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Paul Rickards
American football player (1926–1999) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Paul Edward Rickards (June 30, 1926 – July 26, 1999) was an American football player.
Rickards was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1926, and attended Wheeling High School.[1] He was selected as the quarterback on the All-West Virginia team and also received all-state honors in basketball and excelled in track and field as a hurdler.[2]
He enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh in the fall of 1944 and, as an 18-year-old freshman, became the starting quarterback of the 1944 Pittsburgh Panthers football team.[3] He led the NCAA in passing yardage in 1944 with 997 yards.[4]
Less than a week after the 1944 season ended, Rickards was inducted into the Army Air Force.[5]
Rickards was discharged in the fall of 1946.[6] He announced in November 1946 that he would return to the University of Pittsburgh at the midterm break.[7] After two years away from the game, Rickards returned to Pitt for the 1947 season. He had trouble adjusting to coach Mike Milligan's single-wing and saw little playing time in 1947.[8]
In August 1948, after an unsuccessful tryout with the Cleveland Browns, Rickards signed with the Los Angeles Rams.[9] As the Rams had Pro Football Hall of Famer Bob Waterfield as their starting quarterback, Rickards appeared in only three games as a backup with the Rams.[10] He completed two of two pass attempt for four yards. He also had two carries for 21 rushing yards.[1]
In July 1949, Rickards was the first player signed by the Richmond Rebels of the new American Football League.[2] He competed with Ben Raimondi for the starting job at quarterback.[11] During the 1949 and 1950 seasons, he appeared in 17 games for the Rebels, compiling a total of 1,928 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes.[1]
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