Mel Long, Toledo (Football)
Mel Long (1969-71) was a three-time, first-team All-Mid-American Conference selection from 1969-71 as a defensive tackle. He was first-team Newspaper Enterprise Association All-America, second-team AP All-America and third-team Central Press All-American in 1970. In 1971 he was a first-team pick of the AP, UPI, NEA, Football Writers Association and several others, thus becoming the first consensus All-America in Mid-American Conference history.
Long was MAC “Defensive Player of the Year” in 1971 and played in the All-America Bowl Game in Tampa. He was tri-captain of the 1971 team that concluded a 35-game unbeaten, untied streak. He helped UT win three consecutive MAC and Tangerine Bowl crowns and earn top-20 rankings each season. He was drafted by Cleveland in the 1972 NFL Draft and spent the 1972-75 seasons with the Browns.
