Dave Casinelli
{{Short description|American football player (1940–1987)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox college football player
| name = Dave Casinelli
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| pastschools =
- Memphis State (1960–1963)
| currentnumber = 30
| currentposition = Fullback
| class = Graduate
| bowlgames =
| highschool =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1940|05|23}}
| birth_place = West Virginia, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1987|10|11|1940|05|23}}
| death_place = Leon County, Florida, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 9
| weight_lb = 200
| highlights =
- Memphis Tigers No. 30 retired
| CFBHOF_id =
| CFBHOF_year =
}}
David Anthony "Bull" Casinelli (May 23, 1940 – October 11, 1987), was an American football fullback. He played college football for the Memphis State Tigers from 1960 to 1963.{{cite web|title=Dave Casinelli|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=October 20, 2015|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/dave-casinelli-1.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915071029/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/dave-casinelli-1.html|archivedate=September 15, 2015}}
In 1963, Casinelli led Memphis State to an undefeated season and a #14 ranking in the final UPI Coaches' Poll. He also became the first Memphis State player to lead the NCAA in a major individual statistical category and the first Southern player to win the NCAA rushing title since John Dottley in 1949.{{cite news|title=Rushing Title for '63 Goes To Casinelli|newspaper=Evening Times, Cumberland, MD|date=December 10, 1963|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3453599/rushing_title_for_63_goes_to_casinelli/}} Going into the final game of the 1963 season, he ranked third in rushing yardage but totaled 210 rushing yards in the final game to finish ahead of Jimmy Sidle and Gale Sayers.{{cite news|title=Casinelli of Memphis St. No. 1 Rusher|newspaper=The Express|date=December 10, 1963|page=9|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3453564/casinelli_of_memphis_st_no_1_rusher/}} He led the NCAA for the 1963 season in rushing yardage (1,016 yards) and rushing carries (219).{{cite web|title=1963 Leaders|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=October 20, 2015|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1963-leaders.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905223616/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1963-leaders.html|archivedate=September 5, 2015}} He also tied with Cosmo Iacavazzi for the national scoring title with 84 points, each having scored 14 touchdowns.{{cite news|title=Iacavazzi, Casinelli Top Scorers|newspaper=Hazleton Standard-Speaker|date=December 13, 1963|page=28|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3453588/iacavazzi_casinelli_top_scorers/}}
During his four years at Memphis State, Casinelli established school records with 2,796 total yards from scrimmage and 36 career touchdowns.{{cite web|title=Remembering Those With Retired Jerseys: Memphis Tigers Halfback Dave Casinelli|date=May 1, 2015|publisher=SB Nation|url=http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/5/1/8501433/american-athletic-conference-memphis-tigers-dave-casinelli}} In January 1964, he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.{{cite news|title=Follansbee Grad Signs To Play With Canadians|newspaper=Raleigh Register|date=January 10, 1964|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3453583/follansbee_grad_signs/}} Casinelli died as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in 1987 in Leon County, Florida.