Tommy Hodson
Encyclopedia
Thomas Paul Hodson was an American football
quarterback
for the LSU Tigers
and the National Football League
.
. He was the quarterback at Central Lafourche High School, where he passed for 4,361 yards and 36 touchdowns. He also played basketball, averaged 27.4 points per game.
. As quarterback for LSU's football team
, Hodson led LSU to two SEC
Championships, first as a freshman (1986) and then as a junior (1988). During his 44 regular season games at LSU (1986–1989), Hodson passed for 9,115 yards and 69 touchdowns, becoming the first quarterback in SEC
history to surpass 8,000 career passing yards, and the first quarterback in SEC
history to surpass 60 career passing touchdowns. Hodson passed for over 2,000 yards during each of his four seasons at LSU, becoming the 3rd player in NCAA
history to achieve that feat. During his freshman season, Hodson was voted to the first team All-SEC Team, becoming the first LSU quarterback to awarded that honor since the legendary Bert Jones
(first team All-SEC Team, 1972). Hodson would go on to be selected to the first team of the All-SEC Team during each of his four seasons at LSU, becoming the only player in LSU history to achieve that feat.
During Hodson's freshman season (1986), he led LSU to its first AP Top 10 finish since 1970 and its first SEC Championship since 1970. In Hodson's first game, he led #14 LSU to a 35-17 victory over #7 Texas A&M
(televised by ESPN
). Later in the season, Hodson led #18 LSU to a 14-10 victory at #6 Alabama (televised by ESPN).
During Hodson's sophomore season (1987), he led LSU to its first AP Top 5 finish since 1961. Major victories included #6 LSU's 17-3 victory at #15 Texas A&M (televised by ESPN), #9 LSU's 34-9 victory at Tennessee
(televised by TBS, it was LSU's first win ever at Neyland Stadium
), #4 LSU's 13-13 tie with #7 Ohio State
(televised by CBS
), #7 LSU's 13-10 victory over #19 Florida
(televised by ESPN), #7 LSU's 26-23 victory at #16 Georgia
(televised by ESPN), and #7 LSU's 30-13 victory over #8 South Carolina in the Gator Bowl
(televised by CBS).
During Hodson's junior season (1988), he led LSU to another SEC Championship, and a #19 finish in the AP Poll. Major victories included #18 LSU's 27-0 victory over #10 Texas A&M, LSU's 7-6 victory over #4 Auburn (the famous Earthquake Game
), and #13 LSU's 19-18 victory at #18 Alabama. Also, during this 1988 season, many fans were perplexed that Hodson would be dating an Ole Miss cheerleader (See Diana Smith).
by the New England Patriots
. He started the last 6 games of his rookie season, passing for 968 yards. However, during Hodson's next two seasons with the Patriots, he was only allowed 68 passing attempts in 1991 and 91 passing attempts in 1992. From 1993 to 1996, Hodson served as a back-up for the Miami Dolphins
, the Dallas Cowboys
, and the New Orleans Saints
, but saw no playing time except for 5 passing attempts in 1995 for the Saints.
is "a good place to raise a family.”
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...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the LSU Tigers
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
and 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...
.
Early life
Hodson was born in a small town in Lafourche ParishLafourche Parish, Louisiana
Lafourche Parish is a parish located in the south of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It was originally the northern part of Lafourche Interior Parish, which consisted of the present parishes of Lafourche and Terrebonne. The parish seat is Thibodaux...
. He was the quarterback at Central Lafourche High School, where he passed for 4,361 yards and 36 touchdowns. He also played basketball, averaged 27.4 points per game.
College
In 1986, Hodson went to the Louisiana State University (LSU)Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
. As quarterback for LSU's football team
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
, Hodson led LSU to two SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Championships, first as a freshman (1986) and then as a junior (1988). During his 44 regular season games at LSU (1986–1989), Hodson passed for 9,115 yards and 69 touchdowns, becoming the first quarterback in SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
history to surpass 8,000 career passing yards, and the first quarterback in SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
history to surpass 60 career passing touchdowns. Hodson passed for over 2,000 yards during each of his four seasons at LSU, becoming the 3rd player in NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
history to achieve that feat. During his freshman season, Hodson was voted to the first team All-SEC Team, becoming the first LSU quarterback to awarded that honor since the legendary Bert Jones
Bert Jones
Bertram Hays "Bert" Jones is a former LSU and NFL quarterback who played for the then Baltimore Colts and, briefly, the Los Angeles Rams. At Ruston High School, he was given the nickname, "The Ruston Rifle"...
(first team All-SEC Team, 1972). Hodson would go on to be selected to the first team of the All-SEC Team during each of his four seasons at LSU, becoming the only player in LSU history to achieve that feat.
During Hodson's freshman season (1986), he led LSU to its first AP Top 10 finish since 1970 and its first SEC Championship since 1970. In Hodson's first game, he led #14 LSU to a 35-17 victory over #7 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...
(televised by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
). Later in the season, Hodson led #18 LSU to a 14-10 victory at #6 Alabama (televised by ESPN).
During Hodson's sophomore season (1987), he led LSU to its first AP Top 5 finish since 1961. Major victories included #6 LSU's 17-3 victory at #15 Texas A&M (televised by ESPN), #9 LSU's 34-9 victory at Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
(televised by TBS, it was LSU's first win ever at Neyland Stadium
Neyland Stadium
Neyland Stadium is a sports stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. It serves primarily as the home of the Tennessee Volunteers football team, but is also used to host large conventions and has been a site for several NFL exhibition games. The stadium's official capacity is 102,455...
), #4 LSU's 13-13 tie with #7 Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
(televised by CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
), #7 LSU's 13-10 victory over #19 Florida
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
(televised by ESPN), #7 LSU's 26-23 victory at #16 Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
(televised by ESPN), and #7 LSU's 30-13 victory over #8 South Carolina in the Gator Bowl
Gator Bowl
The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally...
(televised by CBS).
During Hodson's junior season (1988), he led LSU to another SEC Championship, and a #19 finish in the AP Poll. Major victories included #18 LSU's 27-0 victory over #10 Texas A&M, LSU's 7-6 victory over #4 Auburn (the famous Earthquake Game
Earthquake Game
The Earthquake Game is the name given to a famous college football game played in front of a crowd of 79,431 at Louisiana State University's Tiger Stadium on October 8, 1988....
), and #13 LSU's 19-18 victory at #18 Alabama. Also, during this 1988 season, many fans were perplexed that Hodson would be dating an Ole Miss cheerleader (See Diana Smith).
NFL
Hodson was selected 59th overall in the 1990 NFL Draft1990 NFL Draft
The 1990 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1990...
by the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. He started the last 6 games of his rookie season, passing for 968 yards. However, during Hodson's next two seasons with the Patriots, he was only allowed 68 passing attempts in 1991 and 91 passing attempts in 1992. From 1993 to 1996, Hodson served as a back-up for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 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...
, and 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 ....
, but saw no playing time except for 5 passing attempts in 1995 for the Saints.
Later life
On February 2, 2005, the Boston Globe wrote a feature checking up on the former Patriot quarterback. In the article, the Globe quotes Hodson as saying: "Although I didn’t have great success as a professional I played six years and it was a great honor to play in the NFL. I am grateful I was able to play six years.” The Globe reported that Hodson lives in Baton Rouge with his wife and his 10-year-old identical twin daughters, and quoted Hodson as saying that he lives in Baton Rouge because he has "fond memories" at LSU and because Baton RougeBaton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
is "a good place to raise a family.”