Lou 'The Toe' Groza Dead at 76

C L E V E L A N D, Nov. 30, 2000 -- He was known simply as “The Toe.”

But Lou Groza, who died Wednesday night, was more than just akicker to generations of Cleveland Browns fans. To them, hesymbolized a bygone era when Cleveland dominated pro football, andwhen athletes played for the love of the game.

The Hall of Fame kicker and lineman died of an apparent heartattack at age 76.

Beloved Browns Player

In failing health in recent years with Parkinson’s disease,Groza was brought to Southwest General Health Center in MiddleburgHeights after collapsing following dinner with his wife, Jackie, ata country club.

Groza, one of the most beloved players in Browns history, played21 years in Cleveland from 1946-67. He retired as the franchise’scareer scoring leader — a distinction he still holds.

In his 21 seasons, Groza signed 21 one-year contracts. The lastin 1967 was for $50,000.

Groza was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

Groza was an All-Pro tackle six times, and was selected theNFL’s Player of the Year in 1954. A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Groza finished his career with 1,349 points, with only six of those coming on his only career touchdown — a tackle-eligible play in 1951.

Using a head-on approach to kicking the football that’s rare intoday’s game, Groza, who also wore No. 46, transformed the art of placekicking and helped make kickers more of an offensive weapon.

College football’s top kicker each year is given the Lou GrozaAward.

In 1950, Groza kicked a 16-yard field goal with 28 seconds leftin the NFL championship game to help the Browns beat the LosAngeles Rams and win the title in their first season in the league.

Groza played in 216 games and nine NFL championship games withthe Browns, who won three titles during the 1950s and another in1964.

After playing briefly at Ohio State, Groza was a startingoffensive tackle for the Paul Brown-coached Cleveland teams thatdominated the All-American Football Conference during the late1940s and the NFL in the ’50s.

In his MVP season of ’54, Groza anchored the left side of theoffensive line alongside guard Abe Gibron and center Frank Gatski,who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.

Groza also made 16 of 24 field-goal attempts and 37 of 38 extrapoints that year.

A back injury forced him to take off the 1960 season, but Brownconvinced him to return the next year, and Groza spent his finalseven years as a kicking specialist.

When the Browns won the title in 1964, Groza finished the seasonwith 115 points, making 49 of 50 extra points and 22 field goals.

Stayed Involved With Team

Groza remained active with the Browns even after his retirement,and up until this season, he attended home games. He kept his homein suburban Berea and was involved in many of the team’s alumniactivities.

The last of the “original” Browns to retire, Groza hadattended the reunion of Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees inJuly in Canton.

When former owner Art Modell moved the Browns franchise toBaltimore after the 1995 season, Groza was one of the more vocalformer players who urged the NFL to bring a team back to Cleveland.

During one of the downtown pep rallies the city held when it wasfighting to get its team back, Groza was overcome with emotion andtears rolled down the giant man’s cheeks.

Last year, the new Browns honored Groza by renaming the streetin front of their Berea training facility “Lou Groza Boulevard.”The facility’s address is: 76 Lou Groza Blvd.

And although he was not in good health, Groza was at trainingcamp this summer to see the new Browns prepare for their secondyear back in the league.

Groza was born on Jan. 25, 1924, in Martins Ferry. His youngerbrother, Alex, was an All-American center for the NCAA championshipKentucky basketball teams of the late 1940s.

Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons, a daughter, andnine grandchildren. Funeral arrangements were not complete.