Today In Patriots History August 15: Sam Cunningham

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Sam Bam Cunningham​

In memory of Sam Cunningham, who would have turned 74 today
Born Aug 15, 1950 in Santa Barbara, California
Died September 7, 2021 at the age of 71 in Inglewood, California
Patriot RB, 1973-1982; uniform #39
Pats 1st round (11th overall) selection of the 1973 draft, from Southern Cal

Sam 'Bam' Cunningham played in 107 games for the Pats. He is the franchise's all-time leading rusher with 5,453 yards, and his 43 rushing touchdowns rank second in team history. He also had 210 receptions; overall Cunningham had 7,358 yards from scrimmage and 49 touchdowns. Sam was the club's leading rusher when the Patriots set the NFL record for most rushing yards in a season with 3,165 yards in 1978.

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Sam Cunningham is a member of the Pats All-Decade Team of the 1970s, the 35th Anniversary Team, and the Patriots 50th Anniversary Team. He was enshrined into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2010.

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In 1970 Sam Cunningham was in a USC backfield along with QB Jimmy Jones, and future Oakland Raider RB Clarence Davis. Collectively they were the first collegiate all-black backfield. On September 12, 1970 USC went on the road to play Alabama in Birmingham for an early season east-west showdown between traditional college football powerhouses.

Cunningham ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns on just twelve carries as USC trounced all-white 'Bama 42-21. That color barrier changed immediately. An assistant to head coach Bear Bryant later said that "Sam Cunningham did more to integrate Alabama in 60 minutes than Martin Luther King did in 20 years". USC went on to win the national Championship two years later, with Cunningham earning All-American honors.

Separated from the myths, Sam Cunningham's story remains an inspiration

Several years after Sam “Bam” Cunningham helped an integrated USC football team whup an all-white Alabama team in 1970, Cunningham traveled to Montgomery, Ala., for a golf tournament.

www.latimes.com

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More than 50 years later, Sam 'Bam' Cunningham reflects on historic USC-Alabama game

You can listen to the conversation on the latest episode of "Do Your Part," an official Patriots podcast.

www.patriots.com

Sam 'Bam' Cunningham is Pats' newest Hall of Famer

Fans selected fullback Sam Cunningham for enshrinement into the Patriots Hall of Fame this year.

www.boston.com

Sam Cunningham | The Patriots Hall of Fame

www.patriotshalloffame.com

Sam Cunningham (2010) - Hall of Fame - National Football Foundation

footballfoundation.org

Patriots Great Sam “Bam” Cunningham Dies at 71 Was One-of-a-Kind | PatsFans.com

" As a Patriots HOFer, Sam's legacy and contributions will be preserved and celebrated forever, but today his loss is felt with heavy hearts."

www.patsfans.com

Sam Cunningham Dies at 71; Fostered Integration on the Football Field (Published 2021)

As one of three Black players in the U.S.C. backfield, he led the team to a stunning win in 1970 over Coach Bear Bryant’s all-white Alabama. He would go on to star for the New England Patriots.

www.nytimes.com

Sam Cunningham (1992) - Rose Bowl Hall of Fame - Tournament of Roses - Rose Bowl Game

Sam Cunningham, Class: Induction: 1992 Sport(s): USC - 1973 Rose Bowl Game 1992 Inductee During his three years with the University of Southern California,

rosebowlgame.com

Sam Cunningham, USC football great who became New England Patriots' all-time leading rusher, dies at 71

USC football great Sam "Bam" Cunningham, who went on to become the New England Patriots' all-time leading rusher, died Tuesday in Inglewood, California. He was 71.

www.espn.com

 

[Clonamery]

Always Sam the Bam Cunningham.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The first game at Schaefer Stadium​

Sunday, August 15, 1971 at 8:00 pm: The Patriots made their debut at Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro. Gino Cappelletti kicked a 36-yard FG for the first points scored in the stadium as the Patriots defeated the Giants 20-14 before 60,423 fans.

The game is more well known for causing the largest non-weather related traffic jam in American history. It was a nightmare for fans driving to the stadium that evening. Thousands were late due to a horrific traffic jam on Route 1; thousands more never got into the game at all. Some of those that did gain entrance were unable to exit after the game until 3 am.

It was also Gino Cappelletti's last game as a player. He kicked the first field goal in the stadium's history and was released the following week.

It was 43 years ago tonight ...

It was a Sunday night -- Aug. 15, 1971 -- when our lives changed in this corner of southeastern Massachusetts.

www.thesunchronicle.com

50 years ago, opening night for the new Patriots stadium was a nightmare - The Boston Globe

A massive traffic jam and a plumbing disaster helped usher in a new era in New England pro football.

www.bostonglobe.com

PATRIOTS DEFEAT GIANTS, 20 T0 14, IN NEW STADIUM (Published 1971)

Schaefer Stadium formally opens, Foxboro, Mass, with NFL pre-season game between New England and NY Giants

www.nytimes.com

Foxboro Stadium History - 1971

In many ways, 1971 was a season of new beginnings for the Patriots. For starters, since the team was no longer playing in Boston, it decided to adopt a new name.

www.patriots.com

Memories-Stories from Schaefer-Sullivan-Foxboro Stadium

i would like to hear from you some stories-memories-facts you remember about the past at the 'old stadium'... thanks a lot !

www.patsfans.com

Article clipped from The Boston Globe

Clipping found in The Boston Globe published in Boston, Massachusetts on 8/16/1971.

bostonglobe.newspapers.com

EDITORIAL: Salute to Patriots and their owners

What a difference three decades make.

www.thesunchronicle.com

FROZEN IN TIME

Some say the best place to start is with the Great Super Flush. And, by the way, the fact that a stadium’s history is so identified by a massive flushing of toilets should tell you something about the home of the New England…

www.sun-sentinel.com

Memories Of The 60's,70's and 80's

Italian Pat Patriot had an idea to start a thread were everyone can participate in and share their memories of some forgotten incidents in the colorful History of Our New England Patriots.I am going to start this thread with a very colorful event.The time machine comes to a stop on a very...

www.patsfans.com

 

[jmt57]

Always Sam the Bam Cunningham.

I definitely remember Howard Cosell referring to him as "Sam the Bam" Cunningham.

But I recall him being called "Sam Bam" by all the Patriots fans, my friends and radio announcers, no?

It's been awhile, am I misremembering?

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Three Games To Glory​

August 15, 2002:
"3 Games To Glory: Patriots Post Season 2002" is released by NFL Films.

Relives the Patriots amazing run through the 2001 Playoffs and includes their monumental upset over the heavily favorite St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl 36.​

Who in 2002 would have ever guessed there would be so many sequels to this movie?


Three years ago the price on Amazon was $189 new, and $59 used.
Now you can buy a copy for $40.32 and up new, or as low as $13.97 used.
Amazon.com





There are also these from the 2001 season:

Super Bowl XXXVI , New England Patriots vs St Louis Rams [1:03:20]



Patriots Top Plays from the 2001 AFC Championship Game | Throwback (Patriots.com) [7:03]


2001 AFC Championship Game: Patriots @ Steelers [Full Game - 2:26:46]


Patriots Top Plays from the 2001 Snow Bowl | Throwback (Patriots.com) [6:01]


2001 AFC Divisional Round: Raiders vs. Patriots | "Tuck Rule Game" | NFL Full Game (NFL.com) [2:24:19]
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[State]

Sam the Bam Cunningham was the first player to do that thing where near the goal line the RB receives the handoff and dives over the pile to score.