 interception return yards, and 4 pass break-ups in 1970.
After the 1970 season, Huff was selected as a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
. He was also selected to play on the East All-Star team in the 1970 East–West Shrine Game.
Career statistics
In three years playing football at Michigan, Huff accumulated 266 tackles, nine pass interceptions, and 159 interception return yards.Professional football
Huff was selected by the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in the 5th round (127th overall pick) of the 1971 NFL Draft
1971 NFL Draft
The 1971 National Football League Draft was held on January 28–29, 1971.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
. He appeared in three games for the 49ers during the 1972 NFL season
1972 NFL season
The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to finish a championship season undefeated and untied when they beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII.-Major rule changes:...
.
In September 1973, the 49ers traded Huff to the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Huff opted to play for the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
during the 1973 season.
In September 1974, Huff signed to play for the New York Stars in the new World Football League
World Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
. Huff stayed with the team when it moved to Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
and became the Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets (WFL)
The Charlotte Hornets were an American football team in the short-lived World Football League. They were relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, from New York City in the middle of the 1974 season.-History:...
. He played for Charlotte in the 1974 and 1975 seasons.
In April 1976, Huff signed with the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, but he did not play in the 1976 NFL regular season
1976 NFL season
The 1976 NFL season was the 57th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 28 teams with the addition of the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
.
Later years and family
In 1976, Huff moved to Rock Hill, South CarolinaRock Hill, South Carolina
Rock Hill is the largest city in York County, South Carolina and the fourth-largest city in the state. It is also the third-largest city of the Charlotte metropolitan area, behind Charlotte and Concord, North Carolina. The population was 71,459 as of . Rock Hill has undergone rapid growth between...
, where he started a stonemasonry
Stonemasonry
The craft of stonemasonry has existed since the dawn of civilization - creating buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone from the earth. These materials have been used to construct many of the long-lasting, ancient monuments, artifacts, cathedrals, and cities in a wide variety of cultures...
business. He remained in that business for 16 years. In 1992, Huff moved to Temperance, Michigan
Temperance, Michigan
Temperance is an unincorporated community in Bedford Township, Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes. The population was 7,757 at the 2000 census...
, and became a supervisor at Toledo Molding & Die.
Huff has a daughter and two sons from his first marriage. His youngest son, Ben Huff, played linebacker at Michigan from 1994 to 1996 and with the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
from 1998 to 1999.