- Sam Cunningham
NFL player
Color=#C41E3A
fontcolor=White
DateOfBirth=Birth date and age|1950|8|15|mf=y
Birthplace=Santa Barbara, California
DateofDeath=
Position=Fullback
College=USC
DraftedYear=1973
DraftedRound=1 / Pick 11
Stats=Y
DatabaseFootball=CUNNISAM01
PFR=CunnSa00
years=1973-1982
teams=New England Patriots
ProBowls=1Samuel Lewis Cunningham, Jr (nicknamed "Bam", born
August 15 ,1950 , inSanta Barbara, CA ) is a retiredAmerican football fullback.College career
Cunningham was a letterman for the USC football team from 1970 through 1972 where he played fullback. He was named an
All-America n in 1972. He was a member of USC’s 1972 national championship team. In the1973 Rose Bowl , he scored four touchdowns, which still stands as a modern-day Rose Bowl record. He was named Rose Bowl Player of the Game. He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1992He had a notable performance against an all-white
University of Alabama football team 42-21 at Birmingham on September 12, 1970. His performance in the game was reportedly a factor in convincing the University of Alabama and its fans to let CoachBear Bryant integrate Southern football. Jerry Claiborne, a Bryant assistant, said, "Sam Cunningham did more to integrate Alabama in 60 minutes thanMartin Luther King did in 20 years." [ [http://usclegends.org/sam-cunningham.php USC Legends: Sam Cunningham] ] [ [http://www.rosebowllegends.org/sam-cunningham.php Rose Bowl Legends: Sam Cunningham] ]Professional career
In only his second year 1974, he gained 811 yards and 9 touchdowns as he led the
New England Patriots to a surprising 4-0 start before faltering to a 7-7 finish. In 1977 he gained a career high 1,015 yards and scored 4 touchdowns, and also caught 42 receptions for 370 yards and a touchdown. He played his entire career (1973 through 1982) with the Patriots and was a 1978Pro Bowl selection.Cunningham finished his career with 5,453 rushing yards, 210 receptions for 1,905 yards, and 49 touchdowns. He is the older brother of former NFL quarterback
Randall Cunningham .Trivia
*Sam has appeared with his family on the syndicated television game show "
Family Feud ."References
External links
* [http://www.usclegends.org/sam-cunningham.php Sam Cunningham] Profile at USC Legends
* [http://rosebowllegends.org/sam-cunningham.php Sam Cunningham] Profile at Rosebowl Legends
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