Coaches All-America Game

Coaches All-America Game (defunct)
Stadium	Clifford B. and Audrey Jones Stadium
Location	Lubbock, Texas
Previous stadiums	War Memorial Stadium Atlanta Stadium
Previous locations	Buffalo, New York Atlanta
Operated	1961–1976
Sponsors
American Football Coaches Association
Former names
Graduation Bowl (1961)

The Coaches All-America Game was a postseason college football all-star game that served as the concluding game of the college football season, held from 1961 to 1976. The all-star game was sponsored by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and profits from ticket sales and television rights went to fund AFCA scholarships. ^[1]

From 1961 to 1965, the game was played at War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo, New York. The game moved to Atlanta Stadium from 1966 to 1969. Attendance issues led to the game being relocated to Jones Stadium in Lubbock, Texas, where it was held from 1970–1975. Lubbock won the bid to host the game over newer stadiums in larger cities, including Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee and San Diego Stadium in San Diego, after the AFCA was convinced that Lubbock's advantages as a college town without competing entertainment would fill the stands with existing college football fans from West Texas. ^[1]

The first game held at Jones Stadium took place only 47 days after downtown Lubbock was hit by a tornado in 1970. The stadium's newly installed AstroTurf was unharmed, but some of the light towers on the west side—which had recently been fitted with extra lights for the color telecast of the All-America Game—were bent or snapped off. ^[2] Even with the surrounding circumstances, the inaugural Jones Stadium game drew 42,150 in attendance, a record attendance over any prior Coaches All-America Game in Buffalo or Atlanta. The game finally found success by an attendance standard, drawing 285,786 attendees over 7 years. By the time of the final Coaches All-America Game in 1976, more players declined to participate in the college all-star game as National Football League rookies and NFL owners had little to gain, and much to lose due to injury risks. The AFCA reluctantly dropped the Coaches All-America Game, but continued to bestow All-American honors. ^[1]

Game results

1961

Won 30-20 by the West All-stars in a game featuring Bob Schloredt, Billy Kilmer and Marv Luster (chosen as MVP) for the winning side, and Fran Tarkenton for the East. ^[3]

1974

Barty Smith, a fullback out of the University of Richmond and the Number 1 draft pick of the Green Bay Packers injured his left knee in the game. He had carried the ball 19 times for 96 yards for the East Team, but left the game midway in the third quarter with the injury. The knee injury kept Smith out of the first six games of his rookie season with the Packers. The West beat the East 36-6. San Diego State's Jesse Freitas of the West Team was named most valuable player. ^[4]

1976

Me and Woodcock from Hawaii (we were both 3rd round picks by the Detroit Lions) partied at Uncle Nasty's until the sun came up after beating the East by a couple of touchdowns. It was the last game ever played and man were the girls in West Texas good to me! - But not Woodcock, he was married, but boy could he drink beer - God rest his soul... Russ Bolinger, Long Beach State #69, Left OT.

References

1. Ford, Mark (2003). "The Coaches' All-America Game" (PDF). The Coffin Corner . Professional Football Researchers Association. 25 (2): 15–18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-08-17. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
2. Reed, William F. (1970-04-06). "A Tornado With A New Twist". Sports Illustrated . 33 (1): 16–17. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
3. A roundup of the sports information of the week, Sports Illustrated, July 3rd, 1961, retrieved 2015-01-02
4. "Jesse Freitas, former Stanford and Chargers quarterback, found dead". 12 February 2015.

• THE COFFIN CORNER: Vol. 25, No. 2 (2003)
• Reed, William F. (1970-04-06). "A Tornado With A New Twist". Sports Illustrated . 33 (1): 16–17. Retrieved 2011-08-27.