540:"During the course of predinner libations, someone asked Lazetich to demonstrate his punting prowess. I don't think he'd ever kicked a football before in his life. They dared him to boot the chocolate football, which was a big mistake because Laz wasn't the kind of guy to take a dare lightly. He ambled out to the kitchen, plucked the football off the top of the fancy cake, brought it out in the front room and drove his toe into it with beautiful form and a perfect follow through. Cake, frosting and everything else that was loose was well distributed over the ceiling, walls, windows and drapes. ... It also was the last party Reeves ever held in his house for the Rams."
475:"Lazetich is a copper from Anaconda ... Lazetich was a deputy sheriff of Deer Lodge County but he has made most of his arrests on the football field ... Lazetich played freshman football at the University of Montana after which he moved up to Big Ten football ... While Lazetich was an All-Big Ten tackle for the Wolverines, he is the regular right guard of the Rams."
32:
397:
football in 1944, Lazetich told reporters that "no end or back ever threw a block like a pony that has been running wild for a couple of years, especially when he feels the first touch of a saddle." An NEA wire service story reported: "To him the Big Nine schedule can't be as tough as the battering
512:
carried the ball on a quarterback draw, "linebacker Milan
Lazetich hit him from behind, forcing a fumble recovered by the Rams at their own 22-yard line with just 3:16 to play." Lazeitch also recovered the fumble and appeared to have sealed a victory for the Rams. However, the Rams were unable to
524:
wrote that, although modern players were bigger and faster, he preferred the characters of the early NFL over the "faceless robots" of the modern game. He focused in particular on
Lazetich: "A character's character was Ram middle guard Milan (Sheriff) Lazetich. He was a blithe spirit from Montana
445:
In August 1945, the 23-year-old
Michigan sophomore signed to play professional football for the Cleveland Rams. With the Rams, Lazetich was converted from a tackle to a guard on offense and linebacker on defense. Lazetich played in ten games at right guard for the Rams in 1945, and he helped the
413:"The Michigan line is built around Milan Lazetich, a big tackle from Anaconda, Mont., who once was sheriff in his home community. He's the No. 1 All-America candidate from the Wolverine camp, so the reports say, but he's only one of a stalwart line which held Illinois speedsters without a score."
590:
Lazetich died in a hospital in Butte, Montana at age 47 in July 1969. He was buried with military honors at the Mount Olivet
Cemetery after a funeral in Butte's Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church. Lazetich was survived by his wife, the former Mary Laughlin, and his daughter Milana.
529:' Christmas party for the team at the end of the '46 season." Reeves, the Rams' owner, invited the team to a party at his home; the centerpiece was a large cake in the design of a football field topped with a full-size football covered in chocolate. Teammate and
317:
rancher. He grew up on his father's cattle ranch a few miles from
Anaconda. Lazetich attended Anaconda High School where he played football and was selected as an all-state tackle three straight years in 1938, 1939 and 1940. He also played
385:'s Wolverines football team in 1944. Because of his prior work in law enforcement, Lazetich was given the nickname the "Sheriff" by his Michigan teammates, a nickname that stuck throughout his football career. Lazetich was the star of the
479:
In the late 1940s, he was regarded as "one of the finest defensive right guards in pro football," and "50% of one of the best guard combinations in the
National Football League." The
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who'd played college football at
Michigan before joining the Rams in '46 for a five-year stint. That he lasted that long with the club is remarkable in light of what he pulled at
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wrote: "Sorry to see the gruff rough
Sheriff on the shelf. His departure leaves the Rams with only two members of the original cast of the 1945 world's championship team."
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714:"Buckeye Backfield Vs. Michigan's Mighty Forward, Milan Lazetich, Former Anaconda Stalwart In All-American Bid". The Independent-Record. November 23, 1944.
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606:. Pete Lazetich was part of the Stanford's front four known as the "Thunder Chickens." The younger Lazetich made 11 tackles in the 1972 Rose Bowl.
725:"Milan Lazetich of Anaconda on Big 10 Team: Ohio State Captures Four Berths; Forsh Makes Team". The Independent-Record (Mont.). November 27, 1944.
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1200:
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reported on an unspecified medical condition that may prevent him from playing for the team. In
November 1949, Lazetich was hospitalized in
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its first major league sports team. Lazetich played for the Rams in their first five seasons in Los
Angeles. When the Rams moved west, the
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In addition to his ability as a player, Lazetich developed a reputation as "a wild character if there ever was one." Decades later,
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678:"Milan Lazetich Says Big Nine Blocks Lack Bronc Power". The Independent-Record (Mont.) (NEA Service wire story). October 19, 1944.
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gave Lazetich substantial credit for the success of the 1949 Rams. He was selected as a first-team NFL All-Pro by the
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road department, as a court bailiff and as a surveyor with the Montana Highway Department. He was a member of the
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noted that, in "Sheriff" Lazetich, the Rams had one of the country's greatest law enforcement officers in its line.
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All Big Ten Team as a first-team tackle. He was also picked as a second-team All-American by the
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560:, his condition was reported to be serious, and he was unable to play for the rest of the month.
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ran an article introducing the city to the team's top players. In its feature on Lazetich, the
231:
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Les Rickey (January 5, 1972). "Ricocheting ... Lazetichs: Big in Sports". The Daily Inter Lake.
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run out the clock, and the Browns kicked a field goal in the game's last minute to win, 30–28.
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689:"University Football Squad Plays First of Two Games". The Helena Independent. April 11, 1942.
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8:
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team. Two of his brothers were also all-state football players at Anaconda High School.
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652:"Milan Lazetich, former pro football star, dies at 47". Montana Standard. July 11, 1969.
417:
At the end of the 1944 season, Lazetich, in his sophomore season, was selected for the
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After retiring from football, Lazetich returned to Montana, where he worked for the
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Frank Finch (November 10, 1949). "Two Week Layoff: Rams' Lazetich Out With Ulcer".
587:, the Bokelian Brotherhood Lodge in Butte, and the Serbian Fraternity of Anaconda.
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504:. With the Rams ahead, 28–27, and only five minutes left to play in the game, the
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By 1948, health problems began to affect Lazetich. Prior to the 1948 season, the
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In July 1951, Lazetich announced his retirement from football. At the time, the
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793:"First major league team in L.A.: Rams find success in Southern California".
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Rams to win the NFL championship in his first year as a professional player.
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They changed the game: Football's great coaches, players, and games, p. 140
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America's Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation, p. 70
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493:. In 1949, he was selected as a first-team All-NFL/AAFC player by the
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Braven Dyer (August 7, 1948). "Rams Await Examination of Lazetich".
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31:
973:"Milan Lazetich Dies in Butte". Billings Gazette. July 11, 1969.
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353:. After being discharged from the Navy, Lazetich served as a
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to a victory over his uncle's alma mater, Michigan, in the
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were driving toward a score. After Browns quarterback
389:
that went 8–2 and finished the season ranked #8 in the
337:. In a spring game in April 1942, Lazetich returned a
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984:"Anaconda deaths". Montana Standard. July 13, 1969.
876:Ned Cronin (December 14, 1956). "Cronin's Corner".
958:Frank Finch (July 6, 1951). "Scouting the Pros".
440:
278:. He later played professional football for the
1460:
313:. He was the son of Peter Lazetich, a pioneer
552:during the football season for treatment of a
1194:
1020:
891:Frank Finch (December 10, 1974). "Come Back,
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1509:United States Navy personnel of World War II
489:in 1948 and as a second-team NFL All-Pro by
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808:"Know Your Ram and Redskin Pro Gridders".
757:"Milan Lazetich Pens '49 Pact With Rams".
616:Michigan Wolverines Football All-Americans
149: / round: 2 / pick: 16
928:"Lazetich May Be Lost for Rest of Year".
372:
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247:(August 27, 1921 – July 9, 1969) was an
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427:Football Writers Association of America
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621:1944 College Football All-America Team
497:, the Hearst newspapers wire service.
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536:later recalled the incident this way:
1479:Michigan Wolverines football players
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16:American football player (1921–1969)
816:
632:
401:In a pre-game story about the 1944
192:2× First-team, All-NFL (1948, 1949)
13:
1499:American people of Serbian descent
1484:Montana Grizzlies football players
765:
747:
14:
1520:
87:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
736:Fred Runnells (August 2, 1945).
500:Lazetich made a key play in the
251:player in the 1940s. He played
30:
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403:Michigan – Ohio State game
301:for the Rams in 1948 and 1949.
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441:Cleveland and Los Angeles Rams
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175:Career highlights and awards
1:
1504:People from Anaconda, Montana
843:Michael MacCambridge (2005).
782:. pro-football-reference.com.
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393:. After being introduced to
309:Lazetich was born in 1921 in
398:bucking broncs handed out."
329:Lazetich played one year of
280:Cleveland / Los Angeles Rams
162:Cleveland / Los Angeles Rams
7:
609:
449:In 1946, the Rams moved to
10:
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577:Deer Lodge County, Montana
531:Pro Football Hall of Famer
502:1950 NFL Championship Game
495:International News Service
431:International News Service
359:Deer Lodge County, Montana
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847:. Knopf Publishing Group.
703:. University of Michigan.
435:Central Press Association
341:90 yards. He joined the
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1489:Los Angeles Rams players
556:. He was given several
491:Pro Football Illustrated
322:and was a member of the
245:Milan "Sheriff" Lazetich
95:211 lb (96 kg)
21:American football player
581:Serbian Orthodox Church
486:Chicago-Herald American
361:. He also worked as a
263:. He was a first-team
1494:Cleveland Rams players
600:Stanford football team
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379:University of Michigan
373:University of Michigan
261:University of Michigan
743:. Grosse Pointe News.
738:"This Week in Sports"
538:
473:
411:
335:University of Montana
284:1945 NFL Championship
257:University of Montana
947:. November 26, 1949.
932:. November 12, 1949.
858:Howard Liss (1975).
701:"1944 Football Team"
409:focused on Lazetich:
387:1944 Wolverines team
381:where he played for
282:. He played on the
42:Personal information
36:Lazetich, circa 1947
943:"Sheriff on Mend".
594:Lazetich's nephew,
377:He enrolled at the
276:Michigan Wolverines
26:
1216:1945 NFL champions
812:. August 20, 1946.
558:blood transfusions
100:Career information
24:
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1455:
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960:Los Angeles Times
945:Los Angeles Times
930:Los Angeles Times
912:Los Angeles Times
897:Los Angeles Times
878:Los Angeles Times
830:Los Angeles Times
810:Los Angeles Times
797:. August 9, 1985.
795:Los Angeles Times
759:Los Angeles Times
565:Los Angeles Times
546:Los Angeles Times
518:Los Angeles Times
481:Los Angeles Times
464:Los Angeles Times
351:medical discharge
311:Anaconda, Montana
249:American football
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1228:Graham Armstrong
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331:college football
274:in 1944 for the
270:and second-team
253:college football
229:Player stats at
154:Career history
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780:"Mike Lazetich"
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761:. May 10, 1949.
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1438:Head coach:
1363:Steve Pritko
1353:Steve Nemeth
1312:
1298:Harvey Jones
1278:Ray Hamilton
1268:Jim Gillette
1238:Dave Bernard
1152:Gene Konopka
1145:Luke Higgins
1123:Dick Hoerner
1095:Vern Walters
1091:Dick Huffman
1059:
1055:Elroy Hirsch
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550:Pennsylvania
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347:World War II
328:
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272:All-American
244:
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197:All-American
195:Second-team
183:NFL champion
105:High school:
72:(1969-07-09)
70:July 9, 1969
18:
1474:1969 deaths
1469:1921 births
1418:Joe Winkler
1398:Rudy Sikich
1368:Albie Reisz
1328:Sonny Liles
1303:George Koch
1293:Jack Jacobs
1263:Fred Gehrke
1258:Roger Eason
1253:Bob deLauer
1111:Chuck Uknes
1104:Joe Winkler
1087:John August
571:Later years
522:Frank Finch
510:Otto Graham
451:Los Angeles
305:Early years
290:and was an
265:All-Big Ten
208:All-Big Ten
206:First-team
164:(1945–1950)
1463:Categories
1450:Dan Reeves
1440:Adam Walsh
1423:Jim Worden
1373:Bill Rieth
1348:Rudy Mucha
1343:Ray Monaco
1323:Butch Levy
1288:Red Hickey
1243:Gil Bouley
1233:Jim Benton
1166:Bill Davis
1158:Russ Perry
1155:Ray Florek
1149:Stan Nowak
1127:Lee Kennon
1119:Bob Barton
1108:Jack Aland
1083:Fred Negus
1068:Jack Zilly
1064:Dub Wooten
1045:selections
627:References
527:Dan Reeves
455:California
363:cowpuncher
320:basketball
299:linebacker
286:team as a
143:NFL draft:
137:Linebacker
53:1921-08-27
1383:Mo Scarry
1140:Ray Evans
1115:Bill Lund
1099:Tom Fears
534:Tom Fears
453:, giving
343:U.S. Navy
125:Position:
1413:Pat West
1393:Bob Shaw
1318:Les Lear
1162:Pat West
610:See also
457:and the
255:for the
119:Michigan
115:College:
1448:Owner:
1407:NFL MVP
395:Big Ten
391:AP Poll
369:rider.
345:during
339:kickoff
333:at the
315:Serbian
292:All-Pro
92:Weight:
84:Height:
433:, and
405:, the
288:rookie
268:tackle
129:Tackle
79:, U.S.
62:, U.S.
741:(PDF)
469:Times
367:rodeo
324:track
295:guard
133:Guard
67:Died:
47:Born:
365:and
259:and
212:1944
201:1944
187:1945
147:1945
895:".
583:in
357:in
232:PFR
1465::
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