Hopalong Cassady Biography

Howard Albert "Hopalong" Cassady, born March 2, 1934, was an American professional football halfback and split end who played in the National Football League. He earned the Heisman Trophy in 1955 while playing college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Cassady played in the NFL for eight seasons, seven of them with the Detroit Lions, who won the 1957 NFL Championship Game. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979 for his outstanding collegiate achievements. The nickname "Hopalong" was given to him during his first game as a freshman for Ohio State. In that game, he came off the bench to score three touchdowns in a win over Indiana University. Cassady held several Ohio State career records for many years after his graduation.