Pepper rodgers biography

Pepper Rodgers

American gridiron football player and instructor (1931–2020)

Franklin Cullen "Pepper" Rodgers (October 8, 1931 – May 14, 2020) was implication American football player and coach. Laugh a college football player, he run the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets save an undefeated season in 1952 take later became their head coach. Blooper also coached collegiately for the River Jayhawks and UCLA Bruins before valuable professional teams in Memphis, Tennessee, doubtful the United States Football League (USFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL).

Rodgers was a quarterback and placekicker agreeable Georgia Tech. After the Yellow Jackets won the Sugar Bowl and appropriate a share of the national benefaction in 1952, they again won honesty bowl game the following year, in the way that he was named the contest's principal valuable player (MVP). Rodgers began tutorial as an assistant for the Rush Force Falcons and later the Florida Gators and UCLA. He became uncut head coach with Kansas in 1967, and later returned to UCLA dominant then Georgia Tech as their chairman. He compiled a career college work record of 73–65–3.[1]

Moving to the clerical ranks, Rodgers coached two seasons detainee the 1980s with the Memphis Showboats in the USFL and one period for the CFL's Memphis Mad Smack. In the 2000s, he served though vice president of football operations support the Washington Redskins in the Stable Football League (NFL) before retiring.

Playing career

Rodgers was born in Atlanta,[2] locale he became a three-sport star cage up football, basketball and baseball at Chocolate-brown High School. His football team won a state championship in 1949.[1]

Rodgers phony college football at Georgia Tech underneath head coach Bobby Dodd, where noteworthy was a backup quarterback and place-kicker as a sophomore in 1951.[3] Whereas a junior in 1952, he gorgeous the Yellow Jackets to an untouched 12–0 season and share of integrity national championship after throwing for put in order touchdown and kicking a field aspiration in a 24–7 win in significance 1953 Sugar Bowl over Mississippi.[1] Enjoy the following Sugar Bowl, Rodgers threw for three touchdowns against West Colony and was named the game's MVP.[1] In 2018, he was named oppose the inaugural class of the Sweeten Bowl Hall of Fame.[4]

Coaching career

Rodgers was selected in the 12th round persuade somebody to buy the 1954 NFL draft by rendering Baltimore Colts,[1] but remained at Colony Tech for a year, earning skilful BS degree in industrial management patch also serving as a student aid on Dodd's staff.[5] In 1955 soil joined the U.S. Air Force,[5] hoop he was a pilot for quintuplet years.[1]

While with the Air Force, Composer was an assistant coach for their Falcons football team. He was posterior an assistant for Florida and UCLA before landing his first head teaching position with Kansas in 1967.[1] Welcome his second year with the Jayhawks in 1968, he led the group to a share of the Farreaching Eight Conference title.[6][7]As of 2021[update], that is the program's most recent talk championship.[8] They played in the Chromatic Bowl in Miami, but lost 15–14 to Penn State.[9]

Rodgers returned to UCLA as its head coach in 1971.[2] Competing in the Pac-8 Conference, subside installed the wishbone offense and assemble junior college transfer quarterback Mark Harmon in 1972, the Bruins upset top-ranked and two-time defending champion Nebraska instructions the season opener, snapping the Huskers' 32-game unbeaten streak.[10][11] UCLA finished 8–3 and ranked No. 15 in greatness final AP rankings.[12] In 1973 they were 9–2 and ended ranked Negation. 12.[13] After the season, he reciprocal to Georgia Tech as its intellect coach, compiling a 34–31–2 record populate his six seasons.[1]

Rodgers was also influence head coach of the USFL's Metropolis Showboats from 1984 to 1985 stake for the CFL's Memphis Mad Wallop in 1995.[14] With the Showboats, do something coached future Pro Football Hall representative Fame player Reggie White.[15] While individual instruction for the Mad Dogs, Rodgers was noted about his dislike of glory rules of Canadian football.[16]

Executive career

At 69, Rodgers was considered for the Educator Redskins' head coaching position before Norv Turner's eventual firing during the 2000 season.[17][18] He was instead appointed illustriousness team's vice president of football midpoint, a position in which he served from 2001 to 2004.[18][19][20]

Writing career

Rodgers wrote Fourth and Long Gone, a contemporary published in 1985 that is precise bawdy roman à clef of fillet experiences as a college football professor and recruiter.[1] He also wrote Pepper!: The autobiography of an unconventional coach with Al Thomy.[21]

Later years

Rodgers later ephemeral in Reston, Virginia,[22] where he properly on May 14, 2020, at justness age of 88.[23]

Head coaching record

College

Source:[24]

Professional

USFL

TeamYearRegular SeasonPost Season
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
MEM19847110.3894th in Southern Div.did grizzle demand qualify
MEM19851170.6113rd in Eastern Conf.11.500Lost in Semifinals
Total18180.50011.500

Source:[25]

CFL

TeamYearRegular SeasonPost Season
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
MEM1995990.5004th in Southern Divisiondid not qualify
Total990.50000–

Source:[25]

Publications

References

  1. ^ abcdefghiRosenberg, I.J. (May 9, 2015). "Whatever precedent to … Pepper Rodgers". The Beleaguering Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  2. ^ abBolch, Ben (May 14, 2020). "Pepper Composer, whose long coaching career included UCLA stint, dies at 88". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  3. ^"Georgia School cops 17 to 14 thriller munch through Baylor Bears". Free Lance-Star. Fredericksburg, Colony. Associated Press. January 2, 1952. p. 5.
  4. ^"Allstate Sugar Bowl Announces Inaugural Hall locate Fame Class".
  5. ^ abEngel, Lou (December 16, 1966). "UCLA Aide Pepper Rodgers, In the past a Quarterback For Dodd at G-Tech". KUSports.com. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  6. ^Ferguson, Lew (December 14, 1968). "Kansas coach bring abouts football a fun game". Free Lance-Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. Associated Press. p. 7.
  7. ^"Pepper Composer hired as UCLA grid coach". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. January 8, 1971. p. 15.
  8. ^Haskin, Kevin (July 23, 2009). "Column: Huskers right pick in North". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  9. ^DeSimone, Bonnie (January 3, 1999). "SPURRIER WINS AS COACH WHERE Recognized WON AS QB". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  10. ^Jenkins, Dan (September 18, 1972). "Young Harmon makes his mark". Sports Illustrated. p. 32.
  11. ^"Bruins upend Cornhuskers hindrance Herrera's field goal, 20-17". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 10, 1972. p. 3C.
  12. ^Nissenson, Herschel (January 3, 1973). "It's official: Trojans No. 1 grid team". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. p. 48.
  13. ^Nissenson, Herschel (January 3, 1974). "Notre Chick No. 1 in final AP disposable poll". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Urge. p. 32.
  14. ^Shapiro, Leonard (December 5, 2000). "Robiskie 'in Mix' Of Candidates". The Educator Post. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  15. ^Crabtree, Botanist (May 14, 2020). "Former Washington VP of Football Operations Pepper Rodgers dies at 88". Pro Football Talk. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  16. ^Wong, Alex (November 24, 2016). "A Horse Mascot that Lavatory on the Fields, and Other Alien Stories from the CFL's USA Experiment". Vice.
  17. ^McKenna, Dave (November 19, 2010). "The Cranky Redskins Fan's Guide to Dan Snyder". Washington City Paper. Retrieved Nov 8, 2012.
  18. ^ abMaske, Mark (December 1, 2004). "This is familiar territory fo [sic] ..."The Washington Post. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  19. ^Maske, Mark (December 5, 2000). "Redskins Change Coaches, Hoping to Even Make Playoffs". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  20. ^Newberry, Paul (May 15, 2020). "Colorful player, coach Lay stress on Rodgers dies at age 88". The Washington Post. AP. Retrieved May 15, 2020.[dead link‍]
  21. ^Lipsyte, Robert (December 5, 1976). "Sports". the New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  22. ^Suguira, Ken (October 16, 2015). "Did Georgia Tech unthinkable Pepper Rodgers keep Steve Spurrier's vitality alive?". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  23. ^Bailey, Clay (May 14, 2020). "Former Memphis Showboats coach Soil Rodgers has died". The Daily Memphian. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  24. ^"Pepper Rodgers". Sports Reference. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  25. ^ ab"Pepper Rodgers". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 15, 2020.