Former Spartans star Grandelius dies

4/25/2008 11:18 PM

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Everett ``Sonny'' Grandelius, Michigan State's first 1,000-yard rusher, died Friday. He was 79.

The university said the All-America fullback died in Beverly Hills, Mich. The school didn't provide details on the cause of death.

In 1950, Grandelius became the 17th 1,000-yard rusher in college football history, running for 1,023 on 163 carries to help the Spartans to an 8-1 record.

Grandelius was the MVP of the 1951 Hula Bowl and also played in the 1951 East-West Shrine game. The New York Giants selected him in the third round of the 1951 NFL draft.

Following the 1953 season, his only season in the NFL, Grandelius spent five years as an assistant coach at Michigan State. He was head coach at Colorado from 1959-61, leading the 1961 team to a 7-0 record and the Big 8 title.

He also was the backfield coach with the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions and the general manager of the World Football League's Detroit Wheels.

Grandelius, a Muskegon Heights native, was inducted into Michigan State's Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.

Survivors include wife Marty, two daughters and two sons.