Mike Sebastian Michael John " Lefty " Sebastian ( June 7 , 1910 - June 28 , 1989 ) was an American football halfback in the National Football League for the Cincinnati Reds , Boston Redskins , Philadelphia Eagles , Pittsburgh Pirates , ( later renamed the Steelers ) and the Cleveland Rams . Nicknamed the Rose of Sharon , he also played for the Rams while they were still members of the second American Football League as well as the AFL ' s Rochester Tigers . Prior to his professional career , Mike played college football at the University of Pittsburgh . At Pitt , he played under coach Jock Sutherland , who had declared Mike the best passer whom he had seen in " many days . " Early life . Mike was born in Luxor , Pennsylvania , a coal mining " patch town " , located near Greensburg . He attended Sharon High School in Sharon , Pennsylvania where he played football and track , earning All - State honors in both sports . In 1928 Sebastian earned national attention when he scored ten touchdown s contributing to 63 points in just one game . College career . Mike earned a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh , where he again starred in both sports and earned a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh where he played as a fullback and earned All - America n recognition in 1932 and 1933 . While at Pitt , Sebastian helped the Panthers to a shared National Championship in 1931 . On November 5 , 1932 , Sebastian faked a pass , cut for the west sidelines , reversed his field , for a 45 - yard touchdown run against a heavily favored Notre Dame . Pitt would go on to win the game 12 - 0 for the first victory in the rivialry . That same year Mike caught a ball for 52 yards in a 0 - 0 contest against Ohio State . Sportswriter John Dietrich of " The Plain Dealer " later called the game " one of the thrillers of a lifetime . " Sebastian contributed to a hard - fought 19 - 12 Pitt victory over Penn by catching a 27 - yard touchdown pass late in the game . On October 28 , 1933 , Sebastian ' s 75 - yard touchdown run highlighted a 14 - 0 win over Duke . In 1930 , and again in 1933 , he played in the Rose Bowl , which resulted in a 47 - 14 and 35 - 0 losses to the University of Southern California . In 1934 Mike played , and was the starting running back , in the first College All - Star Game . The game which became a tradition from 1934 until 1974 was played between the National Football League champions and a team of star college seniors from the previous year . That very first game , was played on August 31 , 1934 before a crowd of 79 , 432 at Chicago ' s Soldier Field . The game resulted in a scoreless tie between the all - stars and the Chicago Bears . That year Sebastian also played in the second East - West Shrine Game in Chicago . The game featured an " East Team " versus a " West Team " of College Football Stars . Mike played on the East Team due to Pitt ' s location in the eastern United States . Professional career . After college , Mike went on to a pro football career . He began his career with Cincinnati Reds in 1934 , where he is uncredit by most sources for playing with the team . However he was signed by the team just prior to a game against the Chicago Cardinals . He split the 1935 season between three teams : the Boston Redskins , Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Pirates . It is not known the order of the teams he played for in 1935 . Some records show that he made his start with the Pirates , but there is also a signed original copy of his contract with the Chicago Cardinals , which offered Sebastian $ 120 per game ( see below ) ; however , there are no existing statistics to prove that he played for Chicago . In 1936 Sebastian played for the Passaic Red Devils of the minor league American Association . The following year Sebastian returned to the NFL with the Cleveland Rams . The Rams were a charter member of the second American Football League in 1936 . Although the NFL granted membership in 1937 to the same owner , the NFL considers it a separate entity since only four of the players ( William " Bud " Cooper , Harry " The Horse " Mattos , Stan Pincura , and Sebastian ) and none of the team ' s management made the transfer to the Rams ' NFL team . In 1937 , Sebastian and Harry Newman were mainstays on the AFL ' s Rochester Tigers . In 1938 , he served a player - coach for the St . Louis Gunners of the American Football League . Mike ' s career ended due to knee and hip problems which not only ended his career , but would eventually end his life . Coaching career . Mike retired from playing in 1938 and after World War II . After his professional career he went back to school to earn a masters degree . He was then appointed assistant coach at Rochester Area High School in 1946 , with his team going 9 - 1 that first season . When head coach Earl Ewing resigned , Mike was made head coach for the 1947 campaign and made an instant splash with an 8 - 0 - 1 team that featured Babe Parilli . Mike stayed with the Rams three more years , compiling an overall 23 - 12 - 4 record . In 1951 Ambridge High School hired Mike as their coach for the next 11 seasons . His first team went 7 - 1 - 2 , but in 1954 the Bridgers finished with a 8 - 0 - 1 record that started a four year 31 - 5 - 2 run . His 1956 team as 9 - 0 and outscored their opponents 367 to 51 . Mike continued to coach Ambridge through the 1961 season to an overall record of 64 - 38 - 4 . Afterwards he moved on to New Castle , where he taught classes and coached football before retiring in 1974 . After football . After retiring Mike moved to Hemet , California , where he remained active playing golf and other activities . However , his inability to stay active due to pain in his hip made him decide to get hip replacement surgery . He died on June 28 , 1989 , as a result of hepatitis contracted during the procedure . He was 79 years old . In 2002 Sebastian was inducted into the Mercer County Sports Hall of Fame . Then in 2007 Sebastian was inducted into Beaver County ' s Sports Hall of Fame . Personal . Mike married Genevieve Micko on March 3 , 1934 . He is interred in Sharon along with his wife , who passed in January 2005 . She was 89 years old .