Trinity's Kobrosky Inducted Into College Football Hall Of Fame

Hartford, Conn., July 16, 2011 – Former Trinity College football star Mickey Kobrosky '37, who led the Bantams to a 19-2 record on the gridiron from 1934 to 1936 and played professionally with the New York Giants, became the first Trinity player or coach to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame during the Hall of Fame's Enshrinement Festival on July 15 and 16 in South Bend, Ind.  Kobrosky joins an influential 2011 class of inductees that includes American hero Pat Tillman, former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Super Bowl MVP Desmond Howard, and five-time Super Bowl Champion for the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers Charles Haley. Since the first college football game in 1869, 4.79 million individuals have played college football, while just 882 (.0002 percent) have earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.  Kobrosky is the lone player from a current NCAA Division III school in the 2011 class.

Kobrosky, one of the College's all-time greatest athletes, earned 11 letters as a Bantam, three in football and four in baseball and basketball.  He was voted captain of the football team in his sophomore season, and earned Associated Press Little All-American honors in his final two seasons.  Kobrosky was a three-time All-Connecticut and All-New England selection and a Jewish All-American, and earned major-college All-East and All-American Honorable Mention honors during his career.   Kobrosky accounted for 200 points (3rd all-time at Trinity) in three seasons, while totaling 1,861 rushing yards (9th all-time at Trinity) and 1,000 passing yards.  He also played three seasons on varsity basketball and baseball, signed a professional contract with MLB's Cleveland Indians, and played for the Indians' minor league affiliate in Oswego, N.Y., in the summer of 1937.

"Mickey Kobrosky is one of the best all-around football players I have ever seen, excelling in kicking, blocking, running, passing, and defensive work," said legendary Trinity Head Coach Dan Jessee after Kobrosky's final season.  "He is without a single weakness to my knowledge and would make All-American if he were on a big college team."

Kobrosky led the College All-Stars against the New York Giants in 1937 as the passing star of the game, contributing his team's only touchdown in a 14-7 defeat.  He played in seven games that fall, before ending his NFL career to pursue a career in medicine.  Elected class president as a junior and senior at Trinity, Kobrosky graduated from Brandeis University Medical School and served in the Medical Corps in Italy during World War II, earning the rank of Lt. Colonel.  He continued to practice for 45 years in New England after the war.

To be considered for the College Football Hall of Fame, a player must have received First-Team All-American honors by an NCAA-recognized committee.  A player is not eligible until 10 years after his final year of intercollegiate football played, and he must have played his last year of intercollegiate football within the last 50 years.  Kobrosky was eligible for special consideration as a unique case by the Football Bowl Subdivision and the Divisional Honors Review Committee.

Kobrosky enshrinement video footage

Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend photo galleries

MassLive.com article on enshrinement

Hartford Courant article on Kobrosky

College Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival information

Hall of Fame Class selection information