Robert Newhouse
Encyclopedia
Robert Fulton Newhouse is a former professional American football
player in the National Football League
for the Dallas Cowboys
(1972–1983).
at the University of Houston
from 1969 to 1971.
Robert Newhouse was a great college running back
, and broke many school records, some of which still stand today:
It was a very successful stretch for the University of Houston
. In 1969, the team finished 9–2 and ranked #12 in the AP poll. In 1970, it finished 8–3 and ranked 19th. In 1971, it finished 9–3 and ranked 17th.
He was tri-captain of the 1971 team along with Gary Mullins and Frank Ditta.
His 1757 rushing yards in 1971 was the second most yards in a season in NCAA history and the most in school history at the time. That year he was named 2nd team All-America
n by the Associated Press.
He ended his collegiate career as the University of Houston
all-time leading rusher.
Back when the College All-Stars played the Super Bowl
Champion from the year before, Newhouse scored a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys
.
in the 1972 NFL Draft
.
Although he wasn't very big, he played bigger than his size. Newhouse was built very low to the ground and had enormous leg strength. He thrived on second effort, picking up the nicknames The House and The Human Bowling Ball.
Newhouse was used primarily as a blocking fullback
. He was very good as the lead blocker and effective as the primary running back. He even led the Cowboys in yards rushed in 1975 with 930 yards.
He was tough to bring down, "like trying to tackle a fire hydrant," at 5'10" and 209 pounds, with arguably the largest thighs in the NFL (44" in circumference), Newhouse plowed his way through 4,784 rushing yards, 956 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns during his notable career.
His longest run from scrimmage as a pro was a 54 yard gainer against the Philadelphia Eagles
in 1973
.
While Newhouse was on the team, the Cowboys went to three Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XII
against the Denver Broncos
in 1977
.
His most notable career highlight and Super Bowl
moment was the 29-yard touchdown
pass Newhouse threw (going to his left) to Golden Richards
in Super Bowl XII
.
After playing 12 years with the Cowboys, he retired at the end of the 1983
season, as the third all-time leading rusher in team history.
He was inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame.
More than thirty years after he was drafted, Newhouse is still with the Cowboys organization; he currently handles Alumni Affairs.
Robert Newhouse recently had a stroke but he is now making progress.
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 in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
(1972–1983).
College career
Played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
from 1969 to 1971.
Robert Newhouse was a great college running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, and broke many school records, some of which still stand today:
- Most rushing yards in a season (1757 in 1971)
- Most 100 yard games in a season (10 in 1971)
- Most 100 yard games in a career (16)
- Most consecutive 100 yard games in a season (7 in 1971)
- Most consecutive 100 yard games in a career (8)
- Most 200 yard games in a season (3 in 1971, tied with Anthony AlridgeAnthony AlridgeAnthony E. Alridge is a professional gridiron football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
and Paul Gipson) - Most 200 yard cames in a career (4, tied with Anthony AlridgeAnthony AlridgeAnthony E. Alridge is a professional gridiron football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
and Paul Gipson).
It was a very successful stretch for the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
. In 1969, the team finished 9–2 and ranked #12 in the AP poll. In 1970, it finished 8–3 and ranked 19th. In 1971, it finished 9–3 and ranked 17th.
He was tri-captain of the 1971 team along with Gary Mullins and Frank Ditta.
His 1757 rushing yards in 1971 was the second most yards in a season in NCAA history and the most in school history at the time. That year he was named 2nd team All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n by the Associated Press.
He ended his collegiate career as the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
all-time leading rusher.
Back when the College All-Stars played the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
Champion from the year before, Newhouse scored a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
.
Professional career
After his remarkable college career, he was a second round draft pick for the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in the 1972 NFL Draft
1972 NFL Draft
The 1972 National Football League Draft was held on February 1–2, 1972.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
.
Although he wasn't very big, he played bigger than his size. Newhouse was built very low to the ground and had enormous leg strength. He thrived on second effort, picking up the nicknames The House and The Human Bowling Ball.
Newhouse was used primarily as a blocking 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...
. He was very good as the lead blocker and effective as the primary running back. He even led the Cowboys in yards rushed in 1975 with 930 yards.
He was tough to bring down, "like trying to tackle a fire hydrant," at 5'10" and 209 pounds, with arguably the largest thighs in the NFL (44" in circumference), Newhouse plowed his way through 4,784 rushing yards, 956 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns during his notable career.
His longest run from scrimmage as a pro was a 54 yard gainer against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1973
1973 NFL season
The 1973 NFL season was the 54th regular season of the National Football League. The season featured O.J. Simpson becoming the first man to rush for 2,000 yards in one season...
.
While Newhouse was on the team, the Cowboys went to three Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII was an American football game played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1977 regular season...
against the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1977
1977 NFL season
The 1977 NFL season was the 58th regular season of the National Football League. The Seattle Seahawks were placed in the AFC West while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were slotted in the NFC Central....
.
His most notable career highlight and Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
moment was the 29-yard touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
pass Newhouse threw (going to his left) to Golden Richards
Golden Richards
John Golden Richards is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver in the National Football League for eight seasons for the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears. Richards was a starter for the Cowboys in Super Bowl X against the Pittsburgh Steelers...
in Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII was an American football game played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1977 regular season...
.
After playing 12 years with the Cowboys, he retired at the end of the 1983
1983 NFL season
The 1983 NFL season was the 64th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins.-Major rule changes:...
season, as the third all-time leading rusher in team history.
He was inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame.
Personal life
Robert married wife Nancy Newhouse and together they have four children.More than thirty years after he was drafted, Newhouse is still with the Cowboys organization; he currently handles Alumni Affairs.
Robert Newhouse recently had a stroke but he is now making progress.