Mel Anthony
Encyclopedia
Mel Anthony is a former American football
running back. He played football for the University of Michigan
from 1962 to 1964 and was named the Most Valuable Player
of the 1965 Rose Bowl
after setting a Rose Bowl
record with an 84-yard touchdown
run. He played in the Canadian Football League
in 1965 for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
and in 1966 for the Montreal Beavers.
in Cincinnati, Ohio
. He played on offense at the fullback
position and on defense as a linebacker
for Roger Bacon's football team. In December 1960, he was selected by the UPI as a first-team All-Ohio defensive player at linebacker.
position for Bump Elliott
's Michigan Wolverines football
team from 1962 to 1964. He was Michigan's lead rusher in 1963 and 1964. In two games against Iowa
in 1963 and 1964, Anthony scored six touchdowns (three each in 1963 and 1964) and rush
ed for 204 yards (83 in 1963 and 121 yards in 1964). He also rushed for 84 yards on 15 carries (5.6 yards per carry) against the 1963 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
. As a senior, Anthony was one of the leaders of the 1964 Michigan Wolverines football team
that won the Big Ten Conference
championship and defeated Oregon State
in the 1965 Rose Bowl
. The 1965 Rose Bowl was Anthony's final game for Michigan, and Anthony was named the game's Most Valuable Player
after he rushed for a career-high 123 yards, scored three touchdowns, and averaged 9.5 yards per carry. He also set a Rose Bowl Game
record with an 84-yard touchdown run, surpassing the prior record set by Iowa's Bob Jeter
in the 1959 Rose Bowl
. Following the game, the Long Beach Press Telegram wrote:
in the 16th round (223rd overall selection) of the 1965 NFL Draft
. He signed with the Browns in early July 1965, but he was cut in late August, shortly before the start of the regular season. After being cut by the Browns, Anthony opted instead to play in the Canadian Football League
. He was initially signed by the Edmonton Eskimos
, but he was also cut by the Eskimos. He finally signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
and helped lead the team to the 1965 Grey Cup
championship. Anthony was cut by the Tiger-Cats in August 1966 and signed with the Montreal Beavers.
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...
running back. He played football 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 1962 to 1964 and was named the Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
of the 1965 Rose Bowl
1965 Rose Bowl
The 1965 Rose Bowl, played on January 1, 1965 was the 51st Rose Bowl Game. The Michigan Wolverines defeated the Oregon State Beavers by a score of 34–7...
after setting a Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
record with an 84-yard touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
run. He played in 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....
in 1965 for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
and in 1966 for the Montreal Beavers.
Early years
Anthony attended Roger Bacon High SchoolRoger Bacon High School
Roger Bacon High School is a high school in St. Bernard, Ohio, USA based in the Franciscan Tradition.This high school was dedicated in 1928, and was under the administration of and staffed by the Brothers and Priests of the Order of Friars Minor, and lay men and women...
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. He played on offense at the fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
position and on defense as a 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...
for Roger Bacon's football team. In December 1960, he was selected by the UPI as a first-team All-Ohio defensive player at linebacker.
University of Michigan
In 1961, Anthony enrolled at the University of Michigan. He played at the fullbackFullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
position for Bump Elliott
Bump Elliott
Chalmers W. "Bump" Elliott is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played halfback at Purdue University and the University of Michigan...
's Michigan Wolverines football
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
team from 1962 to 1964. He was Michigan's lead rusher in 1963 and 1964. In two games against Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
in 1963 and 1964, Anthony scored six touchdowns (three each in 1963 and 1964) and rush
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
ed for 204 yards (83 in 1963 and 121 yards in 1964). He also rushed for 84 yards on 15 carries (5.6 yards per carry) against the 1963 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
1963 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1963 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the 1963 college football season. The Buckeyes compiled a 5–3–1 record.-Schedule:-Coaching staff:* Woody Hayes - Head Coach - 13th year...
. As a senior, Anthony was one of the leaders of the 1964 Michigan Wolverines football team
1964 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1964 Michigan Wolverines football team, coached by Bump Elliott, won the Big Ten Conference championship with a final record of 9–1 after defeating Oregon State in the Rose Bowl, 34–7. The team had two first-team All-Americans in quarterback Bob Timberlake and defensive tackle Bill...
that won the 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...
championship and defeated Oregon State
Oregon State Beavers football
The Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
in the 1965 Rose Bowl
1965 Rose Bowl
The 1965 Rose Bowl, played on January 1, 1965 was the 51st Rose Bowl Game. The Michigan Wolverines defeated the Oregon State Beavers by a score of 34–7...
. The 1965 Rose Bowl was Anthony's final game for Michigan, and Anthony was named the game's Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
after he rushed for a career-high 123 yards, scored three touchdowns, and averaged 9.5 yards per carry. He also set a Rose Bowl Game
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
record with an 84-yard touchdown run, surpassing the prior record set by Iowa's Bob Jeter
Bob Jeter
Robert DeLafayette Jeter, Jr. was a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. He was raised in Weirton, WV where he attended Weir High School...
in the 1959 Rose Bowl
1959 Rose Bowl
The 1959 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1959. It was the 45th Rose Bowl Game. The Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the , 38–12. Bob Jeter, Iowa's star halfback, was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game...
. Following the game, the Long Beach Press Telegram wrote:
"Anthony, senior fullback who has been playing in the shadow of Michigan's touted Bob Timberlake, barreled his way into the record books with three touchdowns. His 84-yard dash (it actually was 84 1/2, the play starting on the 15 1/2 yard line) was the longest run in Rose Bowl history . . . while his 18 points tied the Bowl scoring record established 40 years ago by Elmer LaydenElmer LaydenElmer Francis Layden was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame where he starred at fullback as a member of the legendary "Four Horsemen" backfield...
... Anthony also recovered the punt that was blocked by tackle Bob Mielke in the third period, grabbing It on the Oregon State 15 — and later going in for the touchdown from a yard out. His other score came on a seven yard run. Although Elliott said he 'probably could name 22 players who could have been voted player of the game,' it was only natural that Anthony received the honor."
Professional football
Anthony was selected by the Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 16th round (223rd overall selection) of the 1965 NFL Draft
1965 NFL Draft
The 1965 National Football League Draft took place on November 28, 1964. The first player selected was Tucker Frederickson, back from Auburn, by the New York Giants. The draft was marked by the failure of the St...
. He signed with the Browns in early July 1965, but he was cut in late August, shortly before the start of the regular season. After being cut by the Browns, Anthony opted instead to play in 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....
. He was initially signed by 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...
, but he was also cut by the Eskimos. He finally signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
and helped lead the team to the 1965 Grey Cup
53rd Grey Cup
The 53rd Grey Cup, also known as the Wind Bowl, was hosted at CNE Stadium in Toronto, Ontario on November 27, 1965. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 22-16.-Weather conditions and change in punting rule:...
championship. Anthony was cut by the Tiger-Cats in August 1966 and signed with the Montreal Beavers.