Paul Bennett (football player)

Infobox CFL player


Name=Paul Bennett
Caption=
import=no
DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1954|3|27
Birthplace=Toronto, Ontario
Position=Defensive Back
College=Wilfrid Laurier University
career_highlights=
Awards=
Honors=
Records=
Retired #s=
years=1977-1979, 1984
1980-1983
1985-1987
teams=Toronto Argonauts
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
CFHOF=24&player=Bennett,%20Paul

Paul Frederick Bennett (born March 27, 1954 in Toronto, Ontario) is a former defensive back in the Canadian Football League.

Paul attended General Brock Public School and W. A. Porter Collegiate Institute in Scarborough, Ontario. As a high school football player Paul played defensive back and quarterback in his senior year. He was named Toronto All Star for the 1972 season.

On the strength of his 1972 high school performance he was offered a full football scholarship to the University of Missouri, in Columbia, Missouri. He played on the University of Missouri Tigers Freshman team in the 1973 season. He was redshirted on the varsity squad for his sophomore year.

Paul returned to Canada for the 1974 season when he enrolled at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. He played for WLU for the 1975 and 1976 season under Canadian Football Hall of Fame coach, Tuffy Knight. He was protected by the Toronto Argonauts and did not participate in the CFL draft.

He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and won a Grey Cup with Hamilton in 1986 (whom he played with from 1985 to 1987,) after stints at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1980 to 1983), and Toronto Argonauts (1977 to 1979 and 1984). He played free safety and was a punt returner.

Paul played his remaining years with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. In 1985, he continued to win All-Star accolades and was awarded the James P. McCaffrey Trophy as Outstanding Defensive Player in the Eastern Division. And, for the second time in his career, was given the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award.

Bennett retired from the CFL in 1987 after eleven years. At his leaving the game, he had 45 interceptions and acquired CFL records in punt return yards (6,358), punt return carries (659) and interception return yards (1,004).

Paul was a hard-hitting safety and a fierce punt returner.

He won the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1983 and 1985 and the James P. McCaffrey Trophy in 1985. He was a 4 time all star. He finished his career with 45 interceptions and holds CFL records in punt return yards (6,358), punt return carries (659) and interception return yards (1,004).

He currently lives in Winnipeg and coaches for the Oak Park High School Raiders Junior Varsity football team.

Awards and honours

*CFL All-Star - 1977, 1983, 1985
*Eastern All-Star - 1977, 1985
*Western All-Star - 1982, 1983
*Schenley Most Outstanding Canadian Player - 1983, 1985
*James P. McCaffrey Trophy: Outstanding Defensive Player Eastern Division - 1985
*Lew Hayman Trophy: Outstanding Canadian Eastern Division - 1985
*Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy: Outstanding Canadian Player Western Division - 1983
*Grey Cup Participation - 1984, 1985, 1986

External links

* [http://www.footballhof.com/famers/player.asp?id=25 Canadian Football Hall of Fame profile]
* [http://www.argonauts.ca/Argos/History/HallOfFame/Paul_Bennett.html Toronto Argonauts profile]