Alan Ameche

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Lino Dante "Alan" Ameche (March 1, 1933 — August 8, 1988), nicknamed "The Iron Horse", was an American football player who played six seasons with the Baltimore Colts in the National Football League. He was elected to the Pro Bowl in his first four seasons in the league.

He was native of Kenosha, Wisconsin. With colleague Gino Marchetti, he founded the Gino's Hamburgers chain. The Baltimore-based Ameche's drive-in restaurants was named for him. He died in Houston, Texas.

College career

Ameche was an All-American at the University of Wisconsin, where he played linebacker as well as fullback in those single-platoon days. In four years, he gained 3,212 yards, then the NCAA record, scored 25 touchdowns, and averaged 4.8 yards a carry. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1954. He is one of two Wisconsin players whose number (#35) has been retired and who appear on the Camp Randall Stadium façade (fellow Heisman winner Ron Dayne, #33, is the other).

NFL career

He was the fullback for the Baltimore Colts from 1955 until 1960. Named NFL Rookie of the Year in 1955. He was a 4-time Pro Bowler (1955-1958). He averaged 4.2 yard per carry over his career. He held the record for rushing yards in his first 3 NFL games until Carnell Williams passed it in 2005.

Ameche is best known for his role in the 1958 NFL Championship Game, known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played." Ameche scored the winning touchdown for the Colts on a one-yard run in overtime as the Colts beat the Giants 23-17.

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