Pat Abbruzzi Pasquale " Pat " Abbruzzi , was an American college and professional Canadian football running back and a successful high school football coach . Abbruzzi played collegiately for the University of Rhode Island ( Class of 1955 ) , and professionally for the Canadian Football League Montreal Alouettes for four years ( 1955 - 1959 ) . He is considered to be one of the finest sports figures Rhode Island has ever produced . Early life and college career . Abbruzzi was born and raised in Warren , Rhode Island , and is the younger brother of former NFL player , Lou " Duke " Abbruzzi . Abbruzzi attended Warren High School , and went on to the University of Rhode Island following graduation . As a member of the University of Rhode Island Rams football team , from 1951 to 1954 , he was an all star running back . He rushed 562 times for a school record 3389 yards ( 6 yard per carry average ) and 25 touchdowns . His greatest and record setting day was October 4 , 1952 versus New Hampshire ( a 27 - 7 win ) , when Abbruzzi rushed for 306 yards , including a 99 yard run from scrimmage , both school records . He also scored 3 TDs . He was named All - Yankee Conference each of these years and named a New England All - Star from 1952 to 1954 . Professional football career . Drafted by the Baltimore Colts of the NFL in 1954 , the 13th pick in the 30th round ( 352 overall ) Abbruzzi chose the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League for a pro career , mostly because they offered him a $ 500 bonus ( which he used for his honeymoon . ) In four years with the Alouettes , 1955 to 1958 , he played 49 regular season games and 2 Grey Cup matches ( against the Edmonton Eskimos . ) He rushed 700 times for a total of 3749 yards ( 5 . 4 yard average ) with 25 rushing TDs and eleven 100 yard rushing games . Abbruzzi ' s greatest year was his first in the CFL , 1955 , when he was part of a dynamic Als team , that contended for the 1955 Grey Cup . Abbruzzi rushed 182 times and lead the CFL in rushing with 1 , 248 yards ( 6 . 9 yard average ) and in touchdowns with 17 ( his longest rush was 69 yards ) . Abbruzzi was named the second recipient of the CFL ' s Most Outstanding Player Award , as well as a CFL All - Star , at the conclusion of the 1955 season . Abbruzzi continued as the Larks top rusher in 1956 with 1 , 062 yards and was named to a second consecutive CFL All - Star team in 1956 . His 20 touchdowns that year stood alone as a CFL record until 1990 and was finally surpassed by Allen Pitts in 1994 . In 1957 , Abbruzzi had 809 yards , but an injury plagued 1958 season would turn out to be his last , when Abbruzzi finished the year with 630 yards . In July 1959 he was traded to the Calgary Stampeders for Veryl Switzer during training camp but was released before the start of the 1959 regular season . Teaching career and high school coaching career . After his professional career , Abbruzzi became a successful and much beloved Physical Education teacher and football coach at his alma mater , Warren High School in Warren , Rhode Island . He coached eight division champions over 26 years , and also coached baseball in his spare time . During the 1970s his football team set an interscholastic league record of 31 victories in a row . Known to all as " Doc " he was a legendary figure Rhode Island high school football . Abbruzzi was named to the University of Rhode Island Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972 , and the Rhode Island Football Coaches Hall of F ame in 1976 . He was a charter member of the Warren Athletic Hall of Fame ( 1998 ) and in 2005 Pat was named to the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Hall of Fame . He was later elected to the Sons of Italy Athletic Hall of Fame . Death and legacy . Pat Abbruzzi died on June 3 , 1998 . His wife Philomena died in 2001 . Both are survived by their children , son Michael Abbruzzi and daughters Diane Gempp , Debbie Abbruzzi , Mary Patriarca , Julie Abbruzzi and Jane Patterson .