Donnie Gibbs

Last updated

Donnie Gibbs
No. 15
Position: Punter
Personal information
Born:(1945-12-31)December 31, 1945
Tyler, Texas
Died:February 21, 2006(2006-02-21) (aged 60)
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school: Robert E. Lee High School
College: TCU
Undrafted: 1968
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Punts:3
Punting yards:99
Average punt:33.0
Inside 20:2
Player stats at PFR

Donald Ray Gibbs was an American football punter who played college football for TCU Horned Frogs and played professionally for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL.

Gibbs born on December 31, 1945, to Clyde and Frances Gibbs. [1] He played high school football at Robert E. Lee High School where he not only punted but also played quarterback. [1] [2] In 1963 he led Robert E. Lee to its first winning record in football. [1] In 1965 he won the Troy V. Post Award as "1965 Young Texan of the Year." [1] [2]

Gibbs said of becoming TCU's punter "I feel like a freak, standing off to one side of the field and just kicking the ball. It's a little boring and I miss playing quarterback. But if this is the best way I can help the team, then I'm for it. [2] At TCU Gibbs was not only the team's punter but also the holder for placekicker Bruce Alford. Alford, who played several years in the NFL, said of Gibbs "Donnie knows just how I like the ball to sit. He has sure, quick hands and takes the snap and gets it down in a hurry...It's like a quarterback who gets used to taking a snapback from one center. It sure would upset me if I didn't have Donnie." [3] In 1966, he was named to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram All-Southwest Conference Team after recording a 43.1 yard per punt average through 9 games. [4] After college Gibbs played quarterback and punter for the Fort Worth Braves of the Texas Football League from 1968 through 1971. [5] [6]

Gibbs played for the Saints in 1974. He asked for a tryout as a 29 year old and beat out Steve O'Neal – holder of the NFL record for longest punt ever – for the punting job. [7] [8] Gibbs had spent the prior two years selling women's clothing. [8] His first game with the Saints was against the San Francisco 49ers and started well as he executed two coffin corner kicks to pin the 49ers deep in their own zone. [8] But disaster struck late in the game when he fumbled a perfect snap to set up the 49ers' winning score. [7] [8] [9] [10] Gibbs said of the play "I just flat dropped it. I wasn't concentrating on fielding the snap. I went in there and didn't do my first job, catch the ball." [9] He was waived by the Saints before their next game and replaced by veteran Tom Blanchard. [11] [12]

Gibbs died on February 21, 2006, in Pennsylvania at the age of 60. [1] He was survived by three daughters and a son. [1]

Related Research Articles

Stephen James O'Neal is a former American football punter and a wide receiver. O'Neal is best known for kicking a 98-yard punt during the American Football League (AFL) game between the New York Jets and the Denver Broncos on September 21, 1969. This punt set the record for the longest punt in AFL and professional football history. He finished his career with 337 punts for 13,725 yards and a 40.7 yards per punt average.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Blanchard</span> American football player (born 1948)

Thomas Richard Blanchard is a former American football punter with an 11-year career in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Alvin Kent Nix is a former American football player who played professionally as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas Christian University (TCU). Nix is the son of Emery Nix, who played for the New York Giants in 1943 and 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SMU–TCU football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The SMU–TCU football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the SMU Mustangs football team of Southern Methodist University (SMU) and TCU Horned Frogs football of Texas Christian University (TCU). The winner of the game receives an iron skillet as a trophy.

The 1938 TCU Horned Frogs football team was an American football team that represented Texas Christian University (TCU) in the Southwest Conference (SWC) during 1938 college football season. In their fifth year under head coach Dutch Meyer, the Horned Frogs compiled a perfect 11–0 record, won the SWC championship, finished the season ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll, defeated Carnegie Tech in the 1939 Sugar Bowl, and outscored opponents by a total of 269 to 60. TCU were the consensus national football champions of 1938.

The 1905 Baylor football team was an American football team that represented Baylor University as an independent during the 1905 college football season. In its first season under head coach Archie R. Webb, the team compiled a 1–6 record and was outscored by a total of 159 to 20.

The 1935 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University (LSU) in the 1935 college football season. The team was led by halfback Abe Mickal and end Gaynell Tinsley. It was Bernie Moore's first of thirteen seasons as head coach of the Tigers.

The 1935 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University (TCU) in the 1935 college football season.

The 1944 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University (TCU) in the 1944 college football season. The Horned Frogs finished the season 7–3–1 overall and 3–1–1 in the Southwest Conference. The team was coached by Dutch Meyer in his eleventh year as head coach. The Frogs played their home games in Amon G. Carter Stadium, which is located on campus in Fort Worth, Texas. They were invited to the Cotton Bowl Classic, where they lost to Oklahoma A&M by a score of 34–0.

The 1934 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University (TCU) in the 1934 college football season. The Horned Frogs finished the season 8–4 overall and 3–3 in the Southwest Conference. The team was coached by Dutch Meyer in his first year as head coach. The Frogs played their home games in Amon G. Carter Stadium, which is located on campus in Fort Worth, Texas.

The 1925 TCU Horned Frogs football team was an American football team that represented Texas Christian University (TCU) as a member the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1925 college football season. In its third season under head coach Matty Bell, TCU compiled an overall record of 7–1–1 with a conference mark of 2–0–1 placing second. They shut out five of nine opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 133 to 54. TCU played its home games at Clark Field, located on campus in Fort Worth, Texas. The team's captain was Herman Clark, who played quarterback.

The 1921 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University (TCU) as a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA) during the 1921 college football season. Led by William L. Driver in his second and final year as head coach, the Horned Frogs compiled an overall record of 6–3–1 with a mark of 2–1 in TIAA play. TCU played their home games at Panther Park in Fort Worth, Texas. The team's captain was Chester Fowler, who played halfback.

The 1920 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University (TCU) as a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA) during the 1920 college football season. Led by first-year head coach William L. Driver, the Frogs compiled an overall record of 9–1 with a conference mark of 3–0, winning the TIAA title. TCU hosted Centre on New Year's Day in the Fort Worth Classic, losing by a score of 63 to 7. The team's captain was Astyanax Douglass, who played center.

The 1918 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University (TCU) as a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA) during the 1918 college football season. Led by Ernest M. Tipton in his first and only year as head coach, the Horned Frogs compiled an overall record of 4–3. The team's captain was Bryan Miller, who played quarterback

The 1916 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University (TCU) as a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA) during the 1916 college football season. Led by Milton Daniel in his first year as head coach, the Horned Frogs compiled an overall record of 6–2–1. The team's captain was John Nelson, who played quarterback.

The 1910 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University (TCU) as a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA) during the 1910 college football season. Led by Kemp Lewis in his first and only year as head coach, TCU compiled an overall record of 2–6–1. TCU returned in 1910 to Fort Worth, Texas, where the university had been founded, after operating the previous 15 years in Waco, Texas. The 1910 football team played their home games at Haines Park and Butz Park in Fort Worth. The team's captain was William Massie, who played center.

The 1907 TCU football team represented Texas Christian University (TCU) as an independent during the 1907 college football season. Led by Emory J. Hyde in his third and final year as head coach, TCU compiled a record of 4–2–2.

The 1913 TCU football team represented Texas Christian University (TCU) as an independent during the 1913 college football season. TCU did not compete in the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA) as they had in 1912. Led by Fred Cahoon in his first and only year as head coach, TCU finished the season with a record of 5–2–1. Allen Freeman, who played tackle, was the team's captain and Luther Parker was the manager.

Herman Clark was an American football and baseball player and coach, and athletics administrator. He played college football at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas as a quarterback from 1923 to 1926 and college baseball for TCU from 1924 to 1927. Clark served as the head football coach at Daniel Baker College in Brownwood, Texas for one season, in 1928, compiling a record of 5–3–2 and leading his team to the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA) title. He was also the head baseball coach at Daniel Baker in the spring of 1929. Clark was the athletic director for the Fort Worth Independent School District for 23 years until his retirement in 1968.

Robert Frederick Hainlen is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for the Colorado A&M Aggies and was selected in the 19th round of the 1949 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He later played a season with their farm team, the Wilmington Clippers, in 1949, before ending his professional career prior to the 1950 season.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hicks, Phil (March 10, 2006). "Services Set for Former Lee Great". Tyler Morning Telegraph. p. 4B. Retrieved August 19, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 Moore, Dick (September 11, 1965). "Donnie has kick(s) coming". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 2. Retrieved August 19, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Trinkle, Jim (September 7, 1966). "Best foot in Frog football". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. pp. 1-D–2-D. Retrieved August 19, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Trinkle, Jim (November 27, 1966). "Four sophs make S-T's All-SWC". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 3-B. Retrieved August 19, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Thomas, Van (July 26, 1969). "Braves will meet Lake Charles here tonight". Longview News-Journal. p. 1-B. Retrieved August 19, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "6 Braves named all-stars". January 9, 1971. p. 4-C. Retrieved August 19, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 Cleveland, Rick (September 16, 1974). "49ers take 17-13 Saints gift". Hattiesburg American. p. 11. Retrieved August 19, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Palmer, Al (September 16, 1974). "Gibbs' muffed punt snap draws North's criticism". Pensacola News Journal. pp. 1C–2C. Retrieved August 19, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 Griffin, Bob (September 20, 1974). "Gibbs Just Flat Dropped the Ball". Shreveport Journal. p. B7. Retrieved August 19, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Byrd, Jerry (September 16, 1974). "All Saints Needed Was a Kick in the End". Shreveport Journal. p. 1C. Retrieved August 19, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Saints drop Donnie Gibbs". Clarion-Ledger. September 20, 1974. p. 4. Retrieved August 19, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Saints replace Donnie Gibbs". South Idaho Press. September 20, 1974. p. 6. Retrieved August 19, 2022– via newspapers.com.
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.