Bob Blackman (American football)

Bob Blackman (American football)

Bob Blackman
Sport(s) Football
Biographical details
Born (1918-07-07)July 7, 1918
De Soto, Iowa
Died March 18, 2000(2000-03-18) (aged 81)
Burlingame, California
Playing career
1937 USC
Position(s) End
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1949–1952
1953–1954
1955–1970
1971–1976
1977–1982 		Pasadena CC
Denver
Dartmouth
Illinois
Cornell
Head coaching record
Overall 168–112–7 (college)
34–26–3 (junior college)
Statistics
College Football Data Warehouse
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 Skyline (1954)
7 Ivy (1958, 1962–1963, 1965–1966, 1969–1970)
Awards
Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award (1970)
Amos Alonzo Stagg Award (1991)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1987 (profile)

Bob Blackman (July 7, 1918 – March 18, 2000) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Denver (1953–1954), Dartmouth College (1955–1970), the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (1971–1976), and Cornell University (1977–1982), compiling a career college football record of 168–112–7. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1987.

Early years and playing career

Blackman was born in De Soto, Iowa on July 7, 1918. He played football at the University of Southern California, beginning in 1937. Blackman was named a captain of the freshmen team, but stopped playing after being stricken with polio. He was named an assistant coach at USC while still an undergraduate student.

Coaching career

After head coaching stints at the San Diego Naval Academy, Pasadena City College, and the University of Denver, Blackman was named head coach at Dartmouth College in 1955, where he was universally known among players and students alike as "The Bullet." In 16 seasons under Blackman, Dartmouth had a record of 104–37–3, including undefeated seasons in 1962, 1965, and 1970. In his final season at Dartmouth, Blackman received the Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award.

In 1971, Blackman became the head coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In six seasons with the Fighting Illini, Blackman had a record of 29–36–1. Blackman returned to the Ivy League in 1977, where he replaced George Seifert as head coach of the Cornell University Big Red until 1982.

Later years and death

Blackman retired to Hilton Head, South Carolina and died on March 18, 2000, in Burlingame, California.[1]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Denver Pioneers (Skyline Conference) (1953–1954)
1953 Denver 3–5–2 1–5–1 T–7th
1954 Denver 9–1 6–1 1st 18
Denver: 12–6–2 7–6–1
Dartmouth Big Green (Independent) (1955)
1955 Dartmouth 3–6
Dartmouth Big Green (Ivy League) (1956–1970)
1956 Dartmouth 5–3–1 4–3 T–3rd
1957 Dartmouth 7–1–1 5–1–1 2nd
1958 Dartmouth 7–2 6–1 1st
1959 Dartmouth 5–3–1 5–1–1 2nd
1960 Dartmouth 5–4 4–3 T–3rd
1961 Dartmouth 6–3 5–2 T–3rd
1962 Dartmouth 9–0 7–0 1st
1963 Dartmouth 7–2 5–2 T–1st
1964 Dartmouth 6–3 4–3 4th
1965 Dartmouth 9–0 7–0 1st
1966 Dartmouth 7–2 6–1 T–1st
1967 Dartmouth 7–2 5–2 2nd
1968 Dartmouth 4–5 3–4 5th
1969 Dartmouth 8–1 6–1 T–1st
1970 Dartmouth 9–0 7–0 1st 13 14
Dartmouth: 104–37–3 79–24–2
Illinois Fighting Illini (Big Ten Conference) (1971–1976)
1971 Illinois 5–6 5–3 T–3rd
1972 Illinois 3–8 3–5 T–6th
1973 Illinois 5–6 4–4 T–4th
1974 Illinois 6–4–1 4–3–1 5th
1975 Illinois 5–6 4–4 T–3rd
1976 Illinois 5–6 4–4 T–3rd
Illinois: 29–36–1 24–23–1
Cornell Big Red (Ivy League) (1977–1981)
1977 Cornell 1–8 1–6 T–7th
1978 Cornell 5–3–1 3–3–1 4th
1979 Cornell 5–4 4–3 T–4th
1980 Cornell 5–5 5–2 2nd
1981 Cornell 3–7 2–5 T–5th
1982 Cornell 4–6 3–4 T–4th
Cornell: 23–33–1 18–23–1
Total: 168–112–7
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title
#Rankings from final Coaches' Poll.
°Rankings from final AP Poll.

See also

References

  1. ^ Wallace, William N. (2000-03-20). "Bob Blackman, 81, Coach of Dartmouth Football, Is Dead". The New York Times. 

External links