Marv Hubbard
Encyclopedia
Marvin "Marv" Hubbard was an American
college and professional American football
player. Originally from Randolph, New York
, Hubbard attended Colgate University
in Hamilton, New York
. He played for the Hartford Knights of the Atlantic Coast Football League
. He then joined the American Football League
's Oakland Raiders
in 1969, staying with the team until 1975, and then came back with the Detroit Lions
in 1977.
A fullback
wearing jersey #44, Hubbard was famous for his punishing mano-a-mano duels with Kansas City Chiefs
linebacker Willie Lanier
. He was not a shifty back, and did not evade contact. Powerfully built, he was famous for crashing headlong into defenders, with little regard for his own well-being.
Though never a star, Hubbard in his prime was an unusually productive player. Of note was his extremely high per-carry average. Over the course of their careers, most of the best running backs average a little over 4 yards per carry. Some of the best backs approach the 4.5 range. Only a few (Hall of Famers Jim Brown
, Gale Sayers
, Barry Sanders
, OJ Simpson among them) actually exceed 4.5. Marv Hubbard averaged closer to five yards (4.82 to be exact) per carry. The most obvious explanation for this slightly above average fullback having such a high career average, is the great offensive lines he ran behind. Early in his career he had Bob Brown, Art Shell, Gene Upshaw and Jim Otto blocking for him, all Hall of Fame offensive lineman. Later in Hubbard's career Bob Brown and Jim Otto retired, they were replaced by John Vella and Dave Dalby respectively. The sports writers perhaps didn't give him the respect he deserved as he was never nominated for an "All-Pro" team, but the players and coaches in the NFL respected him and he did earn three trips to Pro Bowl as the backup Fullback for the AFC.
However Hubbard's career did not start impressively. After being drafted in the eleventh round of the 1968 AFL Draft
by Oakland, he was cut. He then went to the Canadian Football League
, where he spent two seasons learning how to block. But after returning to the Raiders, he teamed in the backfield with halfback Charlie Smith
, and became a potent weapon, especially in short-yardage situations. He made the AFC All-Star team with the Raiders in 1971, 1972, and 1973. His roughhouse style of play eventually caught up with Hubbard, resulting in a nagging shoulder injury that forced him to miss most of the season in 1975. He spent the entire 1976 season on the injured reserve list and was eclipsed during his injury by his groomed replacement, fellow Colgate alum Mark van Eeghen
. He signed with the Detroit Lions
, where he saw spot duty during the 1977 season, after which he retired from the NFL.
. The driver killed had been making an illegal turn in a 'blind spot' on an isolated road.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college and professional American football
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. Originally from Randolph, New York
Randolph, New York
There are two places named Randolph in the U.S. state of New York:*Randolph , New York*Randolph , New York...
, Hubbard attended Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
in Hamilton, New York
Hamilton (village), New York
The Village of Hamilton is a village located within the town of Hamilton in Madison County, New York, USA.-Geography and climate:The village, located at , lies in the Chenango Valley, just south of the headwaters of the Chenango River. The village is approximately southeast of Syracuse and ...
. He played for the Hartford Knights of the Atlantic Coast Football League
Atlantic Coast Football League
The Atlantic Coast Football League was a minor football league that operated from 1962 to 1973. Until 1969, many of its franchises had working agreements with NFL and AFL teams to serve as farm clubs. The league paid a base salary of $100 per game and had 36 players on each active roster.For the...
. He then joined the 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...
's Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1969, staying with the team until 1975, and then came back with the Detroit Lions
Detroit 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 1977.
A fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
wearing jersey #44, Hubbard was famous for his punishing mano-a-mano duels with Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
linebacker Willie Lanier
Willie Lanier
Willie Edward Lanier is a former American football middle-linebacker who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1967 through 1977. He won postseason honors for eight consecutive years, making the American Football League All-Star team in 1968 and 1969 before being selected to the Pro Bowl from...
. He was not a shifty back, and did not evade contact. Powerfully built, he was famous for crashing headlong into defenders, with little regard for his own well-being.
Though never a star, Hubbard in his prime was an unusually productive player. Of note was his extremely high per-carry average. Over the course of their careers, most of the best running backs average a little over 4 yards per carry. Some of the best backs approach the 4.5 range. Only a few (Hall of Famers Jim Brown
Jim Brown
James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor. He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 2002, he was named by Sporting News...
, Gale Sayers
Gale Sayers
Gale Eugene Sayers also known as "The Kansas Comet", is a former professional football player in the National Football League who spent his entire career with the Chicago Bears....
, Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Sanders left the game just short of the all-time rushing record...
, OJ Simpson among them) actually exceed 4.5. Marv Hubbard averaged closer to five yards (4.82 to be exact) per carry. The most obvious explanation for this slightly above average fullback having such a high career average, is the great offensive lines he ran behind. Early in his career he had Bob Brown, Art Shell, Gene Upshaw and Jim Otto blocking for him, all Hall of Fame offensive lineman. Later in Hubbard's career Bob Brown and Jim Otto retired, they were replaced by John Vella and Dave Dalby respectively. The sports writers perhaps didn't give him the respect he deserved as he was never nominated for an "All-Pro" team, but the players and coaches in the NFL respected him and he did earn three trips to Pro Bowl as the backup Fullback for the AFC.
However Hubbard's career did not start impressively. After being drafted in the eleventh round of the 1968 AFL Draft
1968 American Football League Draft
The 1968 American Football League Draft was part of the Common Draft, in the second year in which the NFL and AFL held a joint draft of college players.-AFL Player selections:-Round one:-Future Hall of Famers Selected by AFL Teams:...
by Oakland, he was cut. He then went to the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
, where he spent two seasons learning how to block. But after returning to the Raiders, he teamed in the backfield with halfback Charlie Smith
Charlie Smith (running back)
Charles Henry Smith is a former American football running back. He played two seasons for the American Football League's Oakland Raiders , and 5 for the National Football League's Raiders . He also played for the NFL's San Diego Chargers in 1975...
, and became a potent weapon, especially in short-yardage situations. He made the AFC All-Star team with the Raiders in 1971, 1972, and 1973. His roughhouse style of play eventually caught up with Hubbard, resulting in a nagging shoulder injury that forced him to miss most of the season in 1975. He spent the entire 1976 season on the injured reserve list and was eclipsed during his injury by his groomed replacement, fellow Colgate alum Mark van Eeghen
Mark van Eeghen
Mark van Eeghen ,is an American football player, who played ten years in the National Football League, including making two Super Bowl appearances. He was a member of the Oakland Raiders and for two seasons, the New England Patriots...
. He signed with the Detroit Lions
Detroit 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...
, where he saw spot duty during the 1977 season, after which he retired from the NFL.
Alleged drunken driving accident
On September 27, 2003, Hubbard was involved in a car accident in Castro Valley, California in which the driver of the other car was killed. In 2004, Hubbard pleaded no contest to misdemeanor DUIDriving under the influence
Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
. The driver killed had been making an illegal turn in a 'blind spot' on an isolated road.