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Making The List: Paul Warfield’s Impact Reached Beyond Warren Ohio
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Last week we evened the score in football: Defensively went to three mentions of Making The List and Offense yielded to the Great Tom Cousineau.
Now we shall dabble again offensively.
There are so many names that I have yet to mention that deserves a focus. Certainly we all can run through these names, and perhaps we’d agree. But I have decided on one name that simply has been in my mind since I started this regular piece when the Great Jesse Owens was the first, and deserving so, Great Buckeye to Making The List.
I am speaking of Paul Warfield.
Warfield was born in Warren, Ohio in 1942 (ironically his infamous number as well #42). He would play locally at Warren G. Harding High School, graduating in 1960. He would dominate local play as a running back and defensive back. One of his most “memorable” moments in High School was where Warren HS beat the powerhouse Massillon 6-0. In 1958 as a Junior he’d run for 810 yards and score 15 TD’s. In 1959 Paul amassed 1,158 yards. He’d also be the State Champion in the long jump.
While at the Ohio State University Paul would shine as a two-time All Big 10 halfback. In 1961 as a Sophomore he would have 77 attempts for 420 yards and 5 TD’s in 9 games. Receiving the same year he would produce 120 yards with 1 TD. In 1962, his Junior Year, he’d have 57 attempts equaling 367 yards and 2 TD’s. Receiving that same year would produce 139 yards and 2 TD’s. His Senior Year in 1963 he would rush for 260 yards with 1 TD. On the receiving end he would have 266 yards with 3 TD’s.
Those numbers, truthfully, are not barn-burners. In today’s game such a player would not be in our discussions. But understand the era – and Woody Football. Paul Warfield was utilized in many effective ways for the Buckeyes – answering the question as to why he was a two-time All Big 10 player. He blocked. He ran. He caught on a team that simply had names such as Unverferth and Mrukowski behind center.
The NFL noticed him enough that he was drafted by both the NFL and the AFL in 1963 – the Cleveland Browns and the Buffalo Bills. Someone in Cleveland had the good foresight to push him to play wide receiver. The rest is simply history.
In 1970 the Cleveland Browns would trade Paul to the Miami Dolphins for a draft pick used in obtaining Purdue QB Mike Phipps. The trade was a horrendous error. It is still considered to be one of the most asymmetrical trades in NFL history. Phipps would be marginally successful for the Browns while Warfield was essentially one of the most dominant wide-receivers in the NFL – being a major factor in the Dolphins successes in the early 1970’s.
In 1974 Warfield would jump to the World Football League with teammates Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick. It would be a failed adventure before returning to the NFL where he’d sign with his initial team the Cleveland Browns in 1976 before ending his career after the 1977 season.
Paul Warfield would be a Pro Bowl Wide Receiver 8 times In his 13 NFL years he would catch 427 passes for 8, 565 yards, scoring 85 TD’s.
To Warfield’s credit in the Miami Dolphin years he played on a team that had an over-emphasis on the running game. He was indeed their secret weapon. And he delivered when the ball came his way. It was fitting that his NFL career was so similar to that of his Ohio State career. An essential player in an offense not geared to his talents.
Paul Warfield was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1983. In 1990 The Miami Dolphins inducted him on their Honor Roll. And in 2010 The Cleveland Browns placed him in their Ring of Honor.
In 2006 he would flip the coin for the OSU-TTUN game as an Honorary Captain. The #1 Buckeyes would beat the #2 Wolverines 42-39.
Pay attention Urban!
Paul Warfield, not on his numbers, deserves to Making The List because of his selfless contributions. As fans we sometimes get caught up in the numbers game. In Paul’s case two scouts witnessed his potential – one in the NFL, one in the AFL. The Browns won – then the Dolphins won. Paul Warfield is a great Buckeye based on that initial unnoticed greatness that refuses to remain hidden. He was Buckeye tough.
The post Making The List: Paul Warfield’s Impact Reached Beyond Warren Ohio appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Last week we evened the score in football: Defensively went to three mentions of Making The List and Offense yielded to the Great Tom Cousineau.
Now we shall dabble again offensively.
There are so many names that I have yet to mention that deserves a focus. Certainly we all can run through these names, and perhaps we’d agree. But I have decided on one name that simply has been in my mind since I started this regular piece when the Great Jesse Owens was the first, and deserving so, Great Buckeye to Making The List.
I am speaking of Paul Warfield.
Warfield was born in Warren, Ohio in 1942 (ironically his infamous number as well #42). He would play locally at Warren G. Harding High School, graduating in 1960. He would dominate local play as a running back and defensive back. One of his most “memorable” moments in High School was where Warren HS beat the powerhouse Massillon 6-0. In 1958 as a Junior he’d run for 810 yards and score 15 TD’s. In 1959 Paul amassed 1,158 yards. He’d also be the State Champion in the long jump.
While at the Ohio State University Paul would shine as a two-time All Big 10 halfback. In 1961 as a Sophomore he would have 77 attempts for 420 yards and 5 TD’s in 9 games. Receiving the same year he would produce 120 yards with 1 TD. In 1962, his Junior Year, he’d have 57 attempts equaling 367 yards and 2 TD’s. Receiving that same year would produce 139 yards and 2 TD’s. His Senior Year in 1963 he would rush for 260 yards with 1 TD. On the receiving end he would have 266 yards with 3 TD’s.
Those numbers, truthfully, are not barn-burners. In today’s game such a player would not be in our discussions. But understand the era – and Woody Football. Paul Warfield was utilized in many effective ways for the Buckeyes – answering the question as to why he was a two-time All Big 10 player. He blocked. He ran. He caught on a team that simply had names such as Unverferth and Mrukowski behind center.
The NFL noticed him enough that he was drafted by both the NFL and the AFL in 1963 – the Cleveland Browns and the Buffalo Bills. Someone in Cleveland had the good foresight to push him to play wide receiver. The rest is simply history.
In 1970 the Cleveland Browns would trade Paul to the Miami Dolphins for a draft pick used in obtaining Purdue QB Mike Phipps. The trade was a horrendous error. It is still considered to be one of the most asymmetrical trades in NFL history. Phipps would be marginally successful for the Browns while Warfield was essentially one of the most dominant wide-receivers in the NFL – being a major factor in the Dolphins successes in the early 1970’s.
In 1974 Warfield would jump to the World Football League with teammates Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick. It would be a failed adventure before returning to the NFL where he’d sign with his initial team the Cleveland Browns in 1976 before ending his career after the 1977 season.
Paul Warfield would be a Pro Bowl Wide Receiver 8 times In his 13 NFL years he would catch 427 passes for 8, 565 yards, scoring 85 TD’s.
To Warfield’s credit in the Miami Dolphin years he played on a team that had an over-emphasis on the running game. He was indeed their secret weapon. And he delivered when the ball came his way. It was fitting that his NFL career was so similar to that of his Ohio State career. An essential player in an offense not geared to his talents.
Paul Warfield was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1983. In 1990 The Miami Dolphins inducted him on their Honor Roll. And in 2010 The Cleveland Browns placed him in their Ring of Honor.
In 2006 he would flip the coin for the OSU-TTUN game as an Honorary Captain. The #1 Buckeyes would beat the #2 Wolverines 42-39.
Pay attention Urban!
Paul Warfield, not on his numbers, deserves to Making The List because of his selfless contributions. As fans we sometimes get caught up in the numbers game. In Paul’s case two scouts witnessed his potential – one in the NFL, one in the AFL. The Browns won – then the Dolphins won. Paul Warfield is a great Buckeye based on that initial unnoticed greatness that refuses to remain hidden. He was Buckeye tough.
The post Making The List: Paul Warfield’s Impact Reached Beyond Warren Ohio appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...