Bob Dove

NFLretired


width=200
caption=Bob Dove
position=Defensive end
End
number=
birthdate=birth date|1921|2|21
Youngstown, Ohio
deathdate=death date and age|2006|4|19|1921|2|21
Canfield, Ohio
debutyear=1946
finalyear=1954
draftyear=1943
draftround=5
draftpick=40
(By the Washington Redskins)
college=Notre Dame
teams=
* Chicago Rockets (AAFC) (1946-1947)
* Chicago Cardinals (1948-1953)
* Detroit Lions (1953-1954)
stat1label=Receiving yards
stat1value=128
stat2label=Interceptions
stat2value=1
stat3label=Touchdowns
stat3value=2
nfl=DOV498348
highlights=
* Pro Bowl selection (1950)
CollegeHOF=40120

Robert Leo Patrick "Grandpappy" Dove (February 21, 1921 – April 19, 2006) served as an All-America end at the University of Notre Dame and went on to play for eight seasons in the National Football League. Following his retirement as a professional player, Dove embarked on a 37-year coaching career at the professional and collegiate levels. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.cite web | url = http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=40120 | title = College Football Hall of Fame Homepage | publisher = College Football Hall of Fame | accessdate = 2007-03-12]

Early years

Dove was born in Youngstown, Ohio, United States, a steel-production center located near the Pennsylvania border. Dove was a three-year starter at the city's South High School from 1936-38; and he was selected as an all-city player by the "Youngstown Vindicator" (the local daily paper) in his final year.cite news
title = Bob Dove, Ex-Notre Dame and Pro Standout, Elected to LA Citizen Savings Hall of Fame
work = The Youngstown Vindicator
page = D-3
date = September 21, 1975]

College football and beyond

Dove went on to greater athletic feats at the University of Notre Dame, where he was a three-year starter at end from 1940-42. He was a consensus All-American in his final two seasons.cite news
title = Footballers Sinkwich, Dove, Farrar Named in 1969 Curbstone Hall of Fame; Banquet Set Jan. 26
work = The Youngstown Vindicator
date = January 12, 1969] As a freshman in 1939, he caught 15 passes for 87 yards from future Heisman Trophy winner Angelo Bertelli. Dove then became the first sophomore to start for the Notre Dame "Fighting Irish" in 11 seasons. He received the Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy in 1942 as the top lineman in the country and also played in the East-West Shrine All-Star Game.cite news
title = Footballers Sinkwich, Dove, Farrar Named in 1969 Curbstone Hall of Fame; Banquet Set Jan. 26
work = The Youngstown Vindicator
date = January 12, 1969] During his three seasons as a starter, Dove helped the Irish to a 22-4-3 record, including an undefeated (8-0-1) campaign in the first season of legendary coach Frank Leahy. ["Pittsburgh Tribune-Review", Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 21, 2006.]

In 1948, Dove joined the NFL's Chicago Cardinals, where he played for five seasons. In 1953, he was traded to the Detroit Lions and played on their 1953 and 1954 championship teams. He retired in 1955. ["Pittsburgh Tribune-Review", Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 21, 2006.]

Coaching career

Dove was an assistant coach at the University of Detroit from 1955-57, and then became an assistant for the Lions in 1958-59, and for the Buffalo Bills in 1960-61. He was head coach at Hiram College for seven seasons. He joined the Youngstown State University staff in 1969, where he served as assistant under four coaches, including Jim Tressel, current head football coach at Ohio State University. In 1987, Dove was named "coach emeritus" and served in that position through the 1991 Division I-AA national championship season.cite news
title = Hall of Famer Bob Dove Dies
work = The Associated Press
date = April 21, 2006]

Following a long illness, Dove died in Canfield, Ohio on April 19, 2006. His funeral was held at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Canfield.cite news
title = Hall of Famer Bob Dove Dies
work = The Associated Press
date = April 21, 2006]

Legacy

Beyond his 2002 induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, Dove was also a second-team selection on "Street & Smith's" All-Time Dream Team, which covered players from the first 50 years of its publication (1941-1990). Dove was chosen at defensive end on the second team, ranked behind Ted Hendricks of Miami and Hugh Green of Pittsburgh, and alongside Bubba Smith of Michigan State.cite web | url = http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stories/042106aam.html | title = Bob Dove Obituary | publisher = CSTV.com | accessdate = 2007-03-12]

Earlier, in 1975, Dove was one of 10 players inducted into the Citizens Savings Hall of Fame in Los Angeles. The other nine players were Ron Beagle, Navy; Chuck Bednarik, Pennsylvania: Carl Diehl , Dartmouth; Bill Fisher, Notre Dame; Leroy Keyes, Purdue; Tommy Nobis, Texas; Greg Pruitt, Oklahoma; Joe Romig, Colorado; and Charles "Bubba" Smith, Michigan State.cite news
title = Bob Dove, Ex-Notre Dame and Pro Standout, Elected to LA Citizen Savings Hall of Fame
work = The Youngstown Vindicator
page = D-3
date = September 21, 1975]

References

External links

*pro-football-reference|id=DoveBo00 Statistics
* [http://www.ysu.edu/sports/penguinclub/dove.htm 2000 "Penguin of the Year"]
* [http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stories/042106aam.html Obituary]
* [http://old.irishsports.com/subscription/issues/2000/09/17/doveready.html College Football Hall of Fame Induction]