Today In Patriots History R.I.P. Sam Cunningham

[BadMoFo]

Patriots great and college football legend Sam Cunningham dies at 71

Sam Cunningham, who had a legendary college football career and played for the Patriots for a decade, has died at the age of 71.

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

 

[Zuma]

Oh damn...one of my all-times favorites. Very sorry to hear this...RIP.

 

[50-yard-line]

Patriots great and college football legend Sam Cunningham dies at 71

Sam Cunningham, who had a legendary college football career and played for the Patriots for a decade, has died at the age of 71.

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

Oh, ouch. I loved watching him vaulting the line. Fantastic player.

I didn't know about the integration angle of his performance against Bama...interesting.

 

[Kontradiction]

Before my time but I’ve seen plenty of stuff online. R.I.P.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

RIP Sam Bam

great back, the epitome of a big bruising back!

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

My very first favorite Patriot, to a 10-year-old me.

RIP, Sam

 

[Deus Irae]

This has not been a good week for this stuff.


RIP Sam

 

[italian pat patriot]

After David Patten now also Sam "Bam" Cunningham...

Another legend we lost...

One of the best of our playiers in the 70s...

Pity and sad 1976 team were unable to finish the job

Riposa in pace Sam Bam...

 

[XLIX]

These are the players that made the NFL the great product we enjoy today, often at great personal cost with little to no real reward. Very sad to hear of his passing.

 

[DaBruinz]

Got to meet Sam when I lived in Anaheim. He came to the ESPN "The Zone" and met the "Orange County Pats Fans".

R.I.P. Sam..

 

[Pape]

Rip to one the Patriot greats

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Nice interview separating legend from truth in that USC-Alabama game. The story really needs no embellishment.

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

 

[oldrover]

One of my favorite Patriots from the 70's. The battering ram of the unsung NE power running teams of the decade. God rest ye and keep ye, Sam, and thank you for the memories.

 

[Mack Herron]

I remember Sam Bam as an extremely athletic RB who was technically a FB in those days but could run, block and receive with no holes in his game. RIP Sam.

 

[Gwedd]

I remember Sam Bam as an extremely athletic RB who was technically a FB in those days but could run, block and receive with no holes in his game. RIP Sam.

Word.

 

[jlu52]

RIP, Sam. You were a valuable piece of some very good teams, and you were robbed at a chance for a Super Bowl. Rest in peace, sir.

 

[jimnance]

Sambam. That says it all.
3rd greatest rb in Patriots history after
Jim Nance and Corey Dillon. All 3 were bruisers who also had speed.
No shame in being #3- Pats have had some great rbs- I got Sam ahead of Cmart.( only counting Cmarts days in NE)

 

[Patriot Missile]

Didn’t know him, never watched him play live, but consider him a Legend due to taking my elders advise from the 60’s and 70’s players.

 

[scott99]

I’m heartbroken. I LOVED Sam The Ba Cunningham. He was a beast. Just an awesome Patriot, and the me of my favorites in my youth. I was 13 when I became a fan, and he was always one of my favorites. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

That pic of him in this thread is just vintage Cunningham, I want the exact jersey, but impossible to find.

Edit, some trivia, I believe Randal Cunningham is his cousin.

 

[patsfan13]

Very good Runner GREAT Blocker Protecting the QB and running the ball. Sam and Hannah leading the sweep was terrifying to defenders.