Alan Ameche#Business career

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Alan Ameche

| image = Alan Ameche 1960.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Ameche {{circa}} 1960

| number = 35

| position = Fullback

| birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1933|6|1}}

| birth_place = Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|mf=yes|1988|8|8|1933|6|1}}

| death_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lb = 218

| high_school = Bradford (Kenosha)

| college = Wisconsin (1951–1954)

| draftyear = 1955

| draftround = 1

| draftpick = 3

| pastteams =

Baltimore Colts ({{NFL Year|1955|1960}})

| highlights =

2× NFL champion (1958, 1959)
NFL Rookie of the Year (1955)
First-team All-Pro (1955)
3× Second-team All-Pro (1956, 1958, 1959)
4× Pro Bowl (1955–1958)
NFL rushing yards leader (1955)
NFL rushing touchdowns leader (1955)
NFL 1950s All-Decade Team
Heisman Trophy (1954)
UPI Player of the Year (1954)
Unanimous All-American (1954)
First-team All-American (1953)
Chicago Tribune Silver Football (1954)
3× First-team All-Big Ten (1952–1954)
Wisconsin Badgers No. 35 retired

| statlabel1 = Rushing yards

| statvalue1 = 4,045

| statlabel2 = Rushing average

| statvalue2 = 4.2

| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns

| statvalue3 = 40

| statlabel4 = Receptions

| statvalue4 = 101

| statlabel5 = Receiving yards

| statvalue5 = 733

| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns

| statvalue6 = 4

| pfr = A/AmecAl00

| CollegeHOF = 1805

}}

Alan Ameche ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|m|iː|tʃ|i}}; June 1, 1933 – August 8, 1988), nicknamed "the Iron Horse", or simply "the Horse", was an American professional football player who was a fullback for six seasons with the Baltimore Colts in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers and won the Heisman Trophy during his senior season in 1954. He was elected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons in the league. He is often remembered for scoring the winning touchdown in overtime in the 1958 NFL Championship Game against the New York Giants, labeled "The Greatest Game Ever Played".{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nnxRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WxAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7348%2C4206836 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title=Colts win 23-17 in overtime |date=December 29, 1958 |page=4, part 2 |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-date=May 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501034402/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nnxRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WxAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7348,4206836 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1959/01/05/668467/the-best-football-game-ever-played |magazine=Sports Illustrated |last=Maule |first=Tex |author-link=Tex Maule |title=The best football game ever played |date=January 5, 1959 |page=8}}

With colleague and former Colts teammate Gino Marchetti, Ameche founded the Gino's Hamburgers chain.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jBsiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3aYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6120%2C8951720 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |location=(Pennsylvania) |agency=UPI |last=Richman |first=Milton |title=Alan Ameche atypical of former pro players |date=November 30, 1982 |page=22 }} He also founded the Baltimore-based Ameche's Drive-in restaurants.

Early life

Ameche was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as Lino Dante Amici to Italian immigrant parents who came to the United States in the late 1920s, although they returned for a year to Italy during his childhood. The family then returned to Kenosha, where he attended Bradford High School. Ameche was a cousin of actor brothers Don and Jim Ameche.{{cite magazine |last=Gregory |first=Sean |date=December 29, 2008 |title=Legends of the NFL's Greatest Game Ever: Alan Ameche |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1868793_1868792_1868777,00.html |magazine=Time |access-date=November 4, 2019}}

College career

Ameche earned unanimous All-America honors at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he played linebacker as well as fullback in single-platoon days. In four years as a Badger, he gained 3,212 yards, then the NCAA record, scored 25 touchdowns, and averaged 4.8 yards per carry. He played in the program's first bowl game, the 1953 Rose Bowl, as a sophomore, rushing for 133 yards on 28 carries. Ameche won the Heisman Trophy in 1954, the first for the Badger program.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZlYzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uPIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1120%2C1301091 |newspaper=Gettysburg Times |location=(Pennsylvania) |agency=Associated Press |title=Alan Ameche, who won for Colts in 1958, among 8 chosen for hall of fame |date=February 12, 1975 |page=15}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=H2MaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BSsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3504%2C88220 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |last=Berghaus |first=Bob |title=Ameche recalled as a great player and great person |date=August 9, 1988 |page=1C }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IWMaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BSsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1725%2C2241993 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |last=Wolf |first=Ron |title=Ameche valued friends, not glory |date=August 11, 1988 |page=1C}}

Ameche is one of six Wisconsin football players to have a number retired by the program (35) and enshrined on the Camp Randall Stadium façade as of 2008: fellow Heisman winner and current career rushing record holder Ron Dayne (33), Elroy Hirsch (40), Dave Schreiner (80), Allan Schafer (83), and Pat Richter (88) are the others. Ameche was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1967, the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975, and the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 2004.

NFL career

Ameche was the third overall selection of the 1955 NFL draft and played fullback for the Baltimore Colts from 1955 until 1960. Named NFL Rookie of the Year in {{nfly|1955}}, he was a four-time Pro Bowler (1955–58), and the only rookie named to the Associated Press All-Pro team in 1955.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UWQrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gtkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3638%2C319592|newspaper=Spencer Daily Reporter|location=(Iowa)|agency=Associated Press|title=Alan Ameche only rookie on pro team |date=January 6, 1956 |page=5}} Ameche averaged 4.2 yards per carry over his career, and held the record for most rushing yards in his first three NFL games (410) until Carnell "Cadillac" Williams broke the record by gaining 434 yards in 2005.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=250925009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230064410/https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=250925009|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 30, 2021|title = Buccaneers vs. Packers - Game Recap - September 25, 2005 - ESPN}}

Ameche may be best remembered for his role in the 1958 NFL Championship Game at Yankee Stadium, often cited as "The Greatest Game Ever Played." Ameche scored the winning touchdown for the Colts on a one-yard run with 6:45 left in overtime as the Colts beat the Giants, 23–17. It was his second touchdown of the day as he also scored a touchdown on a 2-yard run in the second quarter. His overtime touchdown was the last in championship history until Super Bowl LI in February 2017, when James White scored at 3:58 of overtime as the New England Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons, 34–28.

Due to an Achilles tendon injury in December 1960,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yTsaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MCcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2175%2C432044 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |agency=Associated Press |title=Alan Ameche to quit Colts; injury cause |date=June 21, 1961 |page=1, final }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IINRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vBAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4106%2C894906 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title='Horse' quits after 6 yrs. |date=June 22, 1961 |page=1, part 2 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pY4tAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HZ0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5940%2C4203676 |newspaper=Montreal Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=Colts fullback Ameche retires from gridiron |date=June 22, 1961 |page=29}} Ameche finished a relatively short six-season NFL career with 4,045 rushing yards, 101 receptions for 733 yards and 44 touchdowns. He is one of only four players named to the National Football League 1950s All-Decade Team not elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The others are Joe Fortunato, Dick Barwegen and Bobby Walston. In 2015, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Ameche to the P.F.R.A. "Hall of Very Good" Class of 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2015.htm |title=Professional Researchers Association Hall of Very Good Class of 2015 |access-date=November 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622185257/http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2015.htm |archive-date=June 22, 2017 |url-status=dead }}

NFL career statistics

class="wikitable"

! colspan="2"| Legend

style="background:#ffe6bd; width:3em;"|

| Won NFL Championship

style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|

| Led the league

Bold

| Career high

rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Team ! colspan="2"\| Games ! colspan="6"\| Rushing ! colspan="5"\| Receiving ! colspan="2"\| Fumbles
class= "wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
GP	GS	Att	Yds	Avg	Y/G	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Fum	FR
1955 \|\| BAL \| 12 \|\| 12 \|\| style="background:#cfecec;"\|213 \|\| style="background:#cfecec;"\|961 \|\| 4.5 \|\| 80.1 \|\| 79 \|\| style="background:#cfecec;"\|9 \|\| 27 \|\| 141 \|\| 5.2 \|\| 18 \|\| 0 \|\| 3 \|\| 1
1956 \|\| BAL \| 12 \|\| 12 \|\| 178 \|\| 858 \|\| 4.8 \|\| 71.5 \|\| 43 \|\| 8 \|\| 26 \|\| 189 \|\| 7.3 \|\| 22 \|\| 0 \|\| 3 \|\| 0
1957 \|\| BAL \| 12 \|\| 12 \|\| 144 \|\| 493 \|\| 3.4 \|\| 41.1 \|\| 49 \|\| 5 \|\| 15 \|\| 137 \|\| 9.1 \|\| 40 \|\| 2 \|\| 3 \|\| 0
1958 \|\| style="background:#ffe6bd;"\|BAL \| 12 \|\| 12 \|\| 171 \|\| 791 \|\| 4.6 \|\| 65.9 \|\| 28 \|\| 8 \|\| 13 \|\| 81 \|\| 6.2 \|\| 18 \|\| 1 \|\| 1 \|\| 0
1959 \|\| style="background:#ffe6bd;"\|BAL \| 12 \|\| 11 \|\| 178 \|\| 679 \|\| 3.8 \|\| 56.6 \|\| 26 \|\| 7 \|\| 13 \|\| 129 \|\| 9.9 \|\| 30 \|\| 1 \|\| 3 \|\| 0
1960 \|\| BAL \| 10 \|\| 7 \|\| 80 \|\| 263 \|\| 3.3 \|\| 26.3 \|\| 16 \|\| 3 \|\| 7 \|\| 56 \|\| 8.0 \|\| 19 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
colspan="2"\|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AmecAl00.htm Career] \|\| 70 \|\| 66 \|\| 964 \|\| 4,045 \|\| 4.2 \|\| 57.8 \|\| 79 \|\| 40 \|\| 101 \|\| 733 \|\| 7.3 \|\| 40 \|\| 4 \|\| 13 \|\| 1

Business career

Ameche's Drive-in was a fast-food restaurant chain based in Baltimore, founded by Alan Ameche.{{cite book | last=Klein | first=D. | title=The Game of Their Lives: The 1958 NFL Championship | publisher=Taylor Trade | year=2008 | isbn=978-1-58979-384-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=icm4fgniPLUC&pg=PA47 | access-date=December 9, 2017 | page=47}}{{cite book | last1=Patterson | first1=T. | last2=Smith | first2=D. | last3=Remsberg | first3=E.H. | last4=Gibbons | first4=M. | last5=Berry | first5=R. | title=Football in Baltimore: History and Memorabilia from Colts to Ravens | publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press | series=Football in Baltimore | year=2013 | isbn=978-1-4214-1237-5 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qasJAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT176 | access-date=December 9, 2017 | page=pt176}} Ameche's had five locations, all located in Baltimore or its suburbs:

Governor Ritchie Highway and 5th Avenue, Glen Burnie
5800 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore City
Loch Raven Boulevard and Taylor Avenue
7700 Wise Avenue, Dundalk
York Road and Timonium Road, Timonium

The restaurants were known for "no charge" carry out service, signature "Powerhouse" hamburgers{{cite book | last1=Bell | first1=U. | last2=Borges | first2=R. | title=Present at the Creation: My Life in the NFL and the Rise of America's Game | publisher=University of Nebraska Press | year=2017 | isbn=978-1-4962-0459-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3lU3DwAAQBAJ&pg=PP148 | access-date=December 9, 2017 | page=148}} ("A banquet on a bun"), akin to today's Big Mac or Whopper sandwiches, and "Cheerleader" sandwiches (hot ham and Swiss cheese with mustard) and their onion rings. The Loch Raven and Taylor location was open during the Summer of 1960.{{who|date=January 2022}} There is a McDonald's on the location today. The restaurants were typical drive-ins, with car side order boxes. Orders were delivered by a carhop who attached a tray to the lowered window. The company trademark was a Big Boy-like football player (#35) running through the uprights carrying a hamburger.{{who|date=January 2022}} In addition, Ameche's secret sauce was sold in many local grocery stores. The company slogan was "Meetcha at Ameche's!" Ameche's restaurants were informally known by many teenaged patrons as "UM-cheez."{{who|date=January 2022}}

Death

Ameche had undergone triple bypass surgery at age 46 in 1979. He died of a heart attack in 1988 at age 55 at Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, a few days after undergoing another heart bypass surgery, under the care of Dr. Michael DeBakey.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4yIiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=unQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4764%2C1446330 |newspaper=The Hour |location=(Norwalk, Connecticut) |agency=Associated Press |title=Alan Ameche dies |date=August 9, 1988 |page=38}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qbIxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vuQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6239%2C143959 |work=Reading Eagle |location=(Pennsylvania) |agency=news services |title=Alan Ameche dies of heart problems |date=August 9, 1988 |page=13}} He is interred at Calvary Cemetery in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.

References

External links

{{College Football HoF|1805}}
{{Heisman|alan-ameche}}
{{Footballstats |nfl=alan-ameche |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=A/AmecAl00 |rotoworld= }}
{{IMDb name|1850865}}
{{Find a Grave|21025}}