Football: Former Rocket Great Mel Triplett Passes Away
7/25/2002 12:00:00 PM | Football
July 25, 2002
Toledo, OH - Former Rocket football great Mel Triplett, whose number was retired by the football program in 1955, died this afternoon. He was 71.
Triplett played six seasons with the New York Giants (1955-60) and was a star on the 1956 World Champion team. He was named the Giants' top offensive player in their 47-7 victory over the Chicago Bears in the championship game. Triplett also played two years with the Minnesota Vikings (1961-62) and he rushed for 2,857 yards and 14 touchdowns in 97 games in his professional career.
Triplett earned four letters with the Rockets (1951-54) and received first-team All-MAC honors in 1954. He was inducted into the UT Varsity 'T' Hall of Fame in 1983. He averaged an unprecedented 5.9 yards and 5.2 yards per carry in 1953 and 1954, respectively, with his top effort coming with 186-yard day in a 38-7 rout of Bowling Green in 1954.
Triplett's grandson, Keith, is a junior guard for the Rockets' men's basketball program.
