| Herman Hickman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sport(s) | College football | |
| Biographical details | ||
| Born | October 1, 1911 | |
| Place of birth | Johnson City, Tennessee, US | |
| Died | April 25, 1958 (aged 46) | |
| Place of death | Washington, DC | |
| Alma mater | University of Tennessee | |
| Playing career | ||
| 1929-1934 | Tennessee Volunteers (college) Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) |
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| Position(s) | Guard | |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | ||
| 1935-1951 | Wake Forest (assistant coach) North Carolina State (assistant coach) West Point (assistant coach) Yale University (head coach) |
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| Head coaching record | ||
| Overall | 16-17-2 | |
| Accomplishments and honors | ||
| Awards | ||
| *All American selection (1931) *All-Pro selection (1933) |
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Inducted in 1959 (profile) |
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Herman M. Hickman (October 1, 1911 - April 25, 1958) was a Hall of Fame college football player for the University of Tennessee and later a head football coach for Yale University. He played pro football for the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers. He later was a TV and radio analyst and broadcaster, a writer and a professional wrestler.
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Hickman came to UT from Johnson City, TN. Hickman was a guard for the Tennessee Volunteers football team from 1929–1931. He was named to Grantland Rice's All American football team in 1931 on the heels of his performance in the New York University (NYU) Charity game at Yankee Stadium.[1] Hickman was also named to the All-Southern team in 1931, joining teammate Gene McEver. Legendary coach Robert Neyland held Hickman in hig regard. "When one (football writer) said Hickman was 'the best guard the South ever produced,' Coach General Bob Neyland snarled, 'Herman Hickman is the greatest guard football has ever known.'" [2]
Following his time at Tennessee, Hickman played for the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers from 1932 to 1934. He was named an All Pro at left guard in 1933.[3] He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959.
Hickman was an assistant at Wake Forest, North Carolina State and West Point before earning the head coaching position at Yale in 1948. He led the Bulldogs to a 16-17-2 record before resigning in 1951.
Hickman had a reputation as a great dinner speaker.[4] He also participated in television broadcasts of football and radio and television panel shows.
Hickman was a writer, who came to be known as "Poet Laureate of the Little Smokies." He was also a staff writer for Sports Illustrated.[5]
Hickman also was a professional wrestler, known as "The Tennessee Terror, having over 500 matches.[6],[7]
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