Northeastern University Athletics

Alfred J. Balerna was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sports of football and track.

Although most noted for his runs from scrimmage as a slashing tailback in the Huskies undefeated 1951 team, Balerna also earned three letters as a 100 and 200-yard dashman. Football was Balerna's bread and butter however. When he wasn't making coast to coast runs with the pigskin, he was jarring it loose from prospective receivers as a punishing defensive back. During a time when Joe Zabilski's Husky teams were filled with stars, Balerna was one of his greatest assets on both sides of the ball. His football career began on the right note, as he led his freshman squad of 1948 to an unbeaten, untied season. He enjoyed many outstanding individual accomplishments, including scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter alone against Tufts in the 1951 season, helping to ensure the Huskies' undefeated season. Balerna truly went out with a rush, as he gained over 600 yards in just seven games in 1951, when he was also the Huskies' leading receiver out of the backfield.

Recognizing his many contributions to Northeastern, the University dedicated the locker room at Parsons Field in the name of Balerna during football homecoming ceremonies on October 18, 1982.

With his degree from the University in Accounting, Balerna began an immensely successful business career after Northeastern. He went on to become president of the Federal Distillers Inc., of Cambridge.