Darrell Harper
Encyclopedia
Darrell L. Harper was an American football
player. He played at the halfback
position for the University of Michigan
from 1957 to 1959 and for the Buffalo Bills
in the 1960 AFL season. On September 11, 1960, Harper scored the first official points in the history of the Bills. He also holds the mark for the Bills' first kickoff
, first field goal
and first extra point
kick.
, before enrolling at the University of Michigan
in 1956. He played football for the Michigan Wolverines football
team from 1957 to 1959.
As a junior, Harper appeared in 7 of 9 games for the 1958 Michigan Wolverines football team
, three of them as the starting left halfback. He was Michigan's leading rush
er in 1958, totaling 309 rushing yards, 137 receiving yards, 131 passing yards, 60 kickoff return yards and 33 punt return yards. Playing against Minnesota
in October 1958, Harper ran 58 yards for the game-winning touchdown on the first play of the second half. Harper also handled punting duties for Michigan; he had a 61-yard punt against Michigan State
in October 1958.
As a senior, Harper started all nine games at the left halfback position for the 1959 Michigan Wolverines football team
. In the third quarter of the October 1959 game against Minnesota, Harper caught punt at Michigan's 17-yard line and returned it 83 yards for the game's first points. The return set the Michigan record for the longest punt return, a record which stood until 1972 when David Brown returned a punt 88 yards. During the 1959 season, Harper rushed for 224 yards rushing and also contributed 101 yards on punt returns, and 62 yards on kickoff returns.
in the 15th round (171st overall pick) of the 1960 NFL Draft
. He signed instead with the Buffalo Bills
in the newly-formed American Football League
. Harper played as a halfback and place kicker for the 1960 Buffalo Bills
and led the AFL with 10 extra points. At 2:08 p.m. on Sunday, September 11, 1960, Harper made the opening kickoff in the first regular-season game in the history of the Buffalo Bills
. He also scored "the first official points" in Bills' history (and the first points in the game) on a field goal from the 35-yard line. After taking a 3-0 lead on Harper's field goal, Buffalo did not score again and lost by a score of 27-3 to the New York Titans
.
In the Bill's second game (and home opener) on September 18, 1960, Harper successfully converted the Bills' first extra point kick after Wray Carlton
ran for the team's first touchdown.
Playing against the Los Angeles Chargers
on October 2, 1960, Harper kicked the second field goal in team history.
. He also coached at Walled Lake Central High School
. Harper died in January 2008 at age 69. He died of complications of multiple myeloma at Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital
in Commerce Township, Michigan
.
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. He played at the 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...
position for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1957 to 1959 and for the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 1960 AFL season. On September 11, 1960, Harper scored the first official points in the history of the Bills. He also holds the mark for the Bills' first kickoff
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
, first field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
and first extra point
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
kick.
University of Michigan
Harper attended high school in Royal Oak, MichiganRoyal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 57,236. It should not be confused with Royal Oak Charter Township, a separate community located nearby....
, before enrolling at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1956. He played football for the Michigan Wolverines football
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
team from 1957 to 1959.
As a junior, Harper appeared in 7 of 9 games for the 1958 Michigan Wolverines football team
1958 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1958 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1958 college football season. The team's head coach was Bennie Oosterbaan...
, three of them as the starting left halfback. He was Michigan's leading rush
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
er in 1958, totaling 309 rushing yards, 137 receiving yards, 131 passing yards, 60 kickoff return yards and 33 punt return yards. Playing against Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
in October 1958, Harper ran 58 yards for the game-winning touchdown on the first play of the second half. Harper also handled punting duties for Michigan; he had a 61-yard punt against Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
in October 1958.
As a senior, Harper started all nine games at the left halfback position for the 1959 Michigan Wolverines football team
1959 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1959 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1959 college football season. The team's head coach was Bump Elliott...
. In the third quarter of the October 1959 game against Minnesota, Harper caught punt at Michigan's 17-yard line and returned it 83 yards for the game's first points. The return set the Michigan record for the longest punt return, a record which stood until 1972 when David Brown returned a punt 88 yards. During the 1959 season, Harper rushed for 224 yards rushing and also contributed 101 yards on punt returns, and 62 yards on kickoff returns.
Buffalo Bills
Harper was selected by the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in the 15th round (171st overall pick) of the 1960 NFL Draft
1960 NFL Draft
The 1960 National Football League Draft Annual Player Selection Meeting in which NFL teams take turns selecting amateur college American football players and other first-time eligible players, was held in secret in order to fend off increased competition for college players from the American...
. He signed instead with the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the newly-formed American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
. Harper played as a halfback and place kicker for the 1960 Buffalo Bills
1960 Buffalo Bills season
The 1960 Buffalo Bills season was the team’s first season in the American Football League. Home games were played at War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo, New York-1960 AFL Draft:...
and led the AFL with 10 extra points. At 2:08 p.m. on Sunday, September 11, 1960, Harper made the opening kickoff in the first regular-season game in the history of the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He also scored "the first official points" in Bills' history (and the first points in the game) on a field goal from the 35-yard line. After taking a 3-0 lead on Harper's field goal, Buffalo did not score again and lost by a score of 27-3 to the New York Titans
New York Titans
New York Titans may refer to:*New York Titans , the former name of the National Football League's New York Jets* New York Titans , a National Lacrosse League team now known as the Orlando Titans...
.
In the Bill's second game (and home opener) on September 18, 1960, Harper successfully converted the Bills' first extra point kick after Wray Carlton
Wray Carlton
Linwood Wray Carlton is a former American collegiate and professional football running back who played professionally in both Canada and the U.S....
ran for the team's first touchdown.
Playing against the Los Angeles Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on October 2, 1960, Harper kicked the second field goal in team history.
Later years and death
After finishing his career as a football player, Harper worked as a teacher and high school football coach for many years in Highland Township, MichiganHighland Township, Michigan
Highland Township is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Michigan:*Highland Township, Oakland County, Michigan*Highland Township, Osceola County, Michigan...
. He also coached at Walled Lake Central High School
Walled Lake Central High School
Walled Lake Central High School is located in Walled Lake, Michigan. It is one of three high schools in the Walled Lake Consolidated Schools which serves portions of western Oakland County. It has been designated as a National Exemplary School by the U.S. Department of Education...
. Harper died in January 2008 at age 69. He died of complications of multiple myeloma at Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital
Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital
DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital, in Commerce Township, Michigan, is one of the eight hospitals/institutes composing the Detroit Medical Center. Huron-Valley-Sinai contains the Harris Birthing Center, a regional specialty center, the Charach Cancer Treatment Center, , the Krieger Center for Senior...
in Commerce Township, Michigan
Commerce Township, Michigan
Commerce Charter Township is a charter township of Oakland County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 40,186 at the 2010 census. The terrain is rolling hills, but there are large expanses of flat land on which farms and, more recently, subdivisions are built. The Huron River runs...
.