Tony Branoff
Branoff c. 1955
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| Date of birth | c. 1934 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Flint, Michigan |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Halfback |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| College | Michigan |
| High school | Flint Central High School |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1952–1955 | Michigan |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Awards | Most Valuable Player, 1953 Michigan Wolverines football team |
Anthonios "Tony" Branoff (born c. 1934) 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.
Branoff grew up in Flint, Michigan, and played football for Flint Central High School in 1950 and 1951. He scored two touchdowns, 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.
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 team 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 rushing 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.
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