Jack Tatum

[Lambert Simnel]

Jack Tatum has died at the age of 61.

When I first started watching & reading about US football, he seemed to be some sort of evil bogeyman figure because of his hit on Darryl Stingley. Nowadays, I think that the rules and protection were just not good enough in that era, and that sort of thing was bound to happen sooner or later. Which is not to exonerate Tatum - it was a pre-season game, it was a vicious hit which left Stingley paralysed, and Tatum never even apologised. But at the same time, it was going to happen to someone, sometime, until the NFL changed the rules.

I can't imagine there will be many who remember Tatum without recalling the crippling of Stingley.

Those of you old-timers from across in the US, what's your take on Tatum ?

 

[Cutlass]

Word was Tatum tried to apologize in person, but was turned away by the family.

R.I.P.

Back in those days the Raiders were interesting. Not likable, but worth respecting.

 

[downtown]

Tatum was one of the greatest Buckeyes of all time, and the team still has awards named after him.

No matter what, the man should have found a way to apologize for what he did though, accident or not. He could have always just picked up the phone...

 

[Formaldehyde]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Tatum

In 2001, Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel instituted the "Jack Tatum Hit of the Week Award," given to the player who had the most impressive defensive hit of the game.

Hmmm...

 

[El Justo]

i remember him tipping the bradshaw pass and franco harris hauling it in: Immaculate Reception (thanks to NFL Films, a hair ahead of my live sporting remembrances).