P/FB Fred "Curly" Morrison (1950 Rose Bowl MVP)

[Buckskin86]

Fred "Curly" Morrison

As a Buckeye: Four-year letter-winner (1946 to '49) who was named Rose Bowl MVP in 1950 after rushing for 119 yards in OSU's win over California.

As a pro: Morrison was a fullback who also did some punting in a seven-year career with the Bears and Browns. He ended his career with 281 punts for a 41.7-yard average. He also had 2,420 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns in his career and made the Pro Bowl in 1955.

The skinny: In 1961, Morrison, who was born in Columbus and attended Upper Arlington High School, acted as a go-between to help Art Modell buy the Cleveland Browns from David Jones. Morrison later served as an executive for the Los Angeles Express of the USFL.

GameDay+

 

[Buckskin86]

Fred Morrison (at OSU 1946-49)

Astute readers will remember "Curly" listed with the former OSU punters. He also rushed for 2,420 yards and scored 14 touchdowns in 84 games with the Bears and Browns.

OSU ON SUNDAY | The Columbus Dispatch

 

[Buckskin86]

The memories: From Curly Morrison, now 83, the OSU fullback who was named the game's MVP after running for 113 yards on 25 carries: "Ohio State had been out there in 1921 and they got the poop kicked out of them. So it was a chance for us to make redemption. We were the underdog, I think Cal was about 14-point favorites. The thing I remember the most was the night before, I wanted to be sure everything was right, and I kept reviewing in my mind everything that we knew about Cal's defense.

"We were determined that we were not going to lose that game. We were not going to come back to Columbus defeated, as a losing team. We were going to win whatever it took, and we had a bunch of guys that felt that way. And that's why we won.

"I remember one day Pandel Savic, he was our quarterback, we went to MGM and Esther Williams was filming a movie that had swimming and diving scenes and they were all around a pool and they took a lot of pictures with all of us. We had a dinner one evening at the old Ambassador Hotel which was hosted by Bob Hope, and I remember sitting across from Elizabeth Taylor. There were things like that that were marvelous experiences for all of us.

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2009/12/buckeyes_rose_bowl_rewind_rock.html

Ohio State's 1950 Rose Bowl MVP: "We weren't going to come back with our tails between our legs."
By Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer
December 16, 2009

Fred "Curly" Morrison lives in California about 70 miles from the Rose Bowl, and Ohio State's MVP of the 1950 Rose Bowl, which was the first Rose Bowl win for the Buckeyes, had memories to share and advice to give the current Buckeyes.

The fullback was part of today's Buckeyes Rose Bowl Rewind, which recapped Ohio State's win over Cal after the 1949 season. But Morrison, 83, had much more to say.

Now, extra Curly.

"The one thing we didn't realize at the time, I was believe it was the very first Rose Bowl game that was televised [nationally on network TV.] If you go back to 1949, a lot of people didn't have a television set, and the ones that did probably didn't know the Rose Bowl game would be televised. And it was of course in black and white. I remember coming home a week later and seeing it on the newsreel.

"We had a good defensive line. Today, everything is a sack. In those days, it was just a tackle. So nobody got credit for so many sacks. It was a different thing, but we were a team. A lot of us had been there all four years at Ohio State.

"The other thing is today, I think these kids realize it much more. We never thought about it. But you get one chance to play in the Rose Bowl. THE Rose Bowl. The Granddaddy of all the bowl games. What an opportunity to identify yourself and be outstanding and give all you've got. Because you'll never get another chance like this, ever.

"They had a small baseball diamond fenced off right near the Rose Bowl, so that's where we held our practices. Now they have full fields and all of that, so it's a little bit different in that respect. But it was a wonderful experience for all of us.

"We were just a bunch of kids. Some of us were veterans and had been in the service and then we came back to school. But it was a wonderful experience for us. And at the time, while we knew this was one of the big bowl games - it was bigger than the Orange or the Gator or any of the other bowls - I don't think we really realized the magnitude of it. And I don't think we even thought about how big the game was, and I didn't even know it was televised until after the game. We found out because we got telegrams from people.

"It probably wasn't in our minds, with as much pageantry as today. We just knew it was the Rose Bowl and it was important and to us and it was a matter of pride. We weren't going to get beat by some guys from California, because we were representing Ohio. We weren't going to come back with our tails between our legs. We just weren't going to get beat.

"This game is a matter of pride for the Ohio State program, which is one of the greatest in the country. This is an important statement for Ohio State, and I think these kids realize it. I think Coach Tressel is a great coach and I think they'll come out with the same kind of vision we had. 'We're not coming out here to get beat. No matter what, we'll be ready to play.'

"I played seven years in the NFL. I played on two world championship teams with the Cleveland Browns. And the thing I'm proud of was that I was on those world championship teams and I was on a team that won the Rose Bowl. It's something that's with you all your life. You get one shot. Don't mess it up. Do your best. If you do get beat, if you know you did the best you could do, OK. But that's what it's all about."

Ohio State's 1950 Rose Bowl MVP: "We weren't going to come back with our tails between our legs." | Ohio State Buckeyes - cleveland.com - - cleveland.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Tuesday Practice Insider: Buckeyes Hear from 1950 Rose Bowl MVP
By Brandon Castel

LOS ANGELES ? Ohio State practiced for just shy of two hours Tuesday at the Home Depot Center as they continue preparations for Friday's Rose Bowl matchup with No. 7 Oregon.

The eighth-ranked Buckeyes wore shells and shorts for the second day in a row and after practice Jim Tressel had this to say about today's workout:

?Today was our typical Wednesday game-week practice as we fine-tune things for the Rose Bowl. It was a good, spirited workout. Our guys are really looking forward to the game.?

Tressel also commented on today's guest speaker, Fred "Curly" Morrison, who ran for 127 yards and a touchdown as he was named the Outstanding Offensive Player in Ohio State's 17-14 win over Cal in the 1950 Rose Bowl.

"We were privileged after practice to hear from Curly Morrison, the Buckeye great who was the MVP of the 1950 Ohio State Rose Bowl victory of Cal,? Tressel said in a statement.

?At Ohio State, we're fortunate to draw upon a great tradition, and having the chance to visit with one of the living legends like Curly reminded our guys how many Buckeyes are following their every move.

?He might be in his 80s, but I think Curly would like to have been out there practicing with us today. His message of lifetime memories and a team achievement really resonated with our team.?

The-Ozone, Ohio State Football, Wrestling, Softball, Basketball, Hockey, Baseball and More

 

[Buckskin86]

Courtesy: OhioStateBuckeyes.com
Fred "Curly" Morrison, a four-year letterman, was Ohio State's star offensive performer during the 1950 Rose Bowl game vs. California.

Fred "Curly" Morrison
Football 1946-49
Fred "Curly" Morrison, a four-year letterman, was Ohio State's star offensive performer during the 1950 Rose Bowl game vs. California. Morrison helped lead the Buckeyes to their first Rose Bowl win, rushing for a game-high 127 yards on 24 carries en route to being named the game's MVP, the first-ever Buckeye Rose Bowl MVP. Earlier that season, Morrison rushed for a career-high 134 yards against Southern California. Morrison led the team in scoring with nine touchdowns. After his college career, Morrison went on to play professionally for the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns.

"Since learning of being selected for this wonderful honor I am still up in the clouds. I am hoping many of my teammates from the 1950 Rose Bowl team will be able to be there to accept this honor with me. I am extremely flattered. This will give me the opportunity to express how grateful I am for my wonderful experiences as a student at The Ohio State University."

Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Announced - The Ohio State Buckeyes Official Athletics Site - OhioStateBuckeyes.com

 

[ScriptOhio]

Former Ohio State fullback Fred "Curly" Morrison dies at age 94

Fred “Curly” Morrison, a former Ohio State fullback who was named MVP of the 1950 Rose Bowl, died Sunday in Murrieta, California from complications from a broken hip suffered six weeks ago. He was 94.

Morrison played for two OSU coaches — Paul Bixler (1946) and Wes Fesler (1947-49) — and his 127 rushing yards and 1-yard touchdown helped the Buckeyes defeat California 17-14 for their first Rose Bowl win.

Morrison, who grew up in Upper Arlington, was named to the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010. He led the Buckeyes with nine touchdowns his senior season, then played seven seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. In 1955 he was named to the Pro Bowl after leading the Browns with 824 yards rushing.

Morrison served as general manager of the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League and also was GM of the Southern California Sun of the World Football League.

His son, Dave Morrison, said his father also founded the NFL Legends golf tournament at Pebble Beach, California, which is held every November with proceeds benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of California.

Entire article: https://www.buckeyextra.com/story/f...s-football-nine-touchdowns-senior/6317202002/

1926 - 2020

R.I.P.

 

[brodybuck21]

R.I.P.