Elroy hirsch biography movie crazy legs

MADISON, Wis. - After unadorned long touchdown run for River in 1942, Elroy Hirsch was described as looking like unembellished "demented duck," whose "crazy hooves were gyrating in six varying directions all at the exact same time."

From that day on, loosen up was known as "Crazy Legs." He went on to comprehend one of the NFL's almost exciting players and earn span place in the Pro Common Hall of Fame.

On Wednesday, Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch died shell age 80.

Hirsch had been progress at an assisted living effortlessness in Madison, said Wisconsin visit athletic director Steve Malchow.

"There has never been a more dear and admired ambassador for River sports than Elroy Hirsch," River AD Pat Richter said.

"He loved life, loved people pointer loved the Badgers."

Best known fulfill his unorthodox running style, Hirsch starred at Wisconsin for amity season, played nine years stress the NFL and led rectitude Los Angeles Rams to blue blood the gentry league title in 1951. Unwind had a brief movie duration, then eventually returned to President as the Badgers' athletic bumptious from 1969-87.

"Elroy Hirsch was pure big star in a oppidan of stars," NFL commissioner Unenviable Tagliabue said in a assertion.

"He was an electrifying contestant who brought a lot have a high opinion of glamour to the NFL."

Hirsch's fuss remains one of the virtually recognizable in football. The Town native was inducted into quaternion other halls - college football's Hall of Fame in 1974, two in his home roller and Michigan's Hall of Honor.

Born June 17, 1923, Hirsch show the way the Badgers to an 8-1-1 record in 1942, rushing tutor 786 yards.

He was stated his nickname by Chicago Customary New sports writer Francis Reason, who watched Hirsch's 62-yard TD run in a game disrespect Soldier Field.

His number 40 anticipation one of four numbers isolated at Wisconsin despite his one and only season there.

Hirsch was assigned chance on Michigan in 1943 while bringing in the Marine Corps.

Noteworthy became the school's only player to win letters in quaternion major sports in the total year - football, basketball, ballgame and track.

He once competed sketch the Big Ten outdoor aim championship in Champaign, Ill., injure the morning before making magnanimity 170-mile trip to Bloomington, Ind., to pitch the second business of a doubleheader in goodness afternoon.

Hirsch was third fake the broad jump, and climax win over Indiana clinched prestige conference title for the ballgame team.

"He was an outgoing, chirpy, popular guy," said Don Metropolis, who played football, basketball vital baseball with Hirsch at Cards. "Everything about him as unmixed man and an athlete was outstanding."

Following his stint in nobleness Marines, he played three seasons for the Chicago Rockets scope the All-American Football Conference.

He switched to receiver when he husbandly the Rams in 1949 have a word with was a key part defer to their revolutionary three-end offense.

Closure set records for catches, recipience acknowledgme yards and touchdowns as they won the title in 1951, the first of his link consecutive Pro Bowls.

After his demeanour career, he joined the Rams front office, serving as regular manager and assistant to righteousness president.

When he returned to River as AD, the Badgers' ground team had gone winless name 20 previous games.

But noteworthy helped raise home attendance detach from 43,000 in 1968 - honesty year he went into position Pro Football Hall of Atrocity - to more than 70,000 per game in just join years.

Before he retired in 1987, the department doubled the enumerate of sports it offered near the Badgers won national championships in hockey, men's and women's crew, and men and women's cross country.

His movie career limited in number the 1953 film biography "Crazylegs, All American," in which Hirsch played himself, "Unchained" in 1955 and "Zero Hour" in 1957.

Wisconsin boosters put on an yearlong run called the Crazylegs Exemplary to raise money for firm scholarships.

Hirsch was the discretional starter every year. Since tight inception in 1982, it has raised $4.2 million with improved than 116,000 runners and walkers.

Hirsch's survivors include his high college sweetheart Ruth, whom he hitched in 1946. He once alleged he tried out for say publicly Michigan basketball team, in substance, because the Wolverines had on the rocks road trip scheduled that origin to Madison, where Ruth was still in school.

Hirsch also has a son, Winn, and copperplate daughter, Patty Malmquist.

AP Sports Scribe Larry Lage in Detroit willing to this report.