Tom Brown, a 2003 NFF College Football Hall of Fame inductee who starred as a two-way player at Minnesota from 1958 to 1960, passed away March 12. He was 89.
"Tom Brown was a dominant player on the field, but just as important, he carried himself with humility and took great pride in wearing the Maroon and Gold," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "His 1960 season remains one of the greatest ever by a lineman, and his place in the NFF College Football Hall of Fame is a testament to his remarkable achievements. We join the entire football community in remembering Tom and extending our condolences to his family and friends."
Brown's 1960 season was one of the most remarkable seasons in college football history, landing him unanimous First Team All-America honors at guard. As a member of the Golden Gophers, he was part of a team that went from last place in the Big Ten the previous year to winning the national championship and gaining a trip to the Rose Bowl.
Individually, he finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, the highest-ever placement for an interior lineman. While playing defense, he was an immovable object who became known as the "Rock of Gibraltar."
On offense, his coach, Murray Warmath, compared him to a "rolling boulder" in opening holes for Gopher ball carriers. He was best in big games, such as when Minnesota beat top-ranked Iowa. On defense, he stopped a Hawkeye drive deep in Minnesota territory with a five-yard tackle for loss. When the Gophers took possession, it was Brown who Minnesota ran behind in the 27-10 victory that put Minnesota on top of the polls.
In addition to his Heisman near-miss, he won the Outland Trophy as the nation's best lineman in 1960. A two All-Big Ten pick (First Team in 1960 and Second Team in 1959), he was the Big Ten Conference Most Valuable Player and the UPI Lineman of the Year in 1960.
After his collegiate career, he played professionally in the Canadian Football League with the BC Lions from 1961-67. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1984.
Born Dec. 5, 1936, he got his start playing football at Central High School in Minneapolis.
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