Lou Groza
Encyclopedia
Louis Roy Groza was an American football
placekicker
and offensive tackle who played his entire career for the Cleveland Browns
.
Groza was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio
the son of immigrant parents (his father was Romanian, his mother Hungarian), he was the smallest (at 6' 3") of three brothers in a decidedly athletic family. He played one season for Ohio State University
, where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega
, before being drafted into the Army
. Upon discharge, Groza joined the Browns, who were then in the All-America Football Conference
. He stayed with the team until 1959. After a brief retirement, he returned to play from 1961-1967. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
, his 21 years of play was unprecedented up to that time, and when he retired, he was last of the original Browns still active.
While renowned for his kicking ability, Groza also played and started during most of his career as offensive tackle for the Browns. He was very proficient at both positions, named nine times to the NFL Pro Bowl
and was All-NFL tackle six times. Groza also led the NFL in field goal
s in 1950, 1952-54, and 1957. In 1950, his field goal with 30 seconds left won the NFL Championship Game. In 1957, he also co-led the NFL in scoring. He was named the Sporting News' NFL Player of the Year in 1954. However, he played exclusively as a kicker during his second stint with the Browns.
Groza was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 1974. His number 76 is retired by the Browns. The Palm Beach County Sports Commission established the Lou Groza Award
in 1992, an award given to the best NCAA
Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) kicker. In 1999, he was ranked number 99 on 100 Greatest Football Players. The Browns' training facility in Berea, Ohio
is located at 76 Lou Groza Boulevard.
In 1996 Groza wrote an autobiography of his time playing for the Browns called The Toe: The Lou Groza Story. Robert Yonkers, who used to be a sportswriter for The Cleveland Press, gave him the nickname "The Toe."
The "Lou Groza Rule" in the NFL prohibits use of artificial aids for kickers. Lou used tape and later a special tee with a long tail to help him guide his foot to the sweet spot of the football when kicking. The 1956 rule banned Lou's tape.
Groza's brother Alex Groza
was a star basketball player at the University of Kentucky
, winning two national championships and an Olympic gold medal before playing in the NBA
and coaching in the American Basketball Association. In 1950 Lou Groza led the NFL in field goal percentage and Alex Groza led the NBA in field goal percentage.
Lou Groza died in 2000 and is buried in Sunset Memorial Park in North Olmsted, Ohio.
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...
placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
and offensive tackle who played his entire career for the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Groza was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio
Martins Ferry, Ohio
During the census of 2000, there were 7,226 people, 3,202 households, and 1,959 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,345.1 people per square mile . There were 3,680 housing units at an average density of 1,703.6 per square mile...
the son of immigrant parents (his father was Romanian, his mother Hungarian), he was the smallest (at 6' 3") of three brothers in a decidedly athletic family. He played one season for Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009...
, before being drafted into the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Upon discharge, Groza joined the Browns, who were then in the All-America Football Conference
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
. He stayed with the team until 1959. After a brief retirement, he returned to play from 1961-1967. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
, his 21 years of play was unprecedented up to that time, and when he retired, he was last of the original Browns still active.
While renowned for his kicking ability, Groza also played and started during most of his career as offensive tackle for the Browns. He was very proficient at both positions, named nine times to the NFL Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
and was All-NFL tackle six times. Groza also led the NFL in field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
s in 1950, 1952-54, and 1957. In 1950, his field goal with 30 seconds left won the NFL Championship Game. In 1957, he also co-led the NFL in scoring. He was named the Sporting News' NFL Player of the Year in 1954. However, he played exclusively as a kicker during his second stint with the Browns.
Groza was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 1974. His number 76 is retired by the Browns. The Palm Beach County Sports Commission established the Lou Groza Award
Lou Groza Award
The Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top college football placekicker in the United States by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The award is named after former Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns player Lou Groza.-Winners:...
in 1992, an award given to the best NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) kicker. In 1999, he was ranked number 99 on 100 Greatest Football Players. The Browns' training facility in Berea, Ohio
Berea, Ohio
- History :The first European settlers were originally from Connecticut. Berea fell within Connecticut's Western Reserve and was surveyed and divided into townships and ranges by one Gideon Granger, a gentleman who served as Postmaster General under President Thomas Jefferson...
is located at 76 Lou Groza Boulevard.
In 1996 Groza wrote an autobiography of his time playing for the Browns called The Toe: The Lou Groza Story. Robert Yonkers, who used to be a sportswriter for The Cleveland Press, gave him the nickname "The Toe."
The "Lou Groza Rule" in the NFL prohibits use of artificial aids for kickers. Lou used tape and later a special tee with a long tail to help him guide his foot to the sweet spot of the football when kicking. The 1956 rule banned Lou's tape.
Groza's brother Alex Groza
Alex Groza
Alex John Groza was an American professional basketball player from Martins Ferry, Ohio who was banned from the NBA for life in 1951 for point shaving...
was a star basketball player at the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
, winning two national championships and an Olympic gold medal before playing in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
and coaching in the American Basketball Association. In 1950 Lou Groza led the NFL in field goal percentage and Alex Groza led the NBA in field goal percentage.
Lou Groza died in 2000 and is buried in Sunset Memorial Park in North Olmsted, Ohio.
External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame bio
- Lou Groza Award bio
- Member of the Cold, Hard Football Facts.com "All-Time 11" (2006)
- The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Football Players
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B04EEDA103DF932A35751C1A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all New York Times Obit