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Today in Patriots History
Lin Dawson
Lin Dawson
Happy 65th birthday to Lin Dawson
Born June 24, 1959 in Norfolk, Virginia
Patriot TE, 1981-1990; uniform #87
Pats 8th round (212th overall) pick of the 1981 draft, from North Carolina State
James Linwood Dawson was drafted after Russ Francis abruptly retired following the 1980 season. He saw little playing time as a rookie when Don Hasselbeck became the starter, but had an equal share of playing time and receptions with Hasselbeck in the strike-shortened '82 season. Ron Meyer felt confident enough in Dawson's performance to make him the starter in 1983, trading Hasselbeck to the Raiders.
Dawson's best year from an offensive production standpoint was in 1984 when he was third on the team with 39 receptions, with four touchdowns and 427 receiving yards. Unfortunately Dawson sustained a ruptured tendon in his left knee on the first play of Super Bowl 20; the freak injury caused him to miss the entire 1986 season. He also missed the first month of the 1988 season due to a hamstring injury. Then after a two-touchdown game against the Bears, Dawson suffered a broken ankle the next week against Miami.
Over the course of his career Dawson played in 105 games with 75 starts, with eight touchdowns. He also appeared in five playoff games for the Pats and had a 13-yard touchdown against the Raiders in the '85-86 playoffs. Lin Dawson is the tight end on the Patriots all-decade team for the eighties. He has since earned his PhD, taught MBA-level classes, and has performed quite well as an academic administrator.
April 29, 1981:
**** Steinberg post-draft assessment
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/0...Patriots-designated-draft-czar/3283753600014/
Steinberg, who ran the draft show at Schaefer Stadium Tuesday and Wednesday, labeled the Patriots' draft as a '7' on a scale of 1-to-10. New England failed to get a blue chip defensive lineman but did upgrade their team at several positions, most noticeably on the offensive line.
The Patriots spent the second day doing what most teams do -- picking players who can add some backup support. They chose a punter for the third straight year -- Ken Naber of Stanford -- who promises to give Mike Hubach a battle for his job.
Their other Wednesday picks were wide receiver Ken Toler of Mississippi, tight end Lin Dawson of North Carolina State, quarterback Brian Buckley of Harvard, and Cris Crissy of Princeton, a receiver-slotback projected as a safety.
'Every player we drafted should play in the NFL, but not necessarily with the Patriots,' Steinberg said. 'The thing that really hurt us was not having a third-round choice. We filled a glaring need in the offensive line, added a running back and depth in special teams, and we strengthened our linebacking and defensive-line corps even though we didn't get a good pass-rusher.'
Coach Ron Erhardt said that he thought the team he takes to camp this summer will be better than last year's -- if all the un-signed players (Horace Ivory, Rod Shoate, Don Hasselbeck are the biggies) have come to terms.
When asked about the team's prospects, Erhardt cracked, 'Anything over .500 is a super job of coaching.'
Aug 25, 1981:
Training Camp Notes
OILERS KEEP STABLER ON ROSTER (Published 1981)
www.nytimes.com
Terry Nelson, a former star with the Los Angeles Rams, was among 10 players dropped by the New England Patriots. Nelson, a tight end who was released by the Rams before training camp, was signed by the Patriots shortly after Russ Francis, one of the league's best tight ends, decided to retire. But last year's backup, Don Hasselbeck, recently ended a contract holdout and reported to the team, and Lin Dawson, a 1981 draft choice, has apparently won a roster spot.
Jan 27, 1986:
New England Patriots tight end Lin Dawson…
New England Patriots tight end Lin Dawson sustained a ruptured tendon in his left knee on the first play and was lost for the rest of the game. He was carried from the field on a stretcher. The Patriots went to reserve tight end Derrick…
www.orlandosentinel.com
New England Patriots tight end Lin Dawson sustained a ruptured tendon in his left knee on the first play and was lost for the rest of the game. He was carried from the field on a stretcher. The Patriots went to reserve tight end Derrick Ramsey.
Nov 12, 2008:
Former NFL player J. Lin Dawson new A.D. at Grambling
Former NFL player J. Lin Dawson was hired Wednesday as athletic director for Grambling State.
www.ksla.com
Former NFL player J. Lin Dawson was hired Wednesday as athletic director for Grambling State.
He takes over an athletic department that fields 18 varsity programs and competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
June 29, 2011:
Grambling Athletic Director Lin Dawson resigns
J. Lin Dawson has resigned his post as athletic director of the Grambling St Tigers.
www.ksla.com
Nov 18, 2015:
CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY NAMES LIN DAWSON ATHLETICS DIRECTOR - Clark Atlanta University Athletics
ATLANTA, Ga. - Clark Atlanta University (CAU) President Ronald A. Johnson today announced the appointment of J. Lin Dawson as the institution's new Athletics Director,
clarkatlantasports.com
The former New England Patriot brings more than 20 years of administrative, academic and entrepreneurial experience to the CAU program. Dawson comes to Clark Atlanta from Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, N.C., where he has served as interim director of Athletics since 2013. In this new role, he will oversee the University's NCAA Division II athletic program compliance, budgeting, operations, advancement, student-athlete recruitment and professional staffing and development. He also will serve as a member of the President's Executive Cabinet.
Dawson attended North Carolina State University and earned the B.S. degree in speech and communications from Northeastern University in Boston, Mass. He completed the MBA degree in human resource management/learning and knowledge management from Walden University in 1993, and is presently a Ph.D. student in Regent University's School of Business and Leadership's organizational leadership program.
Dawson's reputation as an efficient program builder is well-deserved. While director of athletics at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) (2000-2003), he initiated the Life Skills Program for student-athletes, increased athletic scholarships by 40 percent, eliminated a previous administration's budget deficit and maintained the conference's best corporate partnership program. As Grambling State University's (GSU) athletics director and special assistant to the president (2008-2011), he was awarded the Commissioner's Cup for having the best athletic program in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in 2010 and increased corporate sponsorship revenues by 400 percent. His teams won several conference championships, including National Black Champions in Football (2009). He also initiated a new fundraising program resulting in increased alumni and fan support, and he created the Port City Football Classic, which produced net revenues of $700,000 in its first year. His leadership experience also includes service as associate athletics director at VCU (2005-2006) and associate director of training and education at Northeastern University (1991-1994).
As a former student-athlete for the NC State Wolfpack, Dawson was a four-year starter and member of the 1979 ACC Championship Team. His many awards include commendations from: The White House, the Anti-Defamation League, National Football League, NCAA Division IA Athletic Directors Association, The Peter F. Drucker Foundation, The Boston Herald American and the National Consortium for Academics and Sports.
An ordained minister, Dawson and his wife of 30 years, Margo, have three adult children.
Feb 4, 2019:
CAU AD J Lin Dawson Remembers His Super Bowl As a New England Patriot - Clark Atlanta University Athletics
Clark Atlanta Athletic Director remembers when he played in Super Bowl XX for the first New England Patriots team to play in the big game.
clarkatlantasports.com
Thirty-three years ago, Lin Dawson woke up the morning after Super Bowl XX unhappy, but not looking towards the future.
Dawson was a star tight end on a New England Patriots team that was making their first-ever Super Bowl appearance in 1986 when they faced the Chicago Bears – the shuffling crew led by Walter Payton, William "Refrigerator" Perry and a host of other personalities.
But after being the first team to win three straight playoff games on the road to Super Bowl, his Patriots fell that day in New Orleans to Chicago 46-10.
"It's kind of numbing," said Dawson, now the athletic director at Clark Atlanta University where his office is less than a mile away from the site of this year's Super Bowl in Atlanta.
"They had big parties scheduled for you and you don't go. I certainly didn't go. I hurt my knee during the game so I went back to my room and iced, ordered room service and visited with my family. And that was it. Some guys went out and partied, others went out to the big shin-dig they had prepared for us. I certainly wasn't in the mood for that.
"I had to learn though….you have got to move on," Dawson said. "When you have family who drove 17 hours or so to be there, you cannot be selfish and not entertain them or not want to be with them because you lost. You have to put that behind you as a professional, at least after the game, to be able to entertain the people who came to see you."
Still, the Super Bowl experience was something very special, Dawson said. Especially in a place like New Orleans where tons of fans and media flooded the scene that week 33 years ago.
The Bears had gone 15-1 that season, had several future Hall of Famers on their team. The Patriots were making their first ever appearance in the Super Bowl. And, well, it was the Super Bowl. In New Orleans.
Dec 14, 2019:
CAU Athletic Director J Lin Dawson Is Now Doctor Dawson - Clark Atlanta University Athletics
Clark Atlanta Athletic Director J Lin Dawson has added another title to his long list of accolades - doctor.
clarkatlantasports.com
Clark Atlanta University Athletic Director J Lin Dawson has had many titles in his career – professional football player, athletic director, consultant, minister, even drummer.
But it's his newest one that he has become most proud of – doctor.
Dawson completed the doctoral program at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., this past summer and earned a doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership.
April 27, 2022:
Saint Augustine’s University Appoints Former NFL Standout as Dean of Exercise Science and Collegiate Athletics - Saint Augustine's University
Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) appoints Dr. J. Lin Dawson as its Dean of Exercise Science and Collegiate Athletics. In this role, Dr. Dawson will use his 30 years of experience in collegiate athletics to advance the student experience in exercise science at Saint Augustine’s University...
www.st-aug.edu
Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) appoints Dr. J. Lin Dawson as its Dean of Exercise Science and Collegiate Athletics.
In this role, Dr. Dawson will use his 30 years of experience in collegiate athletics to advance the student experience in exercise science at Saint Augustine’s University.
Dr. Dawson previously served as the Director of Athletics at Clark Atlanta University. In this role, he was pivotal — leading a $2.4 million athletics facilities enhancement and growing scholarships from 52 to 82.
While at Clark Atlanta University, Dawson also improved student academic performance. Under his leadership, 84% of student-athletes held a 3.0 GPA or better, and academic success ratings increased from 41% to 74%.
Dr. Dawson’s career has also allowed him to serve as a champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Following his career with the National Football League (NFL), Dr. Dawson assisted the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Soccer in launching diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Dr. Dawson had a four-year career at North Carolina State University. The NFL’s New England Patriots then drafted him. Dr. Dawson would play ten seasons with them and contribute to the Team’s 1986 AFC Championship and Super Bowl XX appearances. In addition, the New England Patriots voted him to their Team of the ’80s.
April 19, 2024:
Saint Augustine's University will only suspend football
Stay informed on the changes happening at Saint Augustine's University. Find out which sports teams will be returning next season.
hbcugameday.com
Dr. J Lin Dawson, SAU Director of Athletics, released a statement that the department would be fielding teams in 11 sports next year.
“The only sport that we are going to suspend is going to be football,” he told CBS17.
Saint Augustine’s University is facing a huge financial crisis thanks largely to a multi-million dollar tax lien and two years of not paying creditors, along with an accreditation loss.
