Wisconsin, 1955
• 1953 Academic All-America®
• 1954 Academic All-America®
Alan Ameche was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Hall of Fame in 1992.
Nicknamed “The Horse” for his endurance and intensity, Lino Dante “Alan” Ameche scored the winning touchdown as a member of the Baltimore Colts in the 1958 NFL Championship overtime game against the New York Giants, labeled “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” However, Ameche’s accomplishments far exceed just 1958.
The Italian immigrant began as a star fullback at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There he was named an All-America player from 1953-54 and a three-time All-Big Ten selection player from 1952-54. As a young freshmen and sophomore, he led the Big Ten in rushing, eventually setting a Rose Bowl record with 133 yards rushing in 1953 and a career NCAA rushing mark of 3,345 yards.
Ameche holds all rushing records for single game and season performances at Wisconsin, scoring more points and touchdowns than any other player in the school's history. As a senior, he earned both the Wisconsin and Big Ten MVP awards in addition to the coveted Heisman Trophy in 1954, given to college football’s most valuable player.
In 1955 Ameche was selected as a first-round draft pick for the Baltimore Colts. He earned Rookie of the Year that same year. In the first play of his NFL career he ran for a 79-yard touchdown. He was elected to the Pro-Bowl for the first four out of his six seasons in the league.
After his pro-football career, Ameche went on to found Gino’s Inc. and served as Corporate Secretary and member of the board. In addition, he was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from St. Josephs College and was Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Multiple Sclerosis Society, a Trustee of Malvern Prep and was Corporations Chairman for the United Negro College Fund.
Ameche's athletic accolades grew when the University of Wisconsin retired his number 35 uniform and he was inducted into the respective Wisconsin State Athletic and National Football halls of fame. In 1969 he was named “Greatest Player” on the University of Wisconsin's All-Time Team and won an NCAA Silver Anniversary Top Six Award in 1979.
Ameche passed away on August 8, 1988.