NIC-10's 100 Greatest Football Players: No. 60 - Ray Marelli, Rockford

The No. 60 player on our list blasted open holes for a future college football hall of famer in high school and then played for a college football hall of famer in college.

Ray Marelli was a first-team All-Big Seven tackle for the 1920 Rockford Rabs team that went 5-0-1. The offensive star of that team was Ralph "Moon" Baker, who would go on to Northwestern and run his way into the College Football Hall of Fame.

After a couple year hiatus, Marelli was impressive enough to earn a spot at Notre Dame, which was being run by the still legendary Knute Rockne. Notre Dame was the power in the land in the 1920s, winning shares of four national titles from 1920 to 1929.

Marelli did not letter for the Fighting Irish in 1923 or 1924. He did letter for Rockne's 1925 team that went 7-2-1. In 1926, he finally won a starting role for a Notre Dame team that went 9-1.

The Irish missed out on a national title that season because of one of the great upsets in college football history. On Nov. 27, Notre Dame fell to Carnegie Tech, now known as Carnegie Mellon University, 19-0. Carnegie Tech went 7-2 that season so it was no pushover. Still, Notre Dame hadn't given up a point in its first eight games.

In 1928, Marelli signed with the Chicago Cardinals and played two games, starting one. The NFL was a far cry from the national religion that it is today. There wasn't a single story appearing in the Rockford newspapers about Marelli's brief pro career.

Marelli returned to Rockford and went into business, eventually owning the North Town Fuel Co. He also coached the St. Thomas football team for several years. St. Thomas was closed when Boylan opened in the 1960s.

Marelli died in 1976.

No. 60 - Ray Marelli, Rockford
Year	Level	School	Accomplishments	Points
1919	High School	Rockford	Winning Team	1
1920	High School	Rockford	First Team All-Conference	2
			Winning Team	1
			Conference Champion	1
1923	College	Notre Dame	Player on Power 5 Team	2
1924	College	Notre Dame	Player on Power 5 Team	2
1925	College	Notre Dame	Letter Winner on Power 5 Team	4
			Winning Team	1
1926	College	Notre Dame	Letter Winner on Power 5 Team	4
			Winning Team	1
			Starter	1
1928	Pro Football	Chicago Cardinals	Played in NFL	3
			Starter	1
Total				24

NIC-10's 100 Greatest Football Players