M Club Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1976
Andy Nelson, a versatile athlete who could work at numerous positions, played football for the Tigers from 1953 through the 1956 season. The Athens, Alabama, native made an immediate impact on coach Ralph Hatley’s 1953 team. His interception in the season opener against Chattanooga set up the Tigers’ lone score and led to a 7-6 victory. The speedy back had an 85-yard run for a score that led to a win over Southern Mississippi, a team which lost just the Memphis game over a two year span. As a sophomore, Nelson would tally six touchdowns, two of which led to the Tigers’ 13-13 tie with SEC member Tulane in New Orleans. In 1955, Nelson took over as the starting quarterback and was involved in nine touchdowns by rushing or passing. He suffered a broken wrist in the Kentucky game but refused to leave the contest until the final whistle blew. For the second consecutive season, Nelson led the team in total offense as well as punting and kickoff returns. Serving as co-captain his senior season, Nelson led his Memphis team to the school’s first bowl invitation, a spot in the Burley Bowl in Johnson City, Tennessee. Memphis would defeat East Tennessee State 32-12, with Nelson proving the game’s final score. He was named to Williamson’s All-America team in 1956. During his career at Memphis, Nelson rushed for 1,071 yards, passed for 952 yards and punted 79 times for 2,882 yards. He was also selected to the Tigers’ All-Time Team in 1958 which was picked by coaches Hatley, Murphy, Zach Curlin and Cecil C. Humphreys. He was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1957 and played for the World Champion Colts for seven years before ending his career with the New York Giants. He was named All-Pro and played in the Pro-Bowl as a defensive back during his career and was named to the Colts All-Time Team. Nelson, who lives in Baltimore and inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
