Richard Byas Jr.

Richard Byas Jr.

Richard Reese Byas, Jr. (born 1950-10-19 in Detroit, Michigan) is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League.

Early years

Byas, a 1970 graduate of Mackenzie High School is known for his football and track and field prowess at Detroit’s Wayne State University

During a stellar football career at Mackenzie, Byas led the defensive squad through two undefeated campaigns in 1967 and 1969. So stingy was the 1967 Stag defense, that Mackenzie's opponents scored only two points during the entire teacher strike-shortened season.

Upon graduation in 1970, Byas brought his football and track talents to Eastern Michigan University. After one year with the Hurons, Byas transferred to Wayne State; during three seasons at WSU, Byas set or tied eight career, single season, and single game football records. In 1973, Byas established WSU single season records for kickoff returns, kickoff return yardage, punt returns, and punt return yardage. Byas also set career records for punt return yardage, kickoff return yardage, and kickoff returns.

Primarily a sprinter and long jumper during his collegiate track and field career; Byas captained the track and football team during his senior year. Richard Byas Jr. received his bachelors degree in Education from Wayne State in 1974; the same year he was signed as a free agent by the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.

NFL career

Through seven full seasons with the Falcons, as a defensive back and kickoff return specialist, Byas played in 103 games and produced six career interceptions for 193 yards and one touchdown. Byas also totaled 23 career kickoff returns for 519 yards and a 22.6 yard average; he forced several blocked punts that resulted in Atlanta touchdowns and, on eight occasions, Byas was awarded the game ball by his teammates.

1977 was arguably his best season as a pro; Byas intercepted three passes for 122 yards, including one interception resulting in the lone touchdown of his career - a 72-yard return of an Archie Manning pass in Atlanta’s 21-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Following his retirement from the NFL in 1980, Byas returned to Detroit and began a teaching career; he was officially inducted into the Wayne State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987.

References

* [http://wsuathletics.cstv.com/genrel/091904aaa.html Wayne State University]
* [http://michigan-football.com/f/allteams.htm Michigan High School Football History]
* [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BYASRIC01 NFL stats]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Byas — Don Byas (* 21. Oktober 1912 in Muskogee, Oklahoma als Carlos Wesley Byas, † 24. August 1972 in Amsterdam) war ein Jazz Tenorsaxophonist. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Einleitung 2 Sein Leben 2.1 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Don Byas — 78er Schellack Platte von Don Byas auf Savoy Records: „Worried and Blue“ (28. Juli 1944), B Seite von „Griffin’ And Jivin’“ Don Byas (* 21. Oktober 1912 in Muskogee, Oklahoma als Carlos Wesley Byas; † 24. August 1972 in Amsterdam …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • List of people from Detroit — The following is a list of notable people from Detroit, Michigan. This list includes people who were born, have lived, or worked in and around Metro Detroit. Contents 1 Architects[1] 2 Artists and artisans[2] 2.1 Ceramists …   Wikipedia

  • Mackenzie High School (Michigan) — David L. Mackenzie High School is located on the west side of Detroit at 9275 Wyoming Avenue; its doors opened to students and faculty for the first time in September 1928. Mackenzie High School was so named to honor the innovative educator and… …   Wikipedia

  • Robert Dozier — (born 1946) is a Detroit native and 1964 graduate of Cass Technical High School. Dozier was a highly successful educator and football coach at Detroit s Mackenzie High School; his thirty three year career spanned five decades (1969–2002). Six of… …   Wikipedia

  • Chronological Classics complete discography — Chronological Classics was a French compact disc reissue label. The original owner Gilles Pétard intended to release the complete master takes of all jazz and swing artists that were issued on 78 rpm records. By the time the label suspended… …   Wikipedia

  • Rip, Rig and Panic — Studioalbum von Roland Kirk Veröffentlichung 1965 Label Limelight/Mercury Records …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Jazzmusiker (Tabelle) — Die Tabelle enthält ca. 500 der bekanntesten und wichtigsten Jazzmusiker von den Anfängen bis heute. Die Tabelle ist nach dem Künstlernamen sortiert, aber auch anders sortierbar und ermöglicht damit eine chronologische Übersicht oder eine… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Oscar Pettiford — Oscar Pettiford, Auftritt im New Yorker Jazzclub Aquarium, ca. November 1946. Fotografie von William P. Gottlieb. Oscar Collins Pettiford (* 30. September 1922 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma; † 8. September 1960 in Kopenhagen) war ein Jazz …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Peanuts Holland — Herbert Lee „Peanuts“ Holland (* 9. Februar 1910 in Norfolk, Virginia; † 7. Februar 1979 in Stockholm) war ein amerikanischer Jazztrompeter und Sänger des Swing. Er spielte mit Coleman Hawkins, Fletcher Henderson und Don Byas. Leben und Wirken… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”