Bob Suffridge
| Date of birth | March 17, 1916 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Guard |
| US college | Tennessee |
| NFL draft | 1941 / Round: 6 / Pick: 42 (By the Pittsburgh Steelers) |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1941,1945 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career stats | |
| |
Robert Lee Suffridge (March 17, 1916 – March 3, 1974) was an American football player in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at the University of Tennessee, where he was later inducted into the school's hall of fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. Suffridge also served in the United States Navy during World War II.
Early years
Suffridge attended Central High School in Knoxville, Tennessee.
College career
Suffridge played
Suffridge was noted for his quickness. As one bio states "Suffridge was so quick he once blocked the same point-after- touchdown three times, twice called for off-sides when many observers felt he wasn't."[2] During his time at Tennessee, the Volunteers did not lose a regular season game.[2]
"Robert Neyland never wanted to answer when asked, ’Who were your greatest players?’ But, when pressed, he would reluctantly answer, ’I’ll start a team, but will not attempt to complete it. You’ll have to start with Bob Suffridge the greatest lineman I ever saw and that’s as far as I will go with the line. For a backfield, you’ll start with Gene McEver, the greatest I ever coached.’"[3]
Suffridge was inducted into the
Professional career
Suffridge was
Suffridge made the All-Pro team in 1941. Again Suffridge's speed was noticed. On one occasion Suffridge blocked three consecutive punts but was penalized for being offsides each time.
"That last offside will cost you $50", Coach Greasy Neale told him. "But I wasn’t offside", Suffridge protested. "That’ll cost you $50 more." "I said I wasn’t offside." "Make it one hundred." "I’m telling you, I wasn’t offside." "It’s now $200." Unwilling to argue the point past $200, Suff sat down. Neale finally told him he would look at the movies. "If you were offside, the $200 fine sticks. If you weren’t, I’ll give you a hundred." The movie showed beyond question that Suffridge had not been offside. "I got the hundred", he said, "the easiest hundred I ever made."[3]
Coaching career
Suffridge coached at North Carolina State University from 1946 to 1951. He was a line coach for the Wolfpack.[2]
See also
References
- ISBN 978-0-7603-3248-1. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Bob "Suff" Suffridge". College Football Hall of Fame. National Football Foundation.
- ^ a b "Robert Lee". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2006.
- ^ "1941 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.