Travis Tidwell
Encyclopedia
Travis Vaughn Tidwell was a two-time All-America
quarterback
, who led Auburn
to one of their biggest upsets over arch-rival Alabama
.
to ever lead the nation in total offense, achieved that feat in 1946. He also led the nation in total offense in 1949 and was Auburn's total offense leader until Pat Sullivan
broke the record in 1971.
A quarterback in the T-formation
, Tidwell is perhaps best remembered as the Auburn quarterback who in 1949 engineered the Tigers to their first win over the Alabama Tide
in more than 40 years. The two teams had discontinued play in 1907 and did not resume the series until 1948. Alabama hammered Auburn 55-0 in 1948 as the series resumed and Auburn went into the 1949 contest a three-touchdown
underdog
. With Tidwell at quarterback, Auburn stunned the Tide 14-13.
In the 1949 game vs Mississippi State
, Tidwell ran over a defensive tackle by the name of Jerry Clower
, dragging him 27 yards and rendering him unconscious, all the while reportedly running backwards.
Tidwell was voted the SEC
MVP
in 1949. He was a charter member of the Mobile-based Senior Bowl Hall of Fame and inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
in 1975. He also played center field
on the Auburn baseball team which also featured 4-sport star Erk Russell
as first baseman
.
(7th pick overall) of the New York Giants
in 1950. He was the first NFL
first-round draft choice from Auburn University. In his rookie season the backup quarterback was put in a game with his team trailing Baltimore 20-0 and led the Giants to a 55-20 win. After two seasons with the Giants, Tidwell played several seasons with the Edmonton Tiger Cats in the Canadian Football League.
. After football, Tidwell went into the insurance business, and later into stocks and securities.
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...
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...
, who led Auburn
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
to one of their biggest upsets over arch-rival Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
.
College Football
Tidwell, one of only two freshmenFreshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
to ever lead the nation in total offense, achieved that feat in 1946. He also led the nation in total offense in 1949 and was Auburn's total offense leader until Pat Sullivan
Pat Sullivan (American football)
Patrick Joseph Sullivan is an American football coach and former player. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1971 playing quarterback for the Auburn Tigers and then played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. Sullivan is currently the head coach at Samford University...
broke the record in 1971.
A quarterback in the T-formation
T formation
In American football, a T formation is a formation used by the offensive team in which three running backs line up in a row about five yards behind the quarterback, forming the shape of a "T"....
, Tidwell is perhaps best remembered as the Auburn quarterback who in 1949 engineered the Tigers to their first win over the Alabama Tide
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
in more than 40 years. The two teams had discontinued play in 1907 and did not resume the series until 1948. Alabama hammered Auburn 55-0 in 1948 as the series resumed and Auburn went into the 1949 contest a three-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:...
underdog
Underdog (competition)
An underdog is a person or group in a competition, frequently in electoral politics, sports and creative works, who is popularly expected to lose. The party, team or individual expected to win is called the favorite or top dog. In the rare case where an underdog wins, the outcome is an upset. These...
. With Tidwell at quarterback, Auburn stunned the Tide 14-13.
In the 1949 game vs Mississippi State
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
, Tidwell ran over a defensive tackle by the name of Jerry Clower
Jerry Clower
Howard Gerald "Jerry" Clower was a popular country comedian best known for his stories of the rural South. He was often nicknamed "The Mouth of the South", although this title has also been used for other individuals.Clower began a 2-year stint in the Navy immediately after graduating high school...
, dragging him 27 yards and rendering him unconscious, all the while reportedly running backwards.
Tidwell was voted the 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...
MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
in 1949. He was a charter member of the Mobile-based Senior Bowl Hall of Fame and inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame is a state museum located in Birmingham, Alabama, dedicated to communicating the state’s athletic history...
in 1975. He also played center field
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
on the Auburn baseball team which also featured 4-sport star Erk Russell
Erk Russell
Erskine "Erk" Russell was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach in the United States. He was also the defensive coordinator for the University of Georgia Bulldogs for seventeen years and head football coach of the Georgia Southern Eagles...
as first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
.
NFL & CFL Career
Tidwell was a first-round draft choice1950 NFL Draft
The 1950 National Football League Draft was held on January 20–21, 1950.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
(7th pick overall) of the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1950. He was the first NFL
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...
first-round draft choice from Auburn University. In his rookie season the backup quarterback was put in a game with his team trailing Baltimore 20-0 and led the Giants to a 55-20 win. After two seasons with the Giants, Tidwell played several seasons with the Edmonton Tiger Cats in the Canadian Football League.
Life After Football
Tidwell married Juanita Dudley, and had two sons, Vaughn and Knox. Tidwell returned to Auburn and coached briefly under Ralph "Shug" JordanRalph Jordan
James Ralph "Shug" Jordan was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach of football and basketball. He served as the head football coach at Auburn from 1951 to 1975, where he compiled a record of 176–83–6. He is the winningest coach in Auburn Tigers football...
. After football, Tidwell went into the insurance business, and later into stocks and securities.