Bobby Franklin (American football)

Last updated

Bobby Franklin
Bobby Franklin, Oct. 14, 2019.jpg
Bobby Franklin, Oct. 2019
No. 10 (college), 24, 22
Position: Quarterback, safety
Personal information
Born: (1936-10-05) October 5, 1936 (age 87)
Clarksdale, Mississippi, U.S.
Career information
High school: Clarksdale
(Clarksdale, Mississippi)
College: Ole Miss
NFL draft: 1960  / Round: 11 / Pick: 127
AFL draft: 1960  / Round:  2  / Pick: First selections
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
As an administrator:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions:13
Touchdowns:3
Player stats at PFR

Bobby Ray Franklin (born October 5, 1936) is a former American football player and coach. He played college football as a quarterback at the University of Mississippi and professionally as a safety in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cleveland Browns. Franklin served as the head football coach at Northwest Mississippi Community College from 1981 to 2004, leading his teams to NJCAA National Football Championships in 1982 and 1992. He has been named to seven Halls of Fame for his athletic and coaching accomplishments.

Contents

After retiring as a player, he coached at Georgia Tech and then became the defensive backs and special teams for the Dallas Cowboys from 1968 to 1972. [1] He later coached for the Baltimore Colts and scouted for the Seattle Seahawks.

Early years

Franklin was a four-sport letterman at Clarksdale High School in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He was also named All-State, All-Southern Team and All America. [2]

Franklin was recruited by both Mississippi State and Ole Miss. After initially committing to play at Mississippi State, he ultimately chose Ole Miss and was provided a full scholarship, attending the school from 1956 through 1960. [3] He starred at quarterback for the Rebels, and led the team to three consecutive bowl game appearances. He was chosen MVP in the 1958 Gator Bowl in which his team defeated the Florida Gators 7-3. He was also named the MVP in the 1960 Sugar Bowl, [4] throwing two touchdown passes in a 21-0 victory as the second-ranked Rebels defeated defending national champion and third-ranked LSU. Franklin had been injured earlier in the season and had been replaced in the lineup by Jake Gibbs. LSU had defeated the Rebels in an October 31 regular season game 7-3 with the only touchdown scored on Billy Cannon's famous "Halloween Run" punt return.

While Gibbs passed for one touchdown in the Sugar Bowl game, Franklin led the attack, completing 10 of 15 passes for 146 yards. The team was named NCAA national champions by various selection committees. [5]

Professional playing career

Cleveland Browns

Franklin was an 11th round selection by the Cleveland Browns in the 1960 NFL draft, and was also selected by the Los Angeles Chargers of the newly-formed American Football League (AFL). The Browns also selected Ole Miss teammates Johnny Brewer in the fourth round and offensive lineman/placekicker Robert Khayat in the sixth round. [6] Brewer played for the Browns until 1967 as a tight end and linebacker. Khayat never played for the Browns as he was packaged with offensive tackle Fran O'Brien in an April 1960 trade with the Washington Redskins for running back/placekicker Sam Baker. [7] Khayat played for Washington through 1963, primarily as a placekicker. He achieved greater fame by returning to the University of Mississippi in 1995 as its 15th Chancellor.

In joining the Browns, Franklin was reunited with former Ole Miss teammate, guard Gene Hickerson, drafted by the Browns in 1957. The two became lifelong friends and Franklin delivered the presenting speech [8] on behalf of Hickerson when the latter was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007. Hickerson, suffering from dementia, was unable to make his own acceptance speech. [9]

The Browns utilized Franklin in the defensive backfield, where he played right safety. Prior to joining the team as rookie, he played in the 1960 College All-Star Game. [10] Franklin led the Browns with eight interceptions in 1960, finishing fourth in the league. Three of those came in a single game, and two were returned for touchdowns of 31 and 37 yards in a 42-0 victory over the Chicago Bears on December 11, a day in which the Browns intercepted seven passes in handing the Bears their worst defeat ever. [11] The two touchdown returns stood as a single game team record until David Bowens repeated the feat in 2010. [12]

In 1961, the Browns employed Franklin as a kickoff specialist in addition to his defensive duties. [13]

Franklin, who also served as the holder for field goals and extra points at Ole Miss, performed the same duties throughout his years with Cleveland, teaming with kickers Baker (1960) and Hall of Famer Lou Groza (1961-1966). In his rookie season, he scored the game's first touchdown with a 19-yard run on a fake field goal in the Browns' final exhibition game, a 14-10 home victory over the Detroit Lions. [14] He repeated the feat in a 1961 league game against the St. Louis Cardinals, going 12 yards to score in a 21-0 victory. [15]

He was a member of the 1964 world's championship Browns team that defeated the Baltimore Colts, 27-0 and paired with Groza for three extra points and two field goals in the game. Franklin, who served as Cleveland's backup punter throughout his career with the team, punted four times for the Browns in 1965 and appeared in that season's championship game against the Green Bay Packers, which the Browns lost, 23-12.

Exposed by the Browns in the 1966 NFL Expansion Draft to stock the new Atlanta Falcons franchise, Franklin was selected along with teammates Larry Benz and Dale Memmelaar. Released by Atlanta prior to the start of the regular season, Franklin joined Georgia Tech as a freshman coach. [16] He rejoined the Browns in late September. [17] He remained with the team through the rest of the season after which he announced his retirement to rejoin the coaching staff at Georgia Tech. [18]

Coaching career

NFL

In 1968, Franklin joined the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff under Tom Landry, serving as defensive backfield coach for four seasons, from 1968 to 1971, and as special teams coach in 1972. He coached in Super Bowl V and Super Bowl VI, earning his second NFL Championship ring in the second game. [19]

Franklin served as the defensive backfield coach of the Baltimore Colts for the 1973 season and scouted for the Seattle Seahawks from 1980 to 1985. [2]

Northwest Mississippi

Franklin purchased Best Dollar Store in Tunica, Mississippi and operated it as Bobby Franklin's Dollar Store for three years before accepting an offer to join the coaching staff of Northwest Mississippi Community College in 1979. He served as offensive coordinator for two seasons under head coach Ray Poole. He was named head coach in 1981, a post he held for 24 years, leading the Rangers to eight bowl games, finishing with a record of 201–57–6 before retiring after the 2004 season. Under Franklin, the team won the NJCAA National Football Championship in 1982 and 1992 and was runner-up in 1991. As head coach, Franklin helped to develop 35 players who went on to have careers in the NFL or the Canadian Football League (NFL). [20] Franklin was named to the school's Hall of Fame in 2003. [21] The school named its football stadium Bobby Franklin Field in tribute to Franklin in 2005.

Honors

Franklin has been named to seven halls of fame:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Grantham</span> American football player (1938–2017)

James Larry Grantham was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for the New York Titans/Jets of the American Football League (AFL) and later National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels. He also played pro ball for the Florida Blazers of the World Football League (WFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Khayat</span> American football player (born 1938)

Robert Conrad Khayat is an American former academic administrator and football player who was the 15th chancellor of the University of Mississippi. He played football professionally as a placekicker, guard, and center for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Len Ford</span> American football player (1926–1972)

Leonard Guy Ford Jr. was an American professional football player who was an offensive and defensive end from 1948 to 1958. He played college football for the University of Michigan and professional football for the Los Angeles Dons, Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976 and the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lou Groza</span> American football player (1924–2000)

Louis Roy Groza, nicknamed "the Toe", was an American professional football offensive tackle and placekicker while playing his entire career for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL). Groza was professional football's career kicking and points leader when he retired after the 1967 season. He played in 21 seasons for the Browns, helping the team to win eight league championships in that span. Groza's accuracy and strength as a kicker influenced the development of place-kicking as a specialty; he could kick field goals from beyond 50 yards (46 m) at a time when attempts from that distance were a rarity. He set numerous records for distance and number of field goals kicked during his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Brewer</span> American football player (1937–2011)

Johnny Lee Brewer was an American football tight end and linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints. He played college football at the University of Mississippi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mac Speedie</span> American football player (1920–1993)

Mac Curtis Speedie was an American professional football end who played for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the National Football League (NFL) for seven years before joining the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Canada. He later served for two years as head coach of the American Football League's Denver Broncos. A tall and quick runner whose awkward gait helped him deceive defenders and get open, Speedie led his league in receptions four times during his career and was selected as a first-team All-Pro six times. His career average of 800 yards per season was not surpassed until two decades after his retirement, and his per-game average of 50 yards went unequalled for 20 years after he left the game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Hickerson</span> American football player (1935–2008)

Robert Gene Hickerson was an American professional football player who was an offensive guard for 15 years with the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1958 to 1960 and 1962 to 1973. Hickerson was a six-time Pro Bowler from 1965 to 1970. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 4, 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lou Rymkus</span> American football player and coach (1919–1998)

Louis Joseph "the Battler" Rymkus was an American football player and coach in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL). Playing as a tackle for the Cleveland Browns in the AAFC and NFL in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Rymkus provided pass protection for quarterback Otto Graham as the team won five league championships. Following his playing career, Rymkus took a number of assistant coaching jobs before serving as the first head coach of the AFL's Houston Oilers in 1960. The team won the league's first championship, but Rymkus was fired by Oilers owner Bud Adams after a slow start in 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dub Jones (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1924)

William Augustus "Dub" Jones is an American former professional football player who was a halfback for ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and the old All-America Football Conference (AAFC) in the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily for the Cleveland Browns. He shares the NFL record for touchdowns scored in a single game, with six.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Dieken</span> American football player (born 1949)

Douglas Heye Dieken is an American retired professional football player and radio color analyst for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini. From 1971-2022, he had 51 years of association with the Browns in various capacities - 14 seasons playing as a left tackle (1971-1984), radio analyst for 34 seasons, and an ambassador/spokesman during the team's three seasons of inactivity (1996-1998).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy James (American football)</span> American football player (1923–2007)

Thomas Laverne James, Jr. was an American football defensive back and punter who played for Ohio State University and the Cleveland Browns in the 1940s and 1950s. He was born in Canton, Ohio and attended Massillon Washington High School, where he played as a back on the football team under head coach Paul Brown. James was a key part of a Massillon team that went undefeated in 1940. After graduating, he followed Brown to Ohio State and played there as a halfback. Ohio State won its first national championship in 1942 when James was on the team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Cleveland Browns</span>

The history of the Cleveland Browns American football team began in 1944 when taxi-cab magnate Arthur B. "Mickey" McBride secured a Cleveland, Ohio, franchise in the newly formed All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Paul Brown, who coach Bill Walsh once called the "father of modern football", was the team's namesake and first coach. From the beginning of play in 1946 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, the Cleveland Browns were a great success. Cleveland won each of the AAFC's four championship games before the league dissolved in 1949. The team then moved to the more established National Football League (NFL), where it continued to dominate. Between 1950 and 1955, Cleveland reached the NFL championship game every year, winning three times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren Lahr</span> American football player (1923–1969)

Warren Emmett Lahr was an American professional football player who was a defensive back who played for the Cleveland Browns for 11 seasons, mainly in the 1950s. When he retired, he had the most career interceptions in Browns team history with 44.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy O'Connell</span> American football player (1930–2014)

Thomas B. O'Connell was an American collegiate and professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons. He played in 1953 for the Chicago Bears and in 1956 and 1957 for the Cleveland Browns. O'Connell also played in two American Football League (AFL) seasons, 1960 and 1961, for the Buffalo Bills. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Class of 1953, where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity.

Charles Anderson Scales was an American professional football player who played as a running back for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Atlanta Falcons. His final season was played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Montreal Alouettes, for whom he played 13 games, gaining 370 yards on 101 carries, with 2 touchdowns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph Smith (American football)</span> American football player (1938–2023)

Ralph Allon "Catfish" Smith Sr. was an American professional football player who was an end in the National Football League (NFL). He played eight seasons, for the Philadelphia Eagles (1962–1964), Cleveland Browns (1965–1968), and the Atlanta Falcons (1969). He was drafted out of Ole Miss by the Eagles in 1962 and also had a stint with the New Orleans Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Art Davis (American football)</span> American football player and coach (1934–2021)

Arthur Ganong Davis was an American football player who played collegiately at Mississippi State in 1952–55 and for one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL).

Donald J. Gault is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cleveland Browns in 1970. Over the course of his career, he played in two games, completed 2 of 19 passes for 67 yards, threw no touchdowns and three interceptions, and finished his career with a passer rating of 2.2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Scarry</span> American football player and coach (1920–2012)

Michael Joseph “Mo” Scarry was an American football player and coach. He grew up in Pennsylvania, and played football in college at Waynesburg College in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania and went on to join the Cleveland Rams in the National Football League (NFL) as a center following a stint in the U.S. Army during World War II. The Rams moved to Los Angeles after winning the 1945 NFL championship, and Scarry elected to stay in Cleveland and play for the Cleveland Browns under coach Paul Brown in the new All-America Football Conference (AAFC). The Browns won the AAFC championship in 1946 and 1947 while Scarry was on the team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Ulinski</span> American football player (1919–2006)

Edward Franklin Ulinski was a professional American football guard who played four seasons for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and went on to a career as an assistant coach for the Browns that lasted more than three decades.

References

  1. ↑ "Bobby Franklin athletic career, photos, articles, and videos | Fanbase". Archived from the original on December 28, 2014. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Bobby Ray Franklin". Archived from the original on June 30, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  3. ↑ Sorrells, William, Ole Miss Rebels Football (Huntsville, AL: The Strode Publishers, 1976), 199).
  4. ↑ "Ole Miss Bowl History" . Retrieved March 20, 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. ↑ "Ole Miss Bowl History". Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  6. ↑ "1960 NFL Draft". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Fran O'Brien Dies". The Washington Post . Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Gene Hickerson Enshrinement Speech" . Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Hickerson Induction Draws Nearer" . Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  10. ↑ ""Browns to welcome 28 newcomers"". Cleveland Plain Dealer. July 22, 1960.
  11. ↑ Rich Exner; Chuck Heaton (December 11, 2009). "This Day in Browns History: Cleveland defense sets club record with seven interceptions in 1960 win over the Chicago Bears". Cleveland Plain Dealer.
  12. ↑ Charles Heaton. "Bowens Linked to Bobby Franklin". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  13. ↑ Chuck Heaton (October 26, 1961). ""Browns Pack 1-2 Kicking Wallop"". Cleveland Plain Dealer.
  14. ↑ "Browns Win on Fake Field Goal, 14-10; Franklin Races 19 to Score" . Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Mitchell Races 56 As Browns Win" . Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  16. ↑ Charles Heaton (September 16, 1966). ""Extra Points"". Cleveland Plain Dealer.
  17. ↑ Charles Heaton (September 28, 1966). ""Franklin Here as 'Protection'"". Cleveland Plain Dealer.
  18. ↑ Charles Heaton (March 9, 1967). ""Franklin Retirement Leaves 6 Open Spots"". Cleveland Plain Dealer.
  19. ↑ "Bobby Franklin Cumulative Stats" . Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Former Rangers in Professional Football" . Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Bobby Ray Franklin to Head Senatobia Christmas Parade" . Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  22. ↑ "HOF Second Class". Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Hall of Fame". September 3, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.