Lyle Rockenbach
Lyle James "Rocky" Rockenbach was an American football guard. He played college football for Michigan State from 1937 to 1939 and professional football for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League in 1943.
Early years
Rockenbach was born in 1915, at Prairie View, Illinois. He was part of a family with 14 children. He attended Crystal Lake Central High School in Crystal Lake, Illinois. He was a star basketball player at Crystal Lake.Michigan State
Rockenbach was recruited to Michigan State College by basketball coach Benjamin Van Alstyne. He reported to the basketball team, but was dropped from the team after several weeks. He then tried out for the football team, having played at the guard position in high school. He began the 1937 season as a backup guard, but became a starter by the end of the season. He blocked three punts in a single game against Pop Warner's [1937 Temple Owls American football|football team|Temple team] in 1937. As a junior, he was a blocker for All-American John Pingel. He was chosen as a co-captain of the 1939 Michigan State Spartans football team, and at the end of the 1939 season, he was selected as the team's most valuable player.Detroit Lions
After graduating from Michigan State, he became a high school coach in Howell, Michigan. In August 1943, he signed with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He appeared in eight or nine games for the Lions during the 1943 NFL season.Later years
In April 1944, Rockenbach enlisted in the United States Navy.Rockenbach died on November 8, 2005, at Westminster Woods at Julington Creek Retirement Community in Jacksonville, Florida.