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Earl Lunsford

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Earl Lunsford
No. 27
Date of birth(1933-10-19)October 19, 1933
Place of birthStillwater, Oklahoma, U.S.
Date of deathSeptember 3, 2008(2008-09-03) (aged 74)
Place of deathFort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Career information
CFL statusInternational
Position(s)RB
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight200 lb (91 kg)
US collegeOklahoma State
NFL draft1956 / round: 26 / pick: 305
Drafted byPhiladelphia Eagles
Career history
As administrator
1968–1982Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1985–1987Calgary Stampeders
As player
1956, 1959–1963Calgary Stampeders
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star1961, 1962
CFL West All-Star1960, 1961, 1962
Career stats

Earl Lunsford (October 19, 1933 – September 3, 2008), known as the "Earthquake", was a fullback for the Calgary Stampeders and is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

College football

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Lunsford played during college at with Oklahoma A&M.

Calgary

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Lunsford was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League in 1956, but instead began his six-year career in the Canadian Football League that year with the Calgary Stampeders. His time in Calgary was interrupted for 2 seasons, 1957 to 1958, while serving in the United States military. He played 5 more seasons for the Stamps, from 1959 to 1963.

Lunsford rushed for over 1,000 yards 5 times, leading the West Division with 1,343 yards in 1960. During his best season, 1961, he led the entire CFL with a whopping 1,794 yards, which made him known as the first running back in professional sports to rush for a mile in one season.[1] He was an All West all star in 1960 and All Canadian in 1961.[2] That year, Calgary finished with a mediocre 7-9 record, but defeated the Edmonton Eskimos in the Western conference semi-final. However, they lost the Western conference final to the eventual Grey Cup winner, the Bud Grant-led Winnipeg Blue Bombers. His best game was on September 3, 1962, in Calgary, when he scored 5 rushing touchdowns, still a Stampeder record.[1]

In his career, he rushed 1199 times for 6994 yards, a 5.8 yard average, and 55 touchdowns, with his longest run being 85 yards. He is the Stampeder all-time rushing leader with 55 touchdowns and 28 100-yard games and is second among Stampeders for all-time rushing yards.[1]

Earl Lunsford had his own theme song "Earl The Pearl of Calgary".

Career regular season rushing statistics

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Year[3] Team GP Rush Yards Y/R Lg TD
1956 Calgary Stampeders 16 216 1283 5.9 57 7
1957-1958 Military Service
1959 Calgary Stampeders 16 183 1027 5.6 22 10
1960 Calgary Stampeders 16 214 1343 6.3 85 13
1961 Calgary Stampeders 16 296 1794 6.1 62 10
1962 Calgary Stampeders 11 180 1016 5.6 64 8
1963 Calgary Stampeders 10 110 531 4.8 29 7
CFL Totals 1199 6994 5.8 85 55

General manager

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After his playing career, Lunsford became General Manager of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1968–1982) and the Calgary Stampeders (1985–1987).[1]

Post-football honors

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For his outstanding years as a dominant running back, Lunsford was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

Death

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He died September 3, 2008, aged 74, of Alzheimer's disease at his Texas home.[4][5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Sportak, Randy (September 5, 2008). "Earthquake shook up CFL". Calgary Sun.
  2. ^ "Earl Lunsford Passes Away". Calgary Stampeder Football Club. September 4, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  3. ^ Earl Monroe Lunsford on Statscrew
  4. ^ Cameron, Allen (September 4, 2008). "CFL legend Lunsford dies at age 74". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  5. ^ "Legendary Stampeder dies". Calgary Sun. September 4, 2008.
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