Cecil Dowdy

Cecil Dowdy
No. 70
Date of birth (1945-09-05)September 5, 1945
Place of birth Barton, Alabama
Date of death November 24, 2002(2002-11-24) (aged 57)
Place of death Helena, Arkansas
Career information
Position(s) Offensive tackle
College Alabama
Career history
As player
1964–1966 Alabama
1967 Cleveland Browns
1968 Los Angeles Rams
1969 Saskatchewan Roughriders
Career highlights and awards
Honors 1966 All-America Team First Team

Cecil Dowdy (September 5, 1945 – November 24, 2002) was an American college football player and businessman. He played offensive tackle for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide from 1964 through 1966. He was a member of both the 1964 and 1965 national championship teams. Dowdy was also a unanimous selection to the 1966 College Football All-America Team.

Playing career

College

After a successful high school playing career at Cherokee Vocational High School that culminated with his selection to the 16th annual AHSAA All-Star Game in 1963, Dowdy enrolled at the University of Alabama with an athletic scholarship to play on the football team.[1] After he played on the freshman football squad for the 1963 season, Dowdy stated as an offensive tackle for the three years that followed. Over those three seasons, Alabama amassed an overall record of 30 wins, two losses and one tie (30–2–1) and won three Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships and two national championships.[2]

In recognition for his play on the field, Dowdy was recognized as a unanimous selection to the 1966 College Football All-America Team as an offensive tackle.[3] He was also awarded the Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 1966 as the best blocker in the SEC as selected by the coaches.[4]

Professional

Dowdy was selected in the ninth round (230th overall) of the 1967 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.[5] After a single season with the Browns that saw little playing time, Dowdy was traded to the Los Angeles Rams before the 1968 season, where he was a member of their practice squad.[6] In April 1969, Dowdy signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.[6] He was later waived by the team in July 1969.[7]

Death

Dowdy died on November 24, 2002, at Helena, Arkansas at the age of 57.[8][9] His death was ruled accidental as his shotgun discharged and hit him in his lower jaw was he was retrieving a duck he hit during a hunting trip at Lambrook, Arkansas.[8] He was pronounced dead at 11:45 a.m at Helena Regional Medical Center.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "6 Shoals stars on North squad". The Tri-Cities Daily. Google News Archives. July 14, 1963. p. 29. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Member of Tide's All-Century Team killed in hunting accident". RollTide.com. November 25, 2002. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  3. ↑ National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Award Winners (PDF). 2011 NCAA Division I Football Records. NCAA.org. p. 7. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Dowdy wins trophy as top blocker". The Florence Times. Google News Archives. Associated Press. December 22, 1966. p. 1. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Browns sign Cecil Dowdy". Youngstown Vindicator. Google News Archives. Associated Press. March 22, 1967. p. 19. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Riders sign Dowdy, Aldag". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Google News Archives. April 18, 1969. p. 27. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Keys gets Roughrider roster down to the limit". The Leader-Post. Google News Archives. July 19, 1969. p. 25. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 Wasson, David (November 25, 2002). "Former tide star Cecil Dowdy dies in hunting accident". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. C1. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Cecil Dowdy Jr. – Football Player, 57". The New York Times. November 27, 2002. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
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