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Art Malone - 1948-2012: Punishing running back left mark on Arizona State record books by Doug Haller - Jul. 31, 2012 09:00 PM The Republic | azcentral.com Art Malone, one of the top running backs in Arizona State history, died Friday. He was 64. Malone played for legendary ASU coach Frank Kush from 1967 to 1969, leaving his mark on the school record book when he left Tempe for pro football. "Art was a tremendous athlete," former ASU teammate Tom Delnoce said. "We came in the same year, 1966, and coming from Ohio, I had never seen a back with his kind of talent. He was quick, he was fast and he could dish out punishment. In those days, it was just something I wasn't used to seeing." Malone twice was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection. In 1969, he was an NEA second-team All-American. He finished his ASU career with 2,649 rushing yards, which today is the seventh-most in school history. Malone's 1,431 rushing yards in 1968 stand as the third-highest season total in school history. His 239 rushing yards against New Mexico that season rank third for most yards in a game. In 1970, the Atlanta Falcons selected Malone in the second round (39th overall pick) of the NFL draft. He played seven professional seasons, five with the Falcons and two with the Philadelphia Eagles. His best effort came in 1972 when he rushed for 798 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 50 passes for 585 yards. He finished his career with 2,457 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. He also caught 161 passes for 1,465 yards and six touchdowns. In 1979, Malone was inducted into the Sun Devil Hall of Fame. His younger brother, Ben, was also a running back for the Sun Devils from 1971 to 1973, and in his final season set single-game ASU records for rushing yards (250) and touchdowns (five). Like Art, Ben played played seven seasons in the NFL, which included five with Miami and two with Washington. Ben was inducted into the Sun Devil Hall of Fame in 1983. The Malone brothers grew up in Eloy. A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Resthaven Park Mortuary and Cemetery, 4310 East Southern Ave., Phoenix. His younger brother, Ben, played for the Sun Devils from 1971-73, and set single-game Sun Devil records for rushing yards (250) and touchdowns (five) in 1973. He was inducted into the Sun Devil Hall of Fame in 1983. He spent seven seasons in the NFL, including five with the Miami Dolphins and two with the Washington Redskins. |