Xavier University Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1982
- Class:
- 1952
Robert Finnell, who lettered three years in football and is a member of the Legion of Honor, is the only XU player to rush for 1,000 yards in one season. Bob Finnell rushed for more yards in one season and in his career than anyone in Xavier history. He's also regarded as the greatest rusher in Xavier history.
Finnell's school records include season (1,021 yards) and career (2,409 yards) rushing, game (32 vs. Cincinnati in 1951) and career (496) rushing attempts, season (19 in 1951) and career (33) touchdowns scored, most points scored in a season (114 in 1951) and a career (198), and most consecutive games scoring a touchdown (16).
In his first year at Xavier, as a sophomore, he helped lead the Musketeers to a 33-12 victory over Arizona State in the 1950 Salad Bowl (forerunner of today's Fiesta Bowl), and a 10-1 season record. The next year (1950) he was back running his team to an 8-1 record. In the 28-21 victory over Dayton in the 1950 season, he raced 75 yards for the winning score.
Finnell saved many of his best efforts for his senior season. He shattered all of the school's rushing marks en route to leading Xavier to its best record since 1901, 9-0-1. He is the only rusher in Xavier history to top 1,000 yards, running for a school record 1,021 in 1951.
There were many Finnell highlights during the 1951 season. One was during the Louisville game, a 47-6 Xavier win, in which he rambled for 167 yards on 19 carries for an average of 8.8 yards per carry. The 167 yards included touchdown bursts of 54 and 46 yards. He ran for a score off a lateral in a 26-0 pasting of unbeaten Cincinnati.
During those years he was honored by being selected on the Little All-America, All-Catholic All-America, All-Midwest, and All-Ohio Teams his last two years. He also played in the 1951 North-South game.
Finnell came to Xavier after a multi-sport star career at Dalton (Kentucky) High School. After graduation, Finnell returned to coach the freshman football squad for a couple years.
