Mike Caterbone came to Franklin & Marshall College fromLancaster's McCaskey High School where he was an outstandingathlete. Early in his career, the coaching staff identified him asa player with great athleticism and experimented with him in avariety of positions before deciding to play him as a defensiveback and kick return specialist. While he was excellent as adefender, it was as a kick returner that Caterbone would leave hismark.
Most individuals who follow F&M football agree thatCaterbone was one of the most spectacular punt and kick returnspecialists that F&M and the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC)had ever seen, and that includes Widener University great Billy"White Shoes" Johnson. When he fielded a kicked ball, the fansoften would rise to their feet in anticipation of one of hispatented zigzag returns. A four-year starter, Caterbone was namedto the MAC All-Conference team in 1981 and 1982. He was alsohonored by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), whichnamed him to their Southern Division All-Star Team.
Caterbone set many F&M and conference records too numerousto list during his playing career, and still holds the followingrecords--81 yards vs. Dickinson (9/25/82), most punt returns fortouchdowns in season--three in 1982, and most kickoff returnyardage during a career--1,096 on 46 returns. Following graduationfrom F&M with a major in business management, he playedprofessional for the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian FootballLeague in 1984 and later for the Miami Dolphins of the NationalFootball League.
With the Rough Riders (7-9) he caught 43 passes for 654 yards(15.2 yards per catch), which ranked second on the team. He hadfive touchdown passes, the longest being 70 yards. In addition tohis receiving duties, Caterbone returned 37 punts for 328 yards,and average of 8.9 yards per catch, and 21 kickoffs for 436 yards,a 20.8 yard average. Following retirement from professionalfootball, Caterbone remained in Florida where he did free lancemodeling and more recently became the regional marketing directorfor Sun America. He lives with his wife, Maria, in Boca Raton,F.L.
