Dixie Roberts
Vanderbilt Commodores – No. 4
PositionHalfback
MajorEngineering
Personal information
Born:(1909-07-20)July 20, 1909
Cassville, White County, Tennessee
Died:August 17, 2004(2004-08-17) (aged 95)
Nashville, Tennessee
Weight174 lb (79 kg)
Career history
CollegeVanderbilt (1930–1932)
High schoolMcMinnville Central
Career highlights and awards

William Clyde "Dixie" Roberts (July 20, 1909 – August 17, 2004) was a college football player. He retired as district manager of the Chattanooga office of Life & Casualty Insurance Company.[1]

Early years

Roberts was born on July 20, 1909, to James A. Roberts and Minnie Jones.[2] He grew up in McMinnville, Tennessee.[1][3] Roberts' father owned the Dixie Hardwood Company.[4]

He broke several prep football records.[5] In his senior year at McMinnville, Roberts led the "Big Blue" to a 10–0 record and a state title.[4] Roberts tallied 520 yards rushing in one game, and 6,730 yards on the season.[4] Colleges flocked to recruit Roberts, but it came down to Tennessee and Vanderbilt.[4] After watching Robert Neyland yell at one of his players in the game against Florida, Roberts picked Vanderbilt. "If he talked to me like that, there would be the damnest fight you ever saw."[4]

Vanderbilt University

He was a prominent running back for Dan McGugin's Vanderbilt Commodores football team of Vanderbilt University from 1930 to 1932.[6] His 1929 freshman team went undefeated.

1932

Roberts was selected All-Southern in 1932.[7] Roberts made a flying leap just as he was pushed out of bounds against Georgia Tech. He knocked out a Tech player sitting on the bench.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b "Obituary Report for August 18, 2004".
  2. ^ Laney James Roberts (1977). The Generations of Reuben. p. 35.
  3. ^ Monty Wanamaker (14 December 2009). McMinnville. p. 96. ISBN 9781439637708.
  4. ^ a b c d e Bill Traughber. Vanderbilt Football:Tales of Commodore Gridiron History. pp. 91–92.
  5. ^ Monty Wanamaer (14 December 2009). McMinnville. p. 146. ISBN 9781439637708.
  6. ^ Bill Traughber (November 4, 2009). "Dixie Roberts was a legend". Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  7. ^ "Alabama Coaches Select 12-Player All-Southern". The Tuscaloosa News. November 18, 1932.
  8. ^ "Flashes of Life". Lawrence Journal-World. October 31, 1931.
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