Rodney Blackshear
Encyclopedia
Rodney Blackshear was the final head coach of the Lubbock Renegades
, a former af2
football team. Prior to that, he was a wide receiver
for Texas Tech
.
from 1987-1991. He led the team in receiving in 1990 and again in 1991. Blackshear holds the Southwest Conference (SWC) and Texas Tech single-game record with 251 on only 5 catches against Houston. He was awarded the "Team MVP" honor in 1990 and "Team Leadership" honor in 1991. Blackshear was honored as a two-time All-SWC member from 90-91 as well as 3rd-Team Pre-Season All American in 91, and received invitations to the Blue-Gray Football Classic
and the Japan Bowl in 1991.
Blackshear was the first player to return a kickoff for a touchdown against the 12th Man kickoff unit of Texas A&M
. The following season, the Aggies discontinued the longstanding tradition.
. He ended his career as the All-Time tackles leader in Houston Thunderbears/Texas Terror team history with 129 total tackles. He also made a touchdown off an interception and off a missed field-goal attempt. The 1998 All-Arena First Team (WR/DB) honoree ended his AFL career with the 2001 Arena Bowl Champion Grand Rapids Rampage
He was a nominee for the AFL 15 year anniversary team as a WR/DB.].
during the 2003 season. He was then the offensive coordinator
for the Rio Grande Valley Dorados
before speanding a season as an WR Coach for the Houston Cougars
. He became the head coach of the Centex Barracudas of the Intense Football League in 2006 before leading the Lubbock Renegades
in 2007-2008. He coached the South Georgia Wildcats to an 11-5 record in 2009. Blackshear was coaching the Abilene Ruff Riders in the IFL after Head Coach Gerald Dockery was dismissed in April 2010 with a team record of 0-5. The team won their first game with Blackshear at the helm. Blackshear was named Head Coach of the Amarillo Venom of the IFL in November of 2010.
Lubbock Renegades
The Lubbock Renegades were an expansion member of the af2. The team played its home games at the City Bank Coliseum, which was the former home of the IFL/NIFL team, the Lubbock Lone Stars/Gunslingers. The team was owned by Doug McGregor, Rick Dykes, and Bart Reagor. It was coached by former Texas...
, a former af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
football team. Prior to that, he was a wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for Texas Tech
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
.
College
Blackshear was a wide receiver for the Texas Tech Red RaidersTexas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
from 1987-1991. He led the team in receiving in 1990 and again in 1991. Blackshear holds the Southwest Conference (SWC) and Texas Tech single-game record with 251 on only 5 catches against Houston. He was awarded the "Team MVP" honor in 1990 and "Team Leadership" honor in 1991. Blackshear was honored as a two-time All-SWC member from 90-91 as well as 3rd-Team Pre-Season All American in 91, and received invitations to the Blue-Gray Football Classic
Blue-Gray Football Classic
The Blue–Gray Football Classic was an annual American college football all-star game held in Alabama usually on Christmas Day. It was begun in 1939 and held annually through 2001 at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. The game was not contested in 2002 and was subsequently revived in 2003 in...
and the Japan Bowl in 1991.
Blackshear was the first player to return a kickoff for a touchdown against the 12th Man kickoff unit of Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
. The following season, the Aggies discontinued the longstanding tradition.
AFL
Blackshear played seven seasons in the AFL where he recorded 204 receptions for 2,482 yards and 45 receiving touchdowns in 52 games for the Houston ThunderbearsHouston Thunderbears
The Houston ThunderBears were a team in the Arena Football League that operated from 1996-2001. The team was based in Houston, Texas. Home games were played at the Compaq Center. The team was known as the Texas Terror their first two years in existence before changing the name to the Thunderbears...
. He ended his career as the All-Time tackles leader in Houston Thunderbears/Texas Terror team history with 129 total tackles. He also made a touchdown off an interception and off a missed field-goal attempt. The 1998 All-Arena First Team (WR/DB) honoree ended his AFL career with the 2001 Arena Bowl Champion Grand Rapids Rampage
Grand Rapids Rampage
The Grand Rapids Rampage was an Arena Football League team that began playing as a 1998 expansion team. They were coached by Steve Thonn.-History:...
He was a nominee for the AFL 15 year anniversary team as a WR/DB.].
Coaching career
Blackshear began his coaching career as a student asst. coach at Texas Tech in 2002 before being offered the offensive coordinator at Harvest Christian High School in Fort WorthFort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
during the 2003 season. He was then the offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the Rio Grande Valley Dorados
Rio Grande Valley Dorados
The Rio Grande Valley Dorados were a professional arena football team. They began play in 2004 as an expansion member of af2, the minor league to the Arena Football League...
before speanding a season as an WR Coach for the Houston Cougars
Houston Cougars football
The Houston Cougars football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents the University of Houston. The team is commonly referred to as "Houston" or "UH" . The UH football program is currently a member of the Conference USA intercollegiate athletic conference, and is coached by...
. He became the head coach of the Centex Barracudas of the Intense Football League in 2006 before leading the Lubbock Renegades
Lubbock Renegades
The Lubbock Renegades were an expansion member of the af2. The team played its home games at the City Bank Coliseum, which was the former home of the IFL/NIFL team, the Lubbock Lone Stars/Gunslingers. The team was owned by Doug McGregor, Rick Dykes, and Bart Reagor. It was coached by former Texas...
in 2007-2008. He coached the South Georgia Wildcats to an 11-5 record in 2009. Blackshear was coaching the Abilene Ruff Riders in the IFL after Head Coach Gerald Dockery was dismissed in April 2010 with a team record of 0-5. The team won their first game with Blackshear at the helm. Blackshear was named Head Coach of the Amarillo Venom of the IFL in November of 2010.