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Tuesday, July 10, 2001
Kusserow led stunning upset of Army
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Lou Kusserow, a star running back for Columbia
in the 1940s who played a major role in one of college football's
biggest upsets, died at age 73.
Kusserow, who scored two touchdowns in Columbia's 21-20 win over
Army in 1947, died June 30 in California, the university said
Tuesday.
Army was undefeated in 32 consecutive games before the Lions
scored twice in the fourth quarter to upset the Black Knights on
Oct. 25, 1947, ending what was then the nation's longest unbeaten
string.
Kusserow gained 1,992 yards rushing in four varsity seasons, a
Columbia record that stood until last season when it was broken by
Johnathan Reese.
Kusserow also set school marks with 45 touchdowns, 270 career
points and four interceptions in one game.
In 1949, Kusserow was drafted by the New York Yankees of the
All-America Football Conference, a rival league of the NFL. He
played 11 games that season, primarily as a defensive back. He also
played in 1950 with the New York Yanks of the NFL.
Following his pro football career, Kusserow worked as a producer
with NBC Sports.
Kusserow was born Sept. 6, 1927, in Braddock, Pa. He entered
Columbia in 1945 and quickly became a star on a Lions team that
went 8-1 by scoring 15 touchdowns and teaming with quarterback Gene
Rossides, a combination known as "The Goal Dust Twins."
Both were selected last year to Columbia's "Team of the
Century."
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