Butch Woolfolk
No. 25, 40, 21 | |||
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Position: | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | ||
Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||
Career information | |||
High school: | Westfield (Westfield, New Jersey) | ||
College: | Michigan | ||
NFL draft: | 1982 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18 | ||
Career history | |||
Career highlights and awards | |||
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Career NFL statistics | |||
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Player stats at PFR |
Harold E. "Butch" Woolfolk (born March 1, 1960) is an American former professional
Woolfolk also excelled in
Woolfolk played seven seasons in the NFL. As a rookie in 1982, he finished third in the NFL in
High school
Born in
University of Michigan
All-time Michigan rushing record
He played
Woolfolk now ranks fifth in career
Rank | Name | Attempts | Net Yds | Yds/Att | Touchdowns | Long | Start | End |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mike Hart | 983 | 4911 | 5.0 | 39 | 64 | 2004 | 2007 |
2 | Anthony Thomas | 924 | 4472 | 4.8 | 55 | 80 | 1997 | 2000 |
3 | Jamie Morris | 806 | 4392 | 5.5 | 25 | 68 | 1984 | 1987 |
4 | Tyrone Wheatley | 688 | 4178 | 6.1 | 47 | 88 | 1991 | 1994 |
5 | Butch Woolfolk | 717 | 3850 | 5.4 | 29 | 92 | 1978 | 1981 |
253 yards rushing against Michigan State
He began the 1981 season with five consecutive 100-yard games, including a 253-yard effort. Woolfolk's best game as a Wolverine was the October 10, 1981 contest against Michigan State. The Wolverines beat the Spartans, 38-20, and Woolfolk rushed for 253 yards in 39 carries. After the game, Coach Bo Schembechler said: "I wondered what a kid like that would do if he ran as much as the guy on the West Coast (Marcus Allen). I didn't plan on this, but he proved he can do it. Butch is going to be our all-time leading ground gainer. There isn't any way they're going to stop him now. And so be it."[6] His 1981 rushing performance against the Spartans still stands as the fifth best single-game performance by a Wolverine running back.[5]
MVP of the 1981 Rose and Bluebonnet Bowls
Woolfolk was named the Most Valuable Player in both of Michigan's two bowl game appearances in 1981.
Woolfolk's top ten games at Michigan
Woolfolk's top ten games in a Michigan uniform are as follows:[5]
Rank | Date | Opponent | Attempts | Net Yards | Yds/Att | TDs | Long | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Oct 10, 1981 | Michigan State | 39 | 253 | 6.5 | 0 | 27 | 38-20 |
2 | Oct 13, 1979 | Minnesota | 24 | 194 | 8.1 | 2 | 58 | 31-21 |
3 | Nov 3, 1979 | Wisconsin | 19 | 190 | 10.0 | 3 | 92 | 54-0 |
4 | Dec 31, 1981 | UCLA | 27 | 186 | 6.9 | 1 | 52 | 33-14 |
5 | Jan 1, 1981 | Washington | 26 | 182 | 7.0 | 1 | 35 | 23-6 |
6 | Oct 3, 1981 | Indiana | 26 | 176 | 6.8 | 2 | 24 | 38-17 |
7 | Nov 1, 1980 | Indiana | 16 | 152 | 9.5 | 1 | 64 | 35-0 |
8 | Nov 22, 1980 | Ohio State | 31 | 141 | 4.5 | 0 | 15 | 9-3 |
9 | Sep 19, 1981 | Notre Dame | 23 | 139 | 6.0 | 0 | 21 | 25-7 |
10 | Oct 11, 1980 | Michigan State | 29 | 136 | 4.7 | 0 | 15 | 27-23 |
Relationship with Bo Schembechler
During his four years at Michigan, Woolfolk had what one reporter described as "a strange love-hate relationship" with Coach Bo Schembechler.[11] Woolfolk noted at the time Schembechler is a "tough coach", and it was "not easy at all" playing for him.[11] Schembechler was often angered by Woolfolk's tendency to try to run around defenders rather than banging through them, resulting in Woolfolk being benched more than once. But Schembechler said Woolfolk "came of age" in the November 1980 Ohio State game. After Woolfolk's MVP performance in the 1981 Rose Bowl helped Schembechler to his first bowl game victory, Bo complimented Woolfolk's powerful performance, noting: "Butch can be a real load."[8] By the 1981 season, Schembechler was a true believer in Woolfolk, saying: "Today, I can say without reservation, that I'd rather go into a big game with Woolfolk at tailback than any other back in the country."[11] Woolfolk, too, concluded in the end that Schembechler was "key" to his success: "He kept after me. He kept saying I was getting too fancy. He kept saying, 'You're a big back, a fast back, and you ought to be running over people -- not trying to dance around them.'"[11]
Track and field
While at Michigan, Woolfolk was also the 1980
NFL career
Woolfolk played three years in the NFL for the
Offers from agents
Woolfolk told the AP in 1982 of receiving offers of representation from some 50 agents while he was still in college. Woolfolk noted that he was offered under-the-table payments by agents while he was still in school, as well as cars, and even a job for his stepfather, William Johnson, a Newark dockworker. Woolfolk turned down those offers and signed with Jerry Argovitz.[20]
New York Giants
Woolfolk was drafted by the Giants in the first round of the
In 1982, Woolfolk was named the NFC's Offensive Rookie of the Year, after appearing in all nine games of the strike-shortened
In 1983, Bill Parcells' first year as head coach,[23] Woolfolk gained 1,225 yards from scrimmage for the Giants (857 yards rushing and 368 yards receiving) -- more yards than any Giants running back in the previous ten years.[17] He also set the NFL record for most rushing attempts in a game with 43 carries (for 159 yards) on November 20, 1983.[24] Woolfolk gained 115 yards on 26 carries in the first half alone and said after the game: "I'm not as tired as I thought I would be when somebody told me how many carries I had."[25] Ironically, Woolfolk's 43-carry record was broken in 1988 by Jamie Morris, the same player who also broke Woolfolk's career rushing record at the University of Michigan.[24]
In 1984, Woolfolk was relegated to back-up status as Joe Morris took over the starting job at tailback midway through the season.[26] The 1984 Giants made the playoffs, but Woolfolk did not touch the ball.[27] In March 1985, the Giants traded Woolfolk to the Oilers. In reporting on the trade, The New York Times said: "The mystery of Butch Woolfolk, who in his three seasons with the Giants went from star running back to benchwarmer may be solved next fall, but not with Giants."[28] Woolfolk said at the time he was "not bitter" about the trade, and Coach Bill Parcells said: "Maybe a new place will be good for Butch. I don't think he was satisfied with what transpired last year."[28]
Houston Oilers
Playing for the Oilers during the
Detroit Lions
Woolfolk was released by the Oilers at the beginning of training camp in 1987 and signed with the Lions.[35] Woolfolk appeared in 12 games for the 1987 Lions and contributed 549 yards of total offense–248 yards receiving, 219 yards on kick returns, and 82 yards rushing.[17] Woolfolk appeared in only three games for the Lions in 1988 and was limited to four yards rushing, four yards receiving and 99 yards on four kick returns.[17] He injured his knee in the season's third game, was out for the season, and did not make it back into an NFL lineup after the injury.[36]
Career after football
Woolfolk worked for over 20 years in various real estate ventures.[21] His real estate experience began in 1985 as an independent owner and operator of rental properties in Houston, while he was still playing for the Oilers.[21] In 1992, as co-owner of New Choice Builders, Woolfolk began building affordable single-family housing in Houston's revitalized communities.[21] In 1994, Woolfolk worked with Home Ownership Partners, Inc., to build affordable housing for residents of Fort Bend County, Texas, a suburban county outside of Houston. Woolfolk procured the largest HUD grant given at that time by Fort Bend County for affordable housing assistance.[21] Starting in approximately 1995, Woolfolk worked for Intrepid Holdings, Inc. in Houston.[21] At Intrepid, he developed residential lots for several large builders including US Home, Gateway Homes, Texas Colonial, and KB Home.[21]
In June 2007, Forward Edge, Inc. announced that Woolfolk had joined the company as its new business developer.
Family
Woolfolk and his wife, Regina,[39] have two sons, Jarrel and Troy Woolfolk.[40][41] Their son Troy Woolfolk was a defensive back at Michigan from 2007 to 2011.[42] When his son was issued a Michigan jersey with the Woolfolk name on the back, Butch Woolfolk said: "It's a big day, no doubt. I'm proud of him and excited for him. But the biggest thing for me is, I know he's at a place where I don't have to worry about him."[43]
Statistics
Career
Season | Team | Games | Starts | Rushes
|
Yards | TDs | Avg. | Rec.
|
Yards | TDs | Avg. | KR
|
Yards | TDs | Avg. |
1978 | Michigan | 7 | 77 | 359 | 2 | 4.7 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
1979 | Michigan | 11 | 191 | 990 | 13 | 5.2 | 18 | 128 | 0 | 7.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
1980 | Michigan | 12 | 196 | 1042 | 8 | 5.3 | 10 | 68 | 0 | 6.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
1981 | Michigan | 12 | 253 | 1459 | 6 | 5.8 | 9 | 55 | 0 | 6.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Career | 42 | 717 | 3850 | 29 | 5.4 | 38 | 265 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
1982 | NYG | 9 | 8 | 112 | 439 | 2 | 3.9 | 23 | 224 | 2 | 9.7 | 20 | 428 | 0 | 21.4 |
1983 | NYG | 16 | 16 | 246 | 857 | 4 | 3.5 | 28 | 368 | 0 | 13.1 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 6.5 |
1984 | NYG | 15 | 8 | 40 | 92 | 1 | 2.3 | 9 | 53 | 0 | 5.9 | 14 | 232 | 0 | 16.6 |
1985 | HOU | 16 | 14 | 103 | 392 | 1 | 3.8 | 80 | 814 | 4 | 10.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1986 | HOU | 10 | 5 | 23 | 57 | 0 | 2.5 | 28 | 314 | 2 | 11.2 | 2 | 38 | 0 | 19 |
1987 | DET | 12 | 0 | 12 | 82 | 0 | 6.8 | 19 | 166 | 0 | 8.7 | 11 | 219 | 0 | 19.9 |
1988 | DET | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 99 | 0 | 24.8 |
Career | 81 | 51 | 537 | 1923 | 8 | 3.6 | 187 | 1939 | 8 | 10.4 | 53 | 1029 | 0 | 19.4 | |
3 yrs | NYG | 40 | 32 | 398 | 1388 | 7 | 3.5 | 60 | 645 | 2 | 10.8 | 36 | 673 | 0 | 18.7 |
2 yrs | DET | 15 | 0 | 13 | 86 | 0 | 6.6 | 19 | 166 | 0 | 8.7 | 15 | 318 | 0 | 21.2 |
2 yrs | HOU | 26 | 19 | 126 | 449 | 1 | 3.6 | 108 | 1128 | 6 | 10.4 | 2 | 38 | 0 | 19 |
- 100-Yard Games
Week | Day | Date | Result | Team | Opponent | Score | Rushes
|
Yards | TDs | Avg. | Rec.
|
Yards | TDs | Avg. |
5 | Sun | 1982-12-05 | W | NYG | HOU | 17–14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 102 | 1 | 17 |
9 | Sun | 1983-10-30 | L | NYG | DAL | 20–38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 135 | 0 | 33.8 |
12 | Sun | 1983-11-20 | W | NYG | PHI | 23–0 | 43 | 159 | 1 | 3.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1 | Sun | 1985-09-08 | W | HOU | MIA | 26–23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 120 | 1 | 40 |
5 | Sun | 1985-10-06 | L | HOU | DEN | 20–31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 124 | 1 | 15.5 |
9 | Sun | 1985-11-03 | W | HOU | KAN | 23–20 | 14 | 101 | 1 | 7.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
13 | Sun | 1985-12-01 | L | HOU | CIN | 27–45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 130 | 1 | 14.4 |
N.B.: Home team is in bold.
See also
- Lists of Michigan Wolverines football rushing leaders
References
- ^ "Butch Woolfolk (big games)". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
- ^ a b "Butch Woolfolk: Kankakee (Eastridge)". Illinois High School Football Weekly. 2007-08-02. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ a b c d "Westfield Hall of Fame Members". Westfield Bicentennial Commission. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ a b c d e "University of Michigan Football All-American: Butch Woolfolk". The Regents of the University of Michigan. 2007-02-10. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ a b c d e "Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on 2007-11-12. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
- ^ "Workhorse Woolfolk Runs for 253 Yards". Detroit Free Press. 1981-10-01.
- ^ "Rose Bowl Legends: Butch Woolfolk". Rose Bowl Legends. Archived from the original on 2008-01-05. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ Pacific Stars and Stripes. 1981-01-04.
- YouTube
- Pacific Stars and Stripes. 1982-01-03.
- ^ a b c d "Woolfolk provides Michigan with strong ground game". Marysville Journal-Tribune (Ohio). 1981-11-19.
- ^ a b "Big Ten Conference Records Book 2007–08: Men's Track and Field". Big Ten Conference, Inc. 2007. Archived from the original on 2012-12-08. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ^ a b c d e Anderson, Dave (1982-12-06). "The Catch by Woolfolk". The New York Times.
- ^ Hergott, Jeremiah, ed. (2008). Two Thousand Eight Michigan Men's Track and Field. Frye Printing Company.
- ^ a b c d "The Record Book (through the 2006 season)" (PDF). MGoBlue.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-02-29. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
- ^ "Big Ten Conference Records Book 2007–08: Men's Track and Field". Big Ten Conference, Inc. 2007. Archived from the original on 2012-12-08. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Pro-Football-Reference.com: Butch Woolfolk". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ "Butch Woolfolk". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
- ^ a b "Butch Woolfolk (big games)". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
- ^ "Woolfolk Turned Down Lures to Land Top NFL Agent". Casa Grande Dispatch (Ariz.). 1982-06-05.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Harold "Butch" Woolfolk: General Manager, Community Allied Development". Intrepid Holdings, Inc. 2005. Archived from the original on 2006-07-21. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ "1982 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ^ Fowler, Ed (1987-01-21). "An interim coach who is a winner". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ a b "Individual Records: Rushing". NFL Enterprises LLC. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ "Woolfolk Blankets Eagles". The New York Times. 1983-11-20.
- ^ Blinebury, Fran (1987-01-22). "What makes Giants run? Joe Morris". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ "Butch Woolfolk". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
- ^ a b Litsky, Frank (1985-03-22). "Woolfolk Is Traded to Oilers". The New York Times.
- ^ "1985 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ^ "1985 Houston Oilers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ "1986 Houston Oilers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ McClain, John (1986-10-06). "Salem plays for a winner, hasn't seen any beaches yet". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ McClain, John (1986-11-11). "Victory brings Glanville out of hiding for a week". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ McClain, John (1987-04-28). "Oilers take Highsmith, wide receiver". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ "Bengals cut Browner, promote draft choice". Houston Chronicle. 1987-09-10. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ Rollow, Cooper (1988-09-25). "NFL Capsules -- Week 4". Syracuse Herald Journal.
- ^ a b c "Butch Woolfolk Joins Forward Edge To Help Tackle Steroids in Schools" (PDF). The Industry Edge. June 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ McClain, John (2007-09-02). "No surprise in K.C. as Huard named starter / Edwards says QB gives Chiefs best chance to win / Norris leads the way for Gore". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ McClain, John (2007-02-11). "Will it be all Jake in Houston? / Plummer was at his best under Kubiak at Denver". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ Jennings, Chantel (2011-09-13). "Catching up with ... Butch Woolfolk: Former running back still holds Coach Schembechler in the highest regard". ESPN. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
- ^ "Butch Woolfolk – Where is he now?". Stadium and Main. 2006-07-01. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ "Troy Woolfolk". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. March 9, 2016.
- ^ Niyo, John (2007-08-07), "Woolfolk: The Next Generation", The Detroit News
External links
- Bentley Library profile
- Career statistics and player information from Pro Football Reference