Gene Fekete, American football player (Cleveland Browns) died he was , 88.

Eugene H. "Gene" Fekete  is a former American football fullback and linebacker that played professionally in the National Football League.


(August 31, 1922 – April 28, 2011)

College team career

He attended Ohio State University from 1938-1942. In 1942 Gene Fekete was elected as an All-America and helped OSU to their very first national title going 9-1. Also in 1942 Fekete finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting making him the first Ohio State player to finish in the top ten.^[1] Fekete still holds the school record for the longest run from scrimmage a 89-yard dash to the end zone^[1] on which he did not score in a game versus Pittsburgh on Novovember 7, 1942. (The run actually was a touchdown. It is a misprint in the program that has never been corrected. The video can be seen on Youtube.)

NFL

Fekete was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 6th round (49th overall pick) of the 1945 NFL Draft.^[2] He played one season for the Cleveland Browns (1946).

Coaching career

Fekete returned to Ohio state as an assistant coach under Wes Fesler in 1949 and continued under Woody Hayes until 1958.^[3] He coached running backs including Heisman Trophy winners Vic Janowicz and Howard "Hopalong" Cassady. During this era Ohio State won two National Championships, in 1954 and 1957. Fekete was elected to the Ohio State Hall of Fame in 1998.

 

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