Glenn Dobbs

Glenn Dobbs (1920-2002) was a professional American Football player in the All-America Football Conference. A skilled running back, quarterback, and punter, Dobbs was named the AAFC's MVP in 1946. After sitting out the 1950 season with a knee injury, Dobbs was persuaded to come out of retirement to play with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the Western Interprovincial Football Union (forerunner of the Canadian Football League). In 1951 Dobbs was named the Most Valuable Player of the WIFU.

Dobbs played college football at the University of Tulsa, where he was later head football coach and athletic director. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Biography

Early years

Glenn Dobbs was born July 12, 1920 in McKinney, Texas. He was a successful running back and punter in high school, earning all-state honors while playing for his school in Frederick, Oklahoma.

Collegiate career

Following graduation Dobbs enrolled at the private University of Tulsa, where he played varsity football at the collegiate level in the 1940, 1941, and 1942 seasons.

During his Senior year, 1942, Dobbs led the Golden Hurricane to an undefeated 10-0 record.^[1] A fleet-footed halfback who threw numerous option passes as well as the nation's top punter, with a 48.3 yards per punt average,^[2] Dobbs was named the first All-American in Tulsa football history for his efforts in the successful 1942 season.^[1] The No. 4 ranked Golden Hurricane advanced that year to play in the Sugar Bowl, where they fell to the University of Tennessee by a score of 14-7.^[1]

At the time of his death Dobbs was still regarded by many as the greatest football player in University of Tulsa history.^[3] He continues to hold the mark for four of the five longest punts in school history, including boots of 87, 79, 78, and 77 yards.^[3]

Military football career

Dobbs was selected as the third pick of the National Football League draft by the Chicago Cardinals. He was unable to come to contract terms with the team, however, and instead enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces.^[4] During the years of World War II the American military maintained service football teams as part of its program to entertain the troops and the star runner and punter Dobbs was stationed at Randolph Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas and played for the base team, the Randolph Field Ramblers, leading the squad to a 9-1 record.^[1] Dobbs and the Ramblers would eventually play in the January 1, 1944 Cotton Bowl, battling the University of Texas Longhorns to a 7-7 tie.^[1]

In 1944 Dobbs was transferred to the Second Air Force Superbombers team.^[5] The Superbombers would eventually fall to Dobbs's former team, the undefeated Randolph Field Ramblers in December 1944 in the Treasury Bond Bowl, held before a crowd of thousands in the Polo Grounds in New York City.^[5] Also in 1944, Dobbs played for a team of collegiate and military team all-stars which very nearly upset the NFL Champion Chicago Bears in an exhibition game.^[4]

All-America Football Conference career

Following the conclusion of his military career, Dobbs signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers of the All-America Football Conference, a short-lived rival of the NFL, which would be absorbed through merger following the 1949 season. Dobbs played for the Dodgers in 1946 and 1947 seasons before moving to the Los Angeles Dons for the 1948 and 1949 campaigns.

Canadian football career

Dobbs joined Canada's pro football Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1951, leading his team to the Grey Cup game, and was named most valuable player in the Canadian Western League that season. He became their player-coach in 1952, but his playing career was hampered by a knee injury.

He was a phenomenally popular figure in Saskatchewan during his brief time there. Following his first season in Regina, a local store sold "Dobber shirts" and "Dobber jeans" and many cars sported unofficial license plates which said "DOBBERVILLE." ^[6]

Coaching career

After his professional career ended, Dobbs became the athletic director at Tulsa in 1955 and held that position until 1970. Dobbs was also head football coach from 1961 to 1968.^[1] His teams led the nation in passing for five straight years (1962-1966) and went to the Bluebonnet Bowl in 1964 and 1965.^[7]

From 1977 to 1979 Dobbs was President of the Tulsa Drillers minor league baseball team.^[8]

Dobbs was elected into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.^[9]

Death and legacy

Dobbs died November 12, 2002 at Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was 82 years old at the time of his death.

His brother Bobby Dobbs was also a football player and coach, and preceded Glenn Dobbs as Tulsa's coach.

Footnotes

External links

• College Football Hall of Fame Biography
• Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame Biography