Bobby Hoppe (American Football)
Encyclopedia
Robert Hoppe (November 13, 1934 — April 7, 2008) was an American football halfback
who played on the 1957 National Championship team at Auburn University
.
at Chattanooga Central High School
, where he led his team to three state championships and two undefeated seasons. As halfback
in Central's T formation
he was dubbed the Chattanooga Choo Choo and Hippity Hoppe by local sports writers. Hoppe earned his nicknames as a prolific running back, gaining nearly 1,500 yards in his senior season and scoring 33 touchdowns during his junior and senior seasons. He was named the first high school All-American from Chattanooga, TN after his senior season.
Shug Jordan.
After a high school career as a running back, Hoppe became known in the Southeastern Conference
(SEC) both as a devastating blocking back from the right halfback position and as a hard hitting defensive back on the national championship team. He also continued to run the football and finished his Auburn career in 4th position on the all-time rushing list.
Hoppe's played his senior season under a heavy personal cloud that did not come fully to light until 31 years later. Just prior to his senior season Hoppe shot and killed a Chattanooga bootlegger, Don Hudson. Hoppe was not indicted for the shooting until 1988.
in the third round, and traded to the Washington Redskins
after one year. He was injured shortly after the trade. He made a short comeback with the Chattanooga Cherokees in 1965.
in Georgia. He earned his Master of Science in Educational Administration at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and became athletic director at two Tennessee community colleges before retiring in 1999.
, along with Chattanooga attorney Leroy Phillips.
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
who played on the 1957 National Championship team at Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
.
Early life
Hoppe attended and played high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at Chattanooga Central High School
Chattanooga Central High School
Chattanooga Central High School is a public high school in Harrison, Tennessee, operated by the Hamilton County Board of Education.Central High School opened in September 1907 on Dodds Avenue in Chattanooga. It was one of Chattanooga's first public high schools. Its students came from all over the...
, where he led his team to three state championships and two undefeated seasons. As halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
in Central's T formation
T formation
In American football, a T formation is a formation used by the offensive team in which three running backs line up in a row about five yards behind the quarterback, forming the shape of a "T"....
he was dubbed the Chattanooga Choo Choo and Hippity Hoppe by local sports writers. Hoppe earned his nicknames as a prolific running back, gaining nearly 1,500 yards in his senior season and scoring 33 touchdowns during his junior and senior seasons. He was named the first high school All-American from Chattanooga, TN after his senior season.
College career
Hoppe was one of the most highly recruited football players of his era with 19 colleges seeking his commitment, including Auburn, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana State, Miami, Rice, Indiana, SMU, and Texas Tech. He accepted a scholarship to play for Auburn under head football coachHead coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Shug Jordan.
After a high school career as a running back, Hoppe became known in the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC) both as a devastating blocking back from the right halfback position and as a hard hitting defensive back on the national championship team. He also continued to run the football and finished his Auburn career in 4th position on the all-time rushing list.
Hoppe's played his senior season under a heavy personal cloud that did not come fully to light until 31 years later. Just prior to his senior season Hoppe shot and killed a Chattanooga bootlegger, Don Hudson. Hoppe was not indicted for the shooting until 1988.
Professional career
Hoppe was drafted by the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in the third round, and traded to the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
after one year. He was injured shortly after the trade. He made a short comeback with the Chattanooga Cherokees in 1965.
After football
After leaving the Redskins, Hoppe returned to Auburn to complete his Bachelor of Science in Education degree which he received in 1961. While completing his degree, he served as an assistant coach for Jordan at Auburn. After earning his degree he coached football at several high schools in Georgia and Tennessee, including head football coaching jobs at Chattanooga Valley High School and Calhoun High SchoolCalhoun High School (Calhoun, Georgia)
Calhoun High School is a grades 9-12 Public High school in Calhoun, Georgia. It is accredited by the Georgia Accrediting Commission, by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of Georgia High School Association...
in Georgia. He earned his Master of Science in Educational Administration at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and became athletic director at two Tennessee community colleges before retiring in 1999.
Cold case
Thirty-one years after Don Hudson was killed, a grand jury indicted Bobby Hoppe for his murder, in one of America's first cold case trials. Hoppe's trial became a national media event that ended with a hung jury. Hoppe was defended by Bobby Lee Cook, one of the most noted defense attorneys in the United States whose clients included Jimmy HoffaJimmy Hoffa
James Riddle "Jimmy" Hoffa was an American labor union leader....
, along with Chattanooga attorney Leroy Phillips.
Further reading
- Sherry L. Hoppe and Dennie B. Burke (2010). A Matter of Conscience: Redemption of a Hometown Hero, Bobby Hoppe. Wakestone Press. ISBN 978-1609560010.