Tommy Casanova
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| Tommy Casanova | |
|---|---|
| Position(s) | Defensive Back |
| College | LSU |
| NFL Draft | 1972 / Round 2/ Pick 29 |
| Team(s) | |
| 1972-1977 | Cincinnati Bengals |
| College Hall-of-Fame | |
Tommy Casanova played football for LSU and for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was also a Senator in the Louisiana Senate. He is now an ophthalmologist.
Contents |
[edit] High School
Casanova went to Notre Dame High School in Crowley, LA, graduating in 1968.
[edit] College
He then went to the Louisiana State University (LSU), where he became one of the greatest LSU football players in college football history. He played three seasons for LSU: 1969, 1970, and 1971. At LSU, Casanova did it all, playing running back, punt returner, kick returner and defensive back. During each of his three years at LSU, he was selected as a member of the College Football All-America Team (Casanova is the only three-time All-American in LSU history). In the September 13, 1971 issue of Sports Illustrated, the magazine featured Casanova on the front cover, with the headline: "Tommy Casanova of LSU, Best Player in the Nation." In 2000, the Walter Camp Football Foundation selected Casanova for their All-Century team [1] (honoring the best college football players of the 20th century). Major games from Casanova's time at LSU include #9 LSU's 21-20 victory over #14 Auburn in 1969 (televised on ABC), #14 LSU's 17-9 victory at #6 Auburn in 1970, #11 LSU's 14-9 victory at #19 Alabama in 1970 (televised on ABC), #8 LSU's 61-17 victory over #16 Ole Miss in 1970 (televised on ABC), and #14 LSU's 28-8 victory over #7 Notre Dame in 1971 (televised on ABC).
[edit] NFL
In 1972, Casanova was drafted 29th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals. He played safety for the Bengals from 1972 to 1977, being selected to the Pro Bowl in 1974, 1976, and 1977. Known as a hard-hitting free safety, Casanova also collected 17 career interceptions.
[edit] Later Life
While playing for the Bengals, Casanova began to pursue his M.D. at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. In 1977, he quit playing football to pursue his medical degree full time. He graduated from the UC College of Medicine in 1980, and then began a three-year residency in ophthalmology in New Orleans. After completing his residency in 1983, Casanova went on to complete a specialization in Oculoplastic Surgery at the University of Utah.
In 1996, Casanova was elected to the Louisiana Senate for a six-year term. In 2000, when his term expired, Casanova decided to leave the State Senate to return to his ophthalmology practice in his hometown of Crowley, LA.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ All-Century College Football Team. Walter Camp Football Foundation. Retrieved on 20 November 2006.
| Preceded by: Marty Liquori Thomas Lewis Lyons Cliff Meely Kurt L. Schmoke Joe Theismann Jack Youngblood |
Silver Anniversary Awards (NCAA) Class of 1997 Tommy Casanova Jack Ford David Joyner Edward B. Rust Jr. James Tedisco Herb Washington |
Succeeded by: Gary Hall, Sr. Lawrie Mifflin Drew Pearson Cynthia Potter Sally Ride Harry Smith |
