Tom Dixon (American football)

Last updated

Tom Dixon
No. 69
Position: Center
Personal information
Born: (1961-08-21) August 21, 1961 (age 62)
Career information
High school: Fort Wayne (IN) Bishop Dwenger
College: Michigan
Supplemental draft: 1984  / Round: 2
Career history
Career highlights and awards

Tom Dixon (born August 21, 1961) is a former American football player. He played college football at the University of Michigan and professional football for the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League (USFL). He was a first-team All-American at the center position in 1983.

Dixon grew up in Indiana and attended Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. [1] He enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1980 and played for Bo Schembechler's Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1980 to 1983. [2] [3] Dixon started every game for the Wolverines in the 1981, 1982, and 1983 seasons. [4] [5] [6] As a junior, he was selected by both the conference coaches (UPI) and media (AP) as the first-team center on the 1982 All-Big Ten Conference football team. [7] [8] As a senior, he was selected by the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and the Sporting News as a first-team center on the 1983 College Football All-America Team.

In April 1984, Dixon signed to play professional football for the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League (USFL). [9] He played for the Panthers in 1984, but the team disbanded after the 1984 season. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had selected him in the second round of the 1984 Supplemental Draft, [10] in May 1985, [11] then quit the team in late July 1985. [12]

Related Research Articles

Stefan Govan Humphries is a former American football player. He played college football at the University of Michigan, principally as an offensive guard, from 1980 to 1983. He also played five seasons in the National Football League (NFL) as an offensive guard for the Chicago Bears from 1984 to 1986 and for the Denver Broncos from 1987 to 1988.

Jon William Giesler is an American former professional football player for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played 10 seasons, principally at the offensive left tackle position, for the Dolphins from 1979 to 1988. He played college football at the University of Michigan from 1975 to 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Trgovac</span> American football player and coach (born 1959)

Michael John Trgovac is an American football coach and a former player. He previously served as the defensive line coach for the Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins, and Philadelphia Eagles and Las Vegas Raiders. Trgovac was a member of the Packers' coaching staff that led the team to the NFL championship in Super Bowl XLV in 2011. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, Trgovac played college football as a middle guard for the University of Michigan from 1977 to 1980. He received All-Big Ten Conference honors in both 1979 and 1980. After graduating from Michigan, Trgovac held various college coaching positions from 1984 to 1994.

James Arthur Smith is an American former professional football player who was wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1974 to 1976. He played in the NFL for six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1977 to 1982 before starring on the Birmingham Stallions of the rival United States Football League (USFL). After the USFL's demise, Smith played a final season for the Los Angeles Raiders in 1985.

Brian Milton Carpenter is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants (1982), the Washington Redskins (1983-1984), and the Buffalo Bills (1984). He played college football as a defensive back at the University of Michigan from 1978 to 1981.

Carlton S. Rose was an American football player. He played college football as a linebacker at the University of Michigan from 1980 to 1983. He played professional football as a linebacker in the United States Football League (USFL) in 1984 and 1985 and in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins as a linebacker and during the 1987 NFL strike.

Walt Downing is a former American football player. He played professional football as an offensive guard for the San Francisco 49ers from 1978 to 1983. He played for Bill Walsh and was a member of the 1981 San Francisco 49ers team that won the franchise's first Super Bowl. He also played for the Denver Gold in the USFL. Downing played college football for Bo Schembechler at the University of Michigan from 1975 to 1977. He was a co-captain of the 1977 Michigan Wolverines football team and was selected that year as a first-team All-American.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Cooper</span> American football player (born 1962)

Evan Cooper is a former American football player. He played college football as a defensive back at the University of Michigan from 1980 to 1983. He played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) as a safety for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1984 to 1987 and the Atlanta Falcons from 1988 to 1989.

John Vitale was an American football player. He played college football as a center and offensive guard for the University of Michigan from 1985 to 1988. He was selected as a consensus All-American center in 1988. He later played professional football for the San Antonio Riders of the World League of American Football (WLAF) in 1991 and the Detroit Drive of the Arena Football League (AFL) from 1993 to 1994.

Lawrence Tallmagde Ricks is a former American football player. He played college football as a tailback for the University of Michigan from 1979 to 1982 and was selected as a first-team running back on the 1982 All-Big Ten Conference football team. He also played professional football as a backup running back and kick returner for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL) in 1983 and 1984.

Bradley Cochran is a former American football player. He played college football as a defensive back for the University of Michigan from 1981 to 1985. As a senior, Cochran was recognized as a consensus first-team defensive back on the 1985 College Football All-America Team. He also received the 1985 Toyota Leadership Award. He signed to play professional football with the Los Angeles Raiders, but injured his back during the preseason of his rookie year, ending his football career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1981 Michigan Wolverines football team</span> American college football season

The 1981 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season. In their 13th season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled a 9–3 record and outscored all opponents by a total of 355 to 162. Ranked No. 1 by both the AP and UPI in the preseason polls, Michigan lost to Wisconsin in its season opener, then defeated No. 1 Notre Dame the following week, and ended its season with a victory over UCLA in the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl. The Wolverines were ranked No. 10 in the final UPI poll and No. 12 in the AP Poll.

Steve Smith is a former American football quarterback. He was the starting quarterback for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1981 to 1983. He also played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Montreal Concordes in 1984 and the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1983 Michigan Wolverines football team</span> American college football season

The 1983 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1983 Big Ten Conference football season. In their 15th season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled a 9–3 record, lost to Auburn in the 1984 Sugar Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a total of 355 to 160.

Gerald J. Diorio is a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1980 to 1983 as an offensive guard. He later played professional football in Italy and appeared in two games for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) as a replacement player and tight end during the 1987 NFL strike.

Paul Girgash is a retired American football linebacker. He played for the University of Michigan from 1979 to 1982. He started 36 consecutive games at inside linebacker for Michigan from 1980 to 1982, played in the 1981 and 1983 Rose Bowls, and was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten player by both the Associated Press and the United Press International in 1982. Girgash later played professional football in the USFL for the Michigan Panthers in 1984.

Andrew J. Cannavino is a former American football linebacker. He played for the University of Michigan from 1977 to 1980. He became one of the leading tacklers in Michigan history, played in the 1981 Rose Bowl and was the only unanimous selection as a first-team player on the 1980 Associated Press All-Big Ten football team. He later played professional football in the USFL from 1983 to 1984 for the Michigan Panthers and Chicago Blitz.

Marion Body is a retired American football cornerback. He played for the University of Michigan from 1979 to 1982 and in the USFL for the Michigan Panthers in 1983. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Body attended Kettering High School. He enrolled at the University of Michigan and played football under head coach Bo Schembechler from 1979 to 1982. In four years playing football for the Michigan Wolverines, Body was credited with 117 tackles and 7 interceptions. He had two interceptions in Michigan's 1980 game against Notre Dame. Body played professional football for the Michigan Panthers in the USFL.

Robert Damian Bergeron is a former American football placekicker. He grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and attended Bishop Luers High School. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1980 to 1984. He was a non-scholarship player who made the Michigan Wolverines football team as a walk-on. From 1980 to 1982, Bergeron saw limited playing time as a backup to Ali Haji-Sheikh. As a junior in 1983, he successfully converted 31 of 34 extra point conversions and 15 of 17 field goal attempts, including a game-winning 45-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining against Iowa. He was selected by the Associated Press as the first-team placekicker on the 1983 All-Big Ten Conference football team. As a senior in 1984, he was successful on 13 of 16 field goal attempts, including four of five attempts against Illinois.

Bennett Lee Needham is a former American football linebacker. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1978 to 1979 and in 1981 and professional football in the United States Football League (USFL) for the Boston/New Orleans/Portland Breakers from 1983 to 1985. He was selected by the Sporting News as a first-team USFL All-League player in 1983.

References

  1. ↑ "Bishop Dwenger Hall of Fame". Bishop Dwenger High School. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Michigan Football Roster Database". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  3. ↑ John Gugger (October 28, 1982). "Dixon: Decisions, Decisions; Job of Wolverine Center Physical and Cerebral". Toledo Blade.
  4. ↑ "1981 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  5. ↑ "1982 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  6. ↑ "1983 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  7. ↑ Joe Mooshil (November 30, 1982). "Carter, Bostic, Lukens Top All-Big Ten Football Team". The Blade, Toledo, Ohio (AP story). p. 26.
  8. ↑ Barry Minkoff (November 23, 1982). "Michigan dominates All-Big Ten squads". The Bryan Times (UPI story). p. 13.
  9. ↑ "Michigan Sports Briefs". The Argus-Press. April 19, 1984.
  10. ↑ "1984 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Steelers sign eight free agents". Gettysburg Times. May 9, 1985.
  12. ↑ "Steelers Fall Out of Line". Observer-Reporter. July 26, 1985.
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.