Tom Beckman
Encyclopedia
Thomas Clare Beckman is a former American football
player. He played college football
for the University of Michigan
from 1969 to 1971 under head coach Bo Schembechler
. He played professional football for the St. Louis Cardinals
in 1972 and for the Memphis Grizzlies of the World Football League
from 1974 to 1975.
, and raised in Chesaning, Michigan
. He starred in both basketball and football at Chesaning High School, graduating in 1968.
in 1968 on a football scholarship. After his freshman year, Michigan head coach Bump Elliott
retired and was replaced by Bo Schembechler
. Beckman played for Schembechler during his first three years as head coach. He later recalled the transition from Elliott to Schembechler as follows:
Beckman played for Schembechler from 1969 to 1971. During those seasons, the team finished with records of 8-3 (1969), 9-1 (1970), and 11-1 (1971). During the 1970 and 1971 seasons, Beckman became a starter at the end, linebacker
, and tackle
positions. In 1971, he accumulated 64 tackles, including 42 solo tackles.
in the third round (57th overall pick) of the 1972 NFL Draft
. During a 1972 pre-season game against the Buffalo Bills
, Beckman tore cartilage in his knee while trying to tackle O.J. Simpson. Beckman recalled, "Back then, they didn't have the scope (arthroscopic surgery), so they cut you open and it was major surgery." Beckman returned from the knee surgery to play in two games for the Cardinals during the 1972 NFL season
. Interviewed in 2008, Beckman questioned the wisdom of his decision to return to action so soon after the knee surgery: "After surgery, the doctor said do what you want. I was playing seven weeks later. Looking back, that was the wrong thing to do. I'm on tap for knee replacement because of it."
In 1973, Beckman was released by the Cardinals after breaking his foot in an exhibition game. The New Orleans Saints
acquired Beckman on waivers from the Cardinals in October 1973, but he failed the physical. A lawsuit was filed over Beckman's broken foot, which he later recalled as follows: "I signed with the Saints, but I failed the physical ... I had a broken foot. The Cardinals insisted that my foot was not broken. There was a lawsuit that was settled out court several years later."
He played for the Memphis Grizzlies in the World Football League
from 1974 to 1975. During a September 1975 game against Portland, Beckman recovered a fumble and returned it 57 yards to the one-yard line.
When the World Football League disbanded late in the 1975 season, Beckman retired from football.
In 2008, Beckman was inducted into the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame.
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 college football
College 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...
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 1969 to 1971 under head coach Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
. He played professional football for the St. Louis Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1972 and for the Memphis Grizzlies of the World Football League
World Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
from 1974 to 1975.
Early years
Beckman was born in Saginaw, MichiganSaginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
, and raised in Chesaning, Michigan
Chesaning, Michigan
Chesaning is a village in Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,548 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Chesaning Township.-History:...
. He starred in both basketball and football at Chesaning High School, graduating in 1968.
University of Michigan
Beckman enrolled at the University of MichiganUniversity 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 1968 on a football scholarship. After his freshman year, Michigan head coach Bump Elliott
Bump Elliott
Chalmers W. "Bump" Elliott is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played halfback at Purdue University and the University of Michigan...
retired and was replaced by Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
. Beckman played for Schembechler during his first three years as head coach. He later recalled the transition from Elliott to Schembechler as follows:
"I had no idea who the guy was. I found out in our first meeting. He was very intense with well-defined goals. My first impression was, 'We'll see.' ... He basically put us through hell during winter conditioning. I think he did that so that those without the want, ability or heart would leave."
Beckman played for Schembechler from 1969 to 1971. During those seasons, the team finished with records of 8-3 (1969), 9-1 (1970), and 11-1 (1971). During the 1970 and 1971 seasons, Beckman became a starter at the end, linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, and tackle
Tackle (American football)
Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions....
positions. In 1971, he accumulated 64 tackles, including 42 solo tackles.
Professional football
Beckman was drafted by the St. Louis CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third round (57th overall pick) of 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:...
. During a 1972 pre-season game against 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...
, Beckman tore cartilage in his knee while trying to tackle O.J. Simpson. Beckman recalled, "Back then, they didn't have the scope (arthroscopic surgery), so they cut you open and it was major surgery." Beckman returned from the knee surgery to play in two games for the Cardinals during the 1972 NFL season
1972 NFL season
The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to finish a championship season undefeated and untied when they beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII.-Major rule changes:...
. Interviewed in 2008, Beckman questioned the wisdom of his decision to return to action so soon after the knee surgery: "After surgery, the doctor said do what you want. I was playing seven weeks later. Looking back, that was the wrong thing to do. I'm on tap for knee replacement because of it."
In 1973, Beckman was released by the Cardinals after breaking his foot in an exhibition game. The New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
acquired Beckman on waivers from the Cardinals in October 1973, but he failed the physical. A lawsuit was filed over Beckman's broken foot, which he later recalled as follows: "I signed with the Saints, but I failed the physical ... I had a broken foot. The Cardinals insisted that my foot was not broken. There was a lawsuit that was settled out court several years later."
He played for the Memphis Grizzlies in the World Football League
World Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
from 1974 to 1975. During a September 1975 game against Portland, Beckman recovered a fumble and returned it 57 yards to the one-yard line.
When the World Football League disbanded late in the 1975 season, Beckman retired from football.
Later years
After retiring from football in 1975, Beckman worked for General Motors Corporation. He spent more than 30 years with GM. As of 2008, he was in charge of new vehicle launches for the company.In 2008, Beckman was inducted into the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame.