Tony Branoff
Encyclopedia
Anthony "Tony" Branoff is a former American football
player. He played at the halfback
position for the University of Michigan
from 1952 to 1955. He was chosen as the Most Valuable Player on the 1953 Michigan Wolverines football team
. He was the first sophomore to win the award. He also led the Wolverines in rushing in both 1953 and 1955.
, and played football for Flint Central High School
in 1950 and 1951. He scored two touchdown
s, including a 75-yard punt return against Kalamazoo
as a senior. He was selected by the Associated Press
to its All-Michigan football team in 1951. He tore cartilage
in his left knee during his senior year in high school, an injury that would continue to affect Branoff throughout his football career.
on both defense and offense, including 6 games as the team's starting right halfback. He broke into the starting lineup after Frank Howell was injured. He scored his first touchdown in a 28–13 win over Indiana
on October 11, 1952. The Associated Press noted, "Tony Branoff, Michigan's burly second semester freshman from Flint, Mich., came alive after the intermission and scored the touch down, that gave momentum to the Wolverines and a 14–6 lead." In early November, he added a defensive touchdown as he recovered a fumble
in the end zone
against Illinois
. He also scored a rush
ing touchdown in a come-from-behind win over Purdue
in mid-November 1951. Branoff's best performance of the 1952 season came in a 49–7 win over Cornell
on November 8, 1952; Branoff gained 88 yards on 14 carries for an average of 6.3 yards per carry.
. In the opening game of the 1953 season, Branoff ran for two touchdowns in a 50–0 win over Washington
. In the second game of the season, Branoff ran for two rushing touchdowns and kicked two extra points to lead Michigan to a 26–7 victory over Tulane
. At the end of October 1953, Branoff proved his value as a triple threat man
as he "unreeled a spectacular 66-yard pass play" to Bob Topp. In the final game of the 1953 season, Branoff led the Wolverines to a 20–0 win over Ohio State
with a career-high 113 rushing yards on 17 carries for an average of 6.7 yards per carry. Branoff outgained all five Ohio State back
s in the game, and also scored a touchdown on an interception return against Ohio State.
Branoff was the Wolverines' leading rusher in 1953 with 527 yards (averaging 5.2 yards per carry) and their leading scorer with 39 points (6 touchdowns and 3 extra points). Branoff also added 151 receiving
yards and 1 receiving touchdown, 113 passing
yards and 1 passing touchdown, 130 yards on kickoff returns, and 90 yards on punt returns. At the end of the 1953 season, Branoff was selected as the team's Most Valuable Player. His selection marked the first time that a sophomore was selected for Michigan's Most Valuable Player award.
and Northwestern
games. Head coach Bennie Oosterbaan
said the loss of Branoff would be "a big blow" but noted that he would not permit Branoff to play against Iowa because, "we'd rather lose all our games this season than have him injured for the rest of his life. His bad knee will heal all right if we give him enough time to rest." Branoff attempted to come back from the injury in Michigan's homecoming game against Minnesota
, gaining 38 yards on 6 carries and scoring his only touchdown of the 1954 season. The Chicago Daily Tribune
described Branoff's performance against Minnesota as follows:
Branoff carried the ball only twice the following week against Indiana. In early November 1954, Branoff hospitalized due to his injured knee, and Michigan coach Oosterbaan announced that Branoff was lost for the season. Branoff believes he was the first football player to receive an injection of cortisone
. However, the cortisone did not resolve the cartilage problem in his knee, and he underwent knee surgery after the 1954 season.
At the end of October 1953, Branoff helped lead the Wolverines to a come-from-behind win against Iowa. Iowa led 21-13 in the fourth quarter, but Michigan scored three touchdowns in the final nine minutes of the game. Branoff scored the final touchdown on a play described by the Chicago Daily Tribune as follows: "Tony Branoff, whose knees are wrapped like an Egyptian's mummy's, rounded out a fine performance with a 31 yard touchdown run that was only so much frosting on this triumph."
In early November 1955, Michigan lost its first game to Illinois by a score of 25-6. Branoff scored Michigan's only points with a 17-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and compiled 105 rushing yards on 17 carries for an average of 6.1 yards per carry.
Despite the reduced mobility, Branoff was Michgian’s rushing leader for the second time in three years with 387 rushing yards, an average of 4.5 yards per carry, and 3 rushing touchdowns. After the 1955 season, Branoff was selected by the United Press as a first-team All-Big Ten halfback. He was also selected to play in the East–West Shrine Game and scored a touchdown on a 7-yard run left end run in the fourth quarter.
and signed with the Cardinals in May 1956. He was also offered $16,000 to play in the Canadian Football League
, but he chose not to play professional football, because of worry over the condition of his knees. He eventually had both knees replaced at age 65.
In June 1956, Branoff was married to Marilyn Jane Frankensteen, daughter of former United Auto Workers
leader Richard T. Frankensteen
. Branoff and his wife had three sons, Anthony Branoff, Jr., and twins, Terry and Timothy. He was divorced from his wife in 1972 and did not re-marry.
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...
player. He played at the halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
position for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1952 to 1955. He was chosen as the Most Valuable Player on the 1953 Michigan Wolverines football team
1953 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1953 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1953 college football season. The team's head coach was Bennie Oosterbaan...
. He was the first sophomore to win the award. He also led the Wolverines in rushing in both 1953 and 1955.
Early years in Flint
Branoff grew up in Flint, MichiganFlint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
, and played football for Flint Central High School
Flint Central High School
Flint Central High School was one of the Flint Community Schools, located in Flint, Michigan, USA. Flint Central was the city's oldest school. Its first building was built in 1875, and the school moved into the present building in 1923. It was called Flint High School until Flint Northern High...
in 1950 and 1951. He scored two touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s, including a 75-yard punt return against Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo Central High School
Kalamazoo Central High School is a public high school in Kalamazoo, Michigan serving students from ninth through twelfth grades. It was the first public high school in Michigan. It began operating in 1858 and graduated its first class of five men and three women in 1859. It moved to its current...
as a senior. He was selected by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
to its All-Michigan football team in 1951. He tore cartilage
Cartilage
Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue found in many areas in the bodies of humans and other animals, including the joints between bones, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, the elbow, the knee, the ankle, the bronchial tubes and the intervertebral discs...
in his left knee during his senior year in high school, an injury that would continue to affect Branoff throughout his football career.
1952 season
Branoff enrolled early at the University of Michigan in January 1952. As a second-semester freshman, he appeared in all 9 games for Michigan's football team1952 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1952 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1952 college football season. The team's head coach was Bennie Oosterbaan...
on both defense and offense, including 6 games as the team's starting right halfback. He broke into the starting lineup after Frank Howell was injured. He scored his first touchdown in a 28–13 win over Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers football
The Indiana Hoosiers football program represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and in the Big Ten Conference.-Bowl games:...
on October 11, 1952. The Associated Press noted, "Tony Branoff, Michigan's burly second semester freshman from Flint, Mich., came alive after the intermission and scored the touch down, that gave momentum to the Wolverines and a 14–6 lead." In early November, he added a defensive touchdown as he recovered a fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
in the end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
against Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
. He also scored a rush
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
ing touchdown in a come-from-behind win over Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
in mid-November 1951. Branoff's best performance of the 1952 season came in a 49–7 win over Cornell
Cornell Big Red football
The Cornell Big Red football team represents Cornell University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Ivy League. It is one of the oldest and most storied football programs in the nation...
on November 8, 1952; Branoff gained 88 yards on 14 carries for an average of 6.3 yards per carry.
1953 season
As a sophomore in 1953, Branoff started all nine games for Michigan at the right halfback position. He also handled punting duties for the 1953 team1953 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1953 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1953 college football season. The team's head coach was Bennie Oosterbaan...
. In the opening game of the 1953 season, Branoff ran for two touchdowns in a 50–0 win over Washington
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
. In the second game of the season, Branoff ran for two rushing touchdowns and kicked two extra points to lead Michigan to a 26–7 victory over Tulane
Tulane Green Wave football
The Tulane Green Wave football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents Tulane University in New Orleans. The team is a member of Conference USA and is led by interim head coach Mark Hutson, who took over on October 18, 2011, when fifth-year head coach Bob Toledo resigned...
. At the end of October 1953, Branoff proved his value as a triple threat man
Triple threat man
In gridiron football, the phrase triple-threat man refers to a player who excels at all three of the skills of running, passing, and kicking. In modern usage, such a player would be referred to as a utility player....
as he "unreeled a spectacular 66-yard pass play" to Bob Topp. In the final game of the 1953 season, Branoff led the Wolverines to a 20–0 win over Ohio State
1953 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1953 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1953-1954. The Buckeyes compiled a 6–3 record.-Schedule:-1954 NFL draftees:-References:Win/Loss statistics*...
with a career-high 113 rushing yards on 17 carries for an average of 6.7 yards per carry. Branoff outgained all five Ohio State back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
s in the game, and also scored a touchdown on an interception return against Ohio State.
Branoff was the Wolverines' leading rusher in 1953 with 527 yards (averaging 5.2 yards per carry) and their leading scorer with 39 points (6 touchdowns and 3 extra points). Branoff also added 151 receiving
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
yards and 1 receiving touchdown, 113 passing
Forward pass
In several forms of football a forward pass is when the ball is thrown in the direction that the offensive team is trying to move, towards the defensive team's goal line...
yards and 1 passing touchdown, 130 yards on kickoff returns, and 90 yards on punt returns. At the end of the 1953 season, Branoff was selected as the team's Most Valuable Player. His selection marked the first time that a sophomore was selected for Michigan's Most Valuable Player award.
1954 season
As a junior in 1954, Branoff was slowed by a knee injury. He played in the first two games of the season, but gained only 28 yards in 10 carries. He did not play in the IowaIowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
and Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
games. Head coach Bennie Oosterbaan
Bennie Oosterbaan
Benjamin Gaylord "Bennie" Oosterbaan was a three-time first team All-American football end for the Michigan Wolverines football team, two-time All-American basketball player for the basketball team and an All-Big Ten Conference baseball player for the baseball team...
said the loss of Branoff would be "a big blow" but noted that he would not permit Branoff to play against Iowa because, "we'd rather lose all our games this season than have him injured for the rest of his life. His bad knee will heal all right if we give him enough time to rest." Branoff attempted to come back from the injury in Michigan's homecoming game against Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
, gaining 38 yards on 6 carries and scoring his only touchdown of the 1954 season. The Chicago Daily Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
described Branoff's performance against Minnesota as follows:
"For the brief visits he made to the workyard, Tony Branoff, senior right half back who has been plagued with an ailing knee most of the season, was outstanding. Tony scored the first touchdown on successive smashes on 9 and 4 yards in the first quarter."
Branoff carried the ball only twice the following week against Indiana. In early November 1954, Branoff hospitalized due to his injured knee, and Michigan coach Oosterbaan announced that Branoff was lost for the season. Branoff believes he was the first football player to receive an injection of cortisone
Cortisone
Cortisone is a steroid hormone. It is one of the main hormones released by the adrenal gland in response to stress. In chemical structure, it is a corticosteroid closely related to corticosterone. It is used to treat a variety of ailments and can be administered intravenously, orally,...
. However, the cortisone did not resolve the cartilage problem in his knee, and he underwent knee surgery after the 1954 season.
1955 season
As a senior in 1955, Branoff returned to the lineup, starting all 9 games for the Wolverines at the right halfback position. However, his mobility was limited because his knees were so heavily taped. He later recalled, "I was not the fastest player in the world, so I had to rely on being shifty. But you sort of lose your speed after you have operations and your knees need to be taped."At the end of October 1953, Branoff helped lead the Wolverines to a come-from-behind win against Iowa. Iowa led 21-13 in the fourth quarter, but Michigan scored three touchdowns in the final nine minutes of the game. Branoff scored the final touchdown on a play described by the Chicago Daily Tribune as follows: "Tony Branoff, whose knees are wrapped like an Egyptian's mummy's, rounded out a fine performance with a 31 yard touchdown run that was only so much frosting on this triumph."
In early November 1955, Michigan lost its first game to Illinois by a score of 25-6. Branoff scored Michigan's only points with a 17-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and compiled 105 rushing yards on 17 carries for an average of 6.1 yards per carry.
Despite the reduced mobility, Branoff was Michgian’s rushing leader for the second time in three years with 387 rushing yards, an average of 4.5 yards per carry, and 3 rushing touchdowns. After the 1955 season, Branoff was selected by the United Press as a first-team All-Big Ten halfback. He was also selected to play in the East–West Shrine Game and scored a touchdown on a 7-yard run left end run in the fourth quarter.
Professional football
Branoff was selected by the Chicago Cardinals in the 23rd round of the 1956 NFL Draft1956 NFL Draft
The 1956 National Football League Draft was held on November 29, 1955.-Player selections:-Round one:* HOF Member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:...
and signed with the Cardinals in May 1956. He was also offered $16,000 to play in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
, but he chose not to play professional football, because of worry over the condition of his knees. He eventually had both knees replaced at age 65.
Later years
After graduating from Michigan, Branoff worked in sales for 10 years. In 1966, he accepted a job with Cushing-Malloy book printers in Ann Arbor. He remained with the company for 37 years, retiring in 2003.In June 1956, Branoff was married to Marilyn Jane Frankensteen, daughter of former United Auto Workers
United Auto Workers
The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers , is a labor union which represents workers in the United States and Puerto Rico, and formerly in Canada. Founded as part of the Congress of Industrial...
leader Richard T. Frankensteen
Richard Frankensteen
Richard "Dick" Frankensteen was the first president of the Automotive Industrial Workers Association....
. Branoff and his wife had three sons, Anthony Branoff, Jr., and twins, Terry and Timothy. He was divorced from his wife in 1972 and did not re-marry.