Franklin's Ted Marchibroda -- first team all-state in basketball, but not in football --  was nevertheless a college star, first at St. Bonaventure and then Detroit. 

​

Marchibroda is known mostly for his NFL coaching prowess (24 years, Coach of the Year in 1975), but he probably wouldn't have had the chance had not the Steelers taken him in the first round of the 1953 NFL draft.

​

After a brilliant playing career in football and basketball at Franklin, Marchibroda went on to star first at St. Bonaventure for two years before the Bonnies dropped football, and then at the University of Detroit. He set passing records at both schools and is in the Hall of Fame at both, too.

​

Marchibroda led the nation in total offense in 1952, passing for 1,813 yards for Detroit. He set the national single-game passing game record, throwing for 390 against Tulsa. He set 12 records at Detroit (now Detroit Mercy).

​

Marchibroda led St. Bonaventure to a 7-2 record as a freshman in 1950. He finished third in the small college standings with 95 completions. The next year he was 72/170 for 1,146 yards.

 

In one of his games as a freshman, Marchibroda went eyeball-to-eyeball with Johnny Unitas, who was making his college debut for  Louisville.  Marchibroda and the Bonnies won the duel, 22-21.

​

​