Red Franklin
Norman Clifford "Red" Franklin was an American football running back who played in the National Football League for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1935 to 1937. He played college football at Oregon State University, earning All-American honors in 1933 .
Biography
Early years
Norman Franklin was born December 13, 1911, in Hope, Rhode Island. He attended high school at Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, California.College career
Franklin was fleet of foot, timed at 9.9 seconds in the 100-yard dash, and played football collegiately for the Oregon State College Beavers. He gained the nickname "Red" from his hair color and was memorably dubbed by one sportswriter "the red-headed riot from Long Beach."With the departure of OSC star left halfback Harold Moe after the 1932 [Oregon State Beavers football team|1932 season], the door was opened for Franklin to step into a starting role in that key position for new head coach Lonnie Stiner. He became the star player of that legendary team, known retrospectively as "The Iron Men" for having battled the two-time national champion and undefeated 1933 [USC Trojans football team|USC Trojans] to a 0–0 tie using just 11 men for the entire 60 minutes of the game. In addition to his skill as a runner and return man, Franklin was highly proficient as a defensive back as well, intercepting two passes in the USC game, including a desperation pass as time expired, sealing the tie for OSC.
Franklin received the highest accolades of his career after this junior season, being named a first team All-Pacific Conference halfback and a first team All-American.