Ron Vander Kelen
Encyclopedia
Ronald Vander Kelen is a former American football
quarterback
in the National Football League
. He played at the collegiate level
at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
and is best-known for his MVP performance in the 1963 Rose Bowl
, where he broke numerous Rose Bowl records, some of which still stand. In that game, he orchestrated a legendary fourth quarter comeback attempt against the #1-ranked USC Trojans in the first #1 versus #2 bowl game
match-up in college football
history. Vander Kelen was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1991.
In August 1963, he started the Chicago College All-Star Game which pitted college all-stars (selected from the graduating class after the 1962 college football season
) against the defending NFL champion Green Bay Packers
, his home town team. The college all-stars defeated the Packers 20-17, with a 74-yard touchdown completion to his former Badger #1 target, Pat Richter
, providing the winning touchdown. Vander Kelen was named the game MVP. 1963 would be the last time the college all-stars defeated the NFL champions in this game.
He went undrafted in the 1963 NFL Draft
and drafted in the 21st round of the 1963 AFL Draft (New York Jets
). He signed a contract with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings
and was the backup to Fran Tarkenton
from 1963-1966 and competed for the starting position after Tarkenton was traded to the New York Giants
in 1967.
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...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played at the collegiate level
College 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...
at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
and is best-known for his MVP performance in the 1963 Rose Bowl
1963 Rose Bowl
The 1963 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1963 at the end of the 1962 college football season. It was the 49th Rose Bowl Game. The USC Trojans defeated the Wisconsin Badgers, 42–37...
, where he broke numerous Rose Bowl records, some of which still stand. In that game, he orchestrated a legendary fourth quarter comeback attempt against the #1-ranked USC Trojans in the first #1 versus #2 bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
match-up in college football
College 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...
history. Vander Kelen was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1991.
In August 1963, he started the Chicago College All-Star Game which pitted college all-stars (selected from the graduating class after the 1962 college football season
1962 college football season
During the 20th Century, the NCAA had no playoff for the college football teams that would later be described as "Division I-A". The NCAA did recognize a national champion based upon the final results of "wire service" polls. The extent of that recognition came in the form of acknowledgment in...
) against the defending NFL champion Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, his home town team. The college all-stars defeated the Packers 20-17, with a 74-yard touchdown completion to his former Badger #1 target, Pat Richter
Pat Richter
Hugh Vernon Richter is the former University of Wisconsin–Madison athletic director and American football player. He was responsible for hiring Barry Alvarez from Notre Dame in 1990 as head football coach, restoring the Badgers football program to national prominence.-Playing career:Richter was...
, providing the winning touchdown. Vander Kelen was named the game MVP. 1963 would be the last time the college all-stars defeated the NFL champions in this game.
He went undrafted in the 1963 NFL Draft
1963 NFL Draft
The 1963 National Football League Draft was held on December 4, 1962.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
and drafted in the 21st round of the 1963 AFL Draft (New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
). He signed a contract with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
and was the backup to Fran Tarkenton
Fran Tarkenton
Francis Asbury "Fran" Tarkenton is a former professional football player, TV personality, and computer software executive....
from 1963-1966 and competed for the starting position after Tarkenton was traded to the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1967.
See also
- 1962 college football season1962 college football seasonDuring the 20th Century, the NCAA had no playoff for the college football teams that would later be described as "Division I-A". The NCAA did recognize a national champion based upon the final results of "wire service" polls. The extent of that recognition came in the form of acknowledgment in...
- 1962 Wisconsin Badgers football team1962 Wisconsin Badgers football teamThe 1962 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin in the 1962 college football season, and in the 1963 Rose Bowl as the champions of the Big Ten Conference.-Season:...
- 1963 Rose Bowl1963 Rose BowlThe 1963 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1963 at the end of the 1962 college football season. It was the 49th Rose Bowl Game. The USC Trojans defeated the Wisconsin Badgers, 42–37...