Today in Patriots History
More July 3rd Trivialities
Happy 58th birthday to Larry Williams
Born July 3, 1963 in Orange, California
Patriot RG, 1992; uniform #75
Signed as a free agent on April 1, 1992
The 6-5, 292 lb lineman was a 10th round pick by the Browns in 1985 out of Notre Dame, and he was Cleveland's starting left guard from 1986-88. At the age of 29 Williams appeared in 13 games with nine starts for the Pats, on that abysmal 2-14 **** MacPherson team that didn't win until Dante Scarnecchia took over on an interim basis. Williams retired from pro football in 1993 as a member of the Patriots, and after that '92 season I can understand why.
In his post-football career Larry worked for six years as a lawyer, and then the two-time All-American returned to the collegiate scene. From 2004 to 2011 he was the athletic director at the University of Portland. In 2011 Williams became the athletic director at Marquette University, and in 2015 he took over the same position at Akron University before retiring four months ago.
Dec 5, 2011:
Marquette University on Monday named Larry Williams as its new athletic director. Williams, 48, a former two-time All-American offensive lineman at Notre Dame, has been the director of athletics and recreation at the University of Portland since 2004.
archive.jsonline.com
Dec 14, 2013:
Didn't see that one coming, did you? As Marquette looks for a new president, they will also be looking for a new athletic director.
www.anonymouseagle.com
March 3, 2013:
AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron Director of Athletics Larry Williams announced today he would not seek an extension of his contract with the Univer...
gozips.com
Happy 54th birthday to Todd Jones
Born July 3, 1967 in Hope, Arkansas
Patriot OT, 1963; uniform #63
Claimed off waivers from Dallas on August 31, 1993
I really don't know much of anything about this guy. Searches for Todd Jones are cluttered with news about a former ATF employee by the same name that went to work for the NFL league offices as the chief disciplinary officer. Our Todd A. Jones was an All-American in 1991 at Henderson State, and played in four games for Bill Parcells and the Patriots in 1993 - which was an odd season based on the fact that the Patriots had
two bye weeks. Those were the only games he made it onto the field, though he was with the Browns, Cowboys, Patriots, Broncos and Cardinals at various points from 1991 to 1995.
Happy 74th birthday to Claxton Welch
Born July 3, 1947 in Portland, Oregon
Patriot RB, 1973; uniform #43
Claimed off waivers from Kansas City on October 24, 1973
Claxton Welch appeared in a pair of November 1973 games for the Pats, and had six receptions against the Jets in his only NFL start. He had previously been with Dallas and played on special teams in seven postseason games with the Cowboys, earning a ring from Super Bowl VI.
Aug 29, 2018:
BY DAVID BALL/PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP/Former David Douglas Scots running back had his best day as pro in 1970 NFC title game
pamplinmedia.com
Welch made brief stops in New Orleans, Kansas City and New England before a series of knee operations brought his NFL career to a close. He enrolled at Seattle University, where he earned a masters in English and went on to a career in insurance and financial advising with Coldwell Banker.
Happy 81st birthday to Chuck Sieminski
Born July 3, 1940 in Swoyersville, PA
Pats 14th round (110th overall) pick of the 1962 AFL draft, from Penn State
The Pats took a flyer on the defensive tackle, who was also drafted by the 49ers in the fourth round of the '62 NFL draft. Sieminski chose to sign with the Niners, and played six years in the NFL with San Francisco, Atlanta and Detroit.
Nov 4, 2004:
Chuck Sieminski was a two-way tackle for the Nittany Lions, earning letters from 1960-62 under Engle. From Swoyersville, Pa., he earned second team All-America honors in 1962 and in '67 was selected to the All-Time Penn State Team by the Pittsburgh Press. Recognized as a strong blocker and tackler, Sieminski earned his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1962. He played in the 1963 Senior Bowl.
Sieminski was drafted in the fourth round by the National Football League's San Francisco 49ers. He played defensive tackle for six years in the NFL with San Francisco, Atlanta and Detroit before starting a career as a high school teacher in Mountain Top, Pa.
July 3, 2003:
Pats sign center
Bill Conaty for offensive line depth. The graduate of Milford (CT) Academy had been with the Bills for the previous six seasons, but was placed on injured reserve on August 26 and never did play for the Pats.
Conaty should add depth to Pats o-line | espn
In an effort to bolster the depth of their interior offensive line, the Patriots signed former Buffalo Bills center Bill Conaty on Thursday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
www.patriots.com
July 3, 2002:
Safety
Tony Scott is claimed off waivers from the Jets. The special teamer/backup was waived at the end of training camp.
After released by Jets, Scott lands with Pats | espn
Check with Tony Scott’s teammates at Burns High or N.C. State, and you’ll get some of the same comments. They’ll mention his energy, enthusiasm and drive to succeed. Those characteristics, as well …
www.shelbystar.com
July 3, 1986:
Following a Pro Bowl season in which he had seven picks and an NFL-best 189 yards on those interception returns, the Patriots re-sign free safety
Fred Marion. The native of Gainesville, Florida played in 144 games for the Pats from 1982-1991, and ranks third in franchise history with 29 career interceptions.
When Fred Marion reflects on some of the games that stand out most from his time with the Patriots (1982-1991), he finds himself back in the locker room at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium.
www.espn.com
July 3, 1964:
The Boston Patriots trade fullback
Billy Lott to Denver for an undisclosed draft pick. In college Lott was on the Ole Miss that crushed the Texas Longhorns 39-7 in the Sugar Bowl; he came to the Patriots along with
Babe Parilli in the lopsided 1961 trade that sent
Alan Miller,
Hal Smith and
**** Christy to Oakland. Lott averaged 4.6 yards per carry that season, but was never the same after a knee injury in '62.
Who was Billy Lott? | Tales from the American Football League
Other pro football players born on this date with a New England area connection:
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Jack Hagerty (1903-1982); this native Bostonian went to Dorchester High School. He was a RB/QB/PR with the Giants from 1926-32, then became head coach at Georgetown, once winning 23 straight games. After coaching for 16 years he became the Hoyas' athletic director until retiring in 1969.
Jack Hagerty, Retired Coach, Athletic Director at GU, Dies | Washington Post
repository.library.georgetown.edu
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Jordan Reed, 31 (7/3/90); a graduate of New London High School in Connecticut before proceeding to the University of Florida. A third round pick in the 2013 draft, the tight end had 11 touchdowns in 2011, and had 355 receptions and 28 TDs in his NFL career.
Tight end Jordan Reed, who had an injury-filled career, told ESPN he's retiring from the NFL due to lingering issues from multiple concussions.
www.espn.com
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Cameron Brate, 30 (7/3/91); the Harvard grad scored 20 touchdowns from 2016-18 for Tampa Bay, and earned a super bowl ring with the Bucs last year.
Buccaneers' Cameron Brate: Will share TE targets with first-rounder
www.cbssports.com
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Ray MacMurray (1889-1996); guard from Dartmouth class of 1917 played for the 1921 Muncie Flyers.
Raymond MacMurray | Dartmouth Sports
And some notable pro football players born on July 3rd:
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Jethro Pugh (1944-2015); fearsome Dallas Cowboy DT from 1965 to 1978 played in 23 playoff games, an amazing number for back in those days.
The Black College Football Hall of Fame was founded in 2009 to honor the greatest players, coaches and contributors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
www.blackcollegefootballhof.org
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Neil O'Donnell, 55 (7/3/66); despite throwing three picks in Pittsburgh's Super Bowl 30 loss to Dallas, the Jets couldn't help but Jete, and immediately signed the QB to what was then a mega-contract a month later in 1996. O'Donnell proceeded to go 0-6 in his first six games with Gang Green, then missed time with a separated shoulder, and for the trifecta was out for the rest of the season due to a torn calf muscle.
www.nytimes.com
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Manny Fernandez, 75 (7/3/46); the defensive tackle went to three super bowl games with the Dolphins from 1968-75, winning two rings.
Manny Fernandez was a stalwart for the Dolphins defense for eight seasons, centering the defensive line for the 'No-Name" squad.
www.thephinsider.com
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Grant Wistrom, 45 (7/3/76); Rams DE may have been on the losing end in Super Bowl 36, but he did receive four championship rings: three with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and one with St. Louis in SB 34.
Former Webb City, Nebraska star helped Rams to a storybook season, Super Bowl victory in his second NFL season
www.news-leader.com
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Paul Naumoff (1945-2018); the linebacker was famous for an under-the-chin tackle of Syracuse’s Larry Czonka in the 1966 Gator Bowl, and once played in 142 consecutive games for the Lions - and missed only two games over twelve seasons with Detroit.
Updated 5 p.m. 8/18 Paul Naumoff, one of the legendary hitters in Tennessee football history, has died at age 73. The all-American linebacker, longtime resident of Lenoir City, was famous for an under-the-chin tackle of Syracuse’s Larry Czonka in the 1966 Gator Bowl and for 142 consecutive games...
www.knoxtntoday.com
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Manny Lawson, 37 (7/3/84); OLB had twelve sacks, 172 tackles and six forced fumbles for the 49ers from 2008 to 2010.
One of the main chess pieces in Rex Ryan’s defense is veteran linebacker Manny Lawson, who’s seen plenty in his 10-year career. In this week’s Getting to Know, Lawson explains
buffalonews.com
The Buffalo Bills confirmed that linebacker Manny Lawson is the subject of a league investigation.
www.upi.com
deadspin.com
