Bob Blackman
Encyclopedia
Bob Blackman 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.
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.
, 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.
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
(1953–1954), Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
(1955–1970), the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (1971–1976), and Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
(1977–1982), compiling a career college football record of 168–112–7. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
as a coach in 1987.
Early years and playing career
Blackman was born in De Soto, IowaDe Soto, Iowa
De Soto is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,009 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:De Soto is located at ....
on July 7, 1918. He played football at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, beginning in 1937. Blackman was named a captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
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 CollegePasadena City College
Pasadena City College is a community college in Pasadena, California, USA, located on Colorado Boulevard. PCC is the third largest community college campus in the United States. PCC was founded in 1924 as Pasadena Junior College. In 1954, Pasadena Junior College merged with another junior...
, and the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
, Blackman was named head coach at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
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
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
. In six seasons with the Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
, Blackman had a record of 29–36–1. Blackman returned to the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
in 1977, where he replaced George Seifert
George Seifert
George Seifert is a former NFL head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and the Carolina Panthers. Seifert joined the 49ers' coaching staff under Bill Walsh in 1980 as defensive backs coach and served as the team's defensive coordinator from 1983–1988.As a 49er assistant, his defenses finished...
as head coach of the Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
Big Red until 1982.
Later years and death
Blackman retired to Hilton Head, South Carolina and died on March 18, 2000, in Burlingame, CaliforniaBurlingame, California
Burlingame is a city in San Mateo County, California. It is located on the San Francisco Peninsula and has a significant shoreline on San Francisco Bay. The city is named after diplomat Anson Burlingame. It is renowned for its many surviving examples of Victorian architecture, its affluence, and...
.