Gordie Lockbaum
No. 17
Position:Running back/Safety
Personal information
Born: (1965-11-16) November 16, 1965 (age 58)
Media, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Glassboro
(Glassboro, New Jersey)
College:Holy Cross (1984–1988)
NFL draft:1988 / Round: 9 / Pick: 236
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only

Gordon Carl Lockbaum[1][self-published source] (born November 16, 1965) is an American former college football player, who was a standout two-way player (playing both offense and defense) in NCAA Division I-AA.

College career

Lockbaum was raised in Glassboro, New Jersey, and spent his prep years at Glassboro High School where he competed in football, baseball, and wrestling; he graduated in 1984.[2] Lockbaum attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, from 1984 to 1988, where he played wide receiver and halfback on offense, defensive back on defense, and was a kick returner on special teams.[3]

Lockbaum was a starting cornerback during his freshman season, and moved to strong safety as a sophomore. Before his junior season, the Holy Cross coaching staff (head coach Mark Duffner, offensive coordinate Tom Rossley, and defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle) decided to use Lockbaum on both offense and defense. He became the first two-way player since Leroy Keyes of Purdue in 1968.

In Lockbaum's junior season of 1986, he rushed for 827 yards on 144 carries, caught 57 passes for 860 yards, and scored 22 touchdowns on offense; on defense he had 46 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and one interception; on special teams he returned 21 kickoffs for 452 yards.[4] In a game against Dartmouth he scored six touchdowns,[5] and in a game against Army he was on the field for 143 of 171 total plays.[6] He was named WTBS college football player of the year,[4] New Jersey Sports Writers Association college player of the year,[7] and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting.[8]

In his senior season of 1987, he rushed for 403 yards on 85 carries, and caught 77 passes for 1152 yards, amassing 2041 all-purpose yards and again scoring 22 touchdowns,[9] while continuing to play defense and special teams. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting,[10] second in the Maxwell Award voting,[3] and was runner-up for the inaugural Walter Payton Award (Division I-AA player of the year).[11] After the conclusion of the regular season, Lockbaum was selected for three all-star games; the Senior Bowl, the East–West Shrine Game, and the Blue–Gray Football Classic. He appeared in all three games, seeing the most action in the Shrine Game, where he played five positions (cornerback, free safety, strong safety, fullback, and wide receiver).[12]

Lockbaum was a two-time First Team All-America selection (1986 and 1987) as a defensive back. He still holds several Holy Cross offensive records, including most touchdowns in a season and most points in a season (22 and 132, respectively, accomplished in both 1986 and 1987).[13] Lockbaum was inducted into the Glassboro High School Hall of Fame in 1989,[2] the Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1993,[14] the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001,[3] and the ECAC Hall of Fame in 2017.[15]

Professional career

Lockbaum was selected in the 1988 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the ninth round, and played for them during the preseason as a running back, but was released by the team in August of that year.[16][17] In 1989, he was signed by the Buffalo Bills, who moved him to safety, but he was again released before the start of the regular season.[18] In 1994, he played briefly for the Massachusetts Marauders of the Arena Football League.[19]

Personal life

Lockbaum received a degree in economics from Holy Cross, and became an executive for an insurance company.[20] His son, also nicknamed Gordie,[1] played shortstop in the 2002 Little League World Series for the Worcester team that reached the US championship game,[21] and later attended Amherst College where he was a defensive back on the football team.[22]

References

  1. ^ a b Carew, Wally (2012). A Farewell to Glory: The Rise and Fall of an Epic Football Rivalry Boston College vs. Holy Cross. XLIBRIS. ISBN 978-1479702503. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Sports Hall of Fame / Class of 1989 Inductees". Glassboro High School. 1989. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "College Football Hall of Fame: Gordie Lockbaum". National Football Foundation. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
  4. ^ a b "Lockbaum WTBS player of year". Courier-Post. Camden, New Jersey. December 31, 1986. Retrieved May 30, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Holy Cross' Lockbaum scores six TDs". The Journal News. White Plains, New York. AP. October 12, 1986. Retrieved May 30, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ McCluskey, Jack (November 11, 2011). "Lockbaum remembers Heisman run". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  7. ^ "N.J. scribes to honor Lockbaum, Rakoczy". Courier-Post. Camden, New Jersey. January 25, 1987. Retrieved May 30, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "1986 Heisman Trophy Voting". sports-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  9. ^ "Final Heisman Statistics". Fort Lauderdale News. November 29, 1987. Retrieved May 30, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "1987 Heisman Trophy Voting". sports-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  11. ^ Greene, Bob (December 18, 1987). "Gamble wins 1st Payton Award". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. AP. Retrieved May 30, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Fleischman, Bill (February 2, 1988). "Lockbaum Fits in with Big Boys". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved May 30, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "2016 Holy Cross Football Fact Book" (PDF). nmnathletics.com. 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  14. ^ "GORDON C. LOCKBAUM". goholycross.com. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  15. ^ "Lockbaum Selected For Induction In ECAC Hall Of Fame". goholycross.com. March 10, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  16. ^ "1988 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  17. ^ "Lockbaum released; Haji-Sheikh loses out". Hartford Courant. AP. August 24, 1988. Retrieved May 29, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Bills cut Lockbaum, Johnson". Hartford Courant. AP. September 5, 1989. Retrieved May 29, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Gordie Lockbaum". arenafan.com. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  20. ^ "Sullivan Group - About". sullivangroup.com. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  21. ^ Diamos, Jason (August 25, 2002). "Following in His Father's Footsteps, but This Time on the Basepaths". The New York Times. p. Late Ed. - Final, sec 8, p.3. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  22. ^ "Gordie Lockbaum". amherst.edu. Retrieved May 29, 2017.

Further reading

External links

Pittsburgh Steelers 1988 NFL Draft selections
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