Jack Spinks

John Robert Spinks (August 15, 1930September 29, 1994) was an American professional football player who was a fullback for five seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alcorn A&M Braves (now Alcorn State). He played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1952), Chicago Cardinals (1953), Green Bay Packers (1955–1956), and New York Giants (1956–1957).

Spinks is the namesake of Jack Spinks Stadium, home of the Alcorn State Braves.

Biography

Early years

John Spinks — known as "Johnny" in his younger years"Negro College Grid Classic to Be Played Here: Alcorn and Jackson College to Meet at City Park Saturday,"
''Vicksburg Post,'' Oct. 20, 1949, p. 13. and "Jack" as an adult — was born February 4, 1930, in Toomsuba, Mississippi.

College career

He attended Alcorn A&M College, a historically black school located in Lorman, Mississippi, where he played fullback for the Braves. Powerfully built and tipping the scales at 220 pounds, Spinks was regarded as a key play]er for the team even as a sophomore during the 1949 season. Spinks helped Alcorn A&M win the South Central Athletic Conference (SCAC) football title in 1949, playing extended minutes and scoring a touchdown in a 45–6 drubbing of Rust College of Holly Springs, Mississippi in the final conference game of the season. The Braves would finish the season with a record of 7–1–2, their sole blemishes coming in the season's final three games against strong competition.

Head coach Dwight "Red" Fisher led his charges to another successful season in 1950, finishing with a record of 8–2 while outscoring their opponents 319 points to just 68. Spinks was already being recognized as a potential All-America team prospect, as a "big" 215-pounder "who combines speed and courage with his weight" and who was "hard to stop and a consistent ground gainer."

Alcorn A&M's record of 8 wins and 2 losses would be repeated during Spinks' senior season of 1951, with the team again rattling off seven conference wins before running into trouble late in the season.

Professional career

Spinks was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) in the 11th round of the 1952 NFL draft, with the team making him the 126th overall selection.

During his 1952 rookie season, Spinks — the only black player on the Pittsburgh roster — was used primarily in a blocking capacity at fullback."Jack Spinks statistics,"
Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com Although he saw action in 10 games, starting 3 of them, he carried the ball just 22 times for 94 yards, with his long carry going for a 42 yard gain. Ironically, these would be the only rushing yards gained in a five year NFL career.

As the 1953 season approached, he remained on the Steelers' roster, scoring a touchdown in a September 9 preseason game against the Washington Redskins on a 10 yard run."Hall Haynes' Wrist Fractured in Costly Defeat by Steelers: Loss of 3 Men in First Half Hurts Chances,"
''Washington Evening Star,'' Sept. 10, 1953, pp. C1
C3

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spinks, Jack
1930 births
1994 deaths
People from Lauderdale County, Mississippi
20th-century American sportsmen
Players of American football from Mississippi
American football fullbacks
Alcorn State Braves football players
Pittsburgh Steelers players
Chicago Cardinals players
Green Bay Packers players
New York Giants players