Sam Cunningham
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sam Cunningham | |
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| Date of birth: | August 15, 1950 |
| Place of birth: |  Santa Barbara, California |
| Career information | |
| Position(s): | Fullback |
| College: | USC |
| NFL Draft: | 1973 / Round: 1 / Pick 11 |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1973-1982 | New England Patriots |
| Career highlights and Awards | |
| Pro Bowls: | 1 |
| Stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
Samuel Lewis Cunningham, Jr (nicknamed "Bam", born August 15, 1950, in Santa Barbara, CA) is a retired American football fullback.
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[edit] College career
Cunningham was a letterman for the USC football team from 1970 through 1972 where he played fullback. He was named an All-American in 1972. He was a member of USC’s 1972 national championship team. In the 1973 Rose Bowl, he scored four touchdowns, which still stands as a modern-day Rose Bowl record. He was named Rose Bowl Player of the Game. He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1992
USC Rules!
He had a notable performance against an all-white University of Alabama football team 42-21 at Birmingham on September 12, 1970. His performance in the game was reportedly a factor in convincing the University of Alabama and its fans to let Coach Bear Bryant integrate Southern football. Jerry Claiborne, a Bryant assistant, said, "Sam Cunningham did more to integrate Alabama in 60 minutes than Martin Luther King did in 20 years."[1][2]
[edit] Professional career
In only his second year 1974, he gained 811 yards and 9 touchdowns as he led the New England Patriots to a surprising 4-0 start before faltering to a 7-7 finish. In 1977 he gained a career high 1,015 yards and scored 4 touchdowns, and also caught 42 receptions for 370 yards and a touchdown. He played his entire career (1973 through 1982) with the Patriots and was a 1978 Pro Bowl selection.
Cunningham finished his career with 5,453 rushing yards, 210 receptions for 1,905 yards, and 49 touchdowns. He is the older brother of former NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham.
[edit] Trivia
- Sam has appeared with his family on the syndicated television game show "Family Feud."
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Sam Cunningham Profile at USC Legends
- Sam Cunningham Profile at Rosebowl Legends
| Preceded by Josh Ashton |
New England Patriots Starting Running Back 1973 |
Succeeded by Mack Herron |
| Preceded by Mack Herron |
New England Patriots Starting Running Back 1975-1979 |
Succeeded by Vagas Ferguson |
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