Robert Lee Suffridge (March 17, 1916 – March 3, 1974) was an American professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

player in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL) for the

Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The team plays its ...

. He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

at the

University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (or The University of Tennessee; UT; UT Knoxville; or colloquially UTK or Tennessee) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Knoxville, Tennessee, United St ...

, where he was later inducted into the school's hall of fame and the

College Football Hall of Fame The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive Tourist attraction, attraction devoted to college football, college American football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players ...

. Suffridge also served in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Early years

Suffridge attended Central High School in

Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville is a city in Knox County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located on the Tennessee River and had a population of 190,740 at the 2020 United States census. It is the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division ...

College career

Suffridge played

at the

, where he played under coach

Robert Neyland Robert Reese Neyland (; February 17, 1892 – March 28, 1962) was an American football player and coach and officer in the United States Army, reaching the rank of Brigadier general (United States), brigadier general. He served three stints as ...

from 1938 to 1940. He was a three time

All America The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...

n, receiving the honor each year of his playing career. He also won the Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy. Suffridge was noted for his quickness. As one bio states "Suffridge was so quick he once blocked the same point-after- touchdown three times, twice called for off-sides when many observers felt he wasn't." During his time at Tennessee, the Volunteers did not lose a regular season game.

"Robert Neyland never wanted to answer when asked, ’Who were your greatest players?’ But, when pressed, he would reluctantly answer, ’I’ll start a team, but will not attempt to complete it. You’ll have to start with Bob Suffridge the greatest lineman I ever saw and that’s as far as I will go with the line. For a backfield, you’ll start with Gene McEver, the greatest I ever coached.’"

Suffridge was inducted into the

in 1961. He was also honored as a member of the all-time

Southeastern Conference The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference whose member institutions are located primarily in the South Central United States, South Central and Southeastern United States. Its 16 members in ...

team in 1982 and was chosen by the Football Writers Association for the all-time All America team.

Professional career

Suffridge was drafted in the sixth round of the

1941 NFL draft The 1941 NFL draft was held on December 10, 1940, at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. With the first overall pick of the draft, the Chicago Bears selected halfback Tom Harmon. The Bears selected 24 players, but forfeited their final fou ...

by the

Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. Founded in 1933 P ...

, and played for the

in 1941 and 1945. His career was shortened due to

. During the war, Suffridge was a lieutenant commander in the

. Suffridge made the

All-Pro All-Pro is an honor bestowed upon professional American football players that designates the best player at each position during a given season. All-Pro players are typically selected by press organizations, who select an "All-Pro team," a list t ...

team in 1941. Again Suffridge's speed was noticed. On one occasion Suffridge blocked three consecutive punts but was penalized for being offsides each time.

"That last offside will cost you $50", Coach
Greasy Neale Alfred Earle "Greasy" Neale (November 5, 1891 – November 2, 1973) was an American football and baseball player and coach. Early life Neale was born on November 5, 1891, in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Although writers eventually assumed that ...
told him. "But I wasn’t offside", Suffridge protested. "That’ll cost you $50 more." "I said I wasn’t offside." "Make it one hundred." "I’m telling you, I wasn’t offside." "It’s now $200." Unwilling to argue the point past $200, Suff sat down. Neale finally told him he would look at the movies. "If you were offside, the $200 fine sticks. If you weren’t, I’ll give you a hundred." The movie showed beyond question that Suffridge had not been offside. "I got the hundred", he said, "the easiest hundred I ever made."

Coaching career

Suffridge coached at

North Carolina State University North Carolina State University (NC State, North Carolina State, NC State University, or NCSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1887 and p ...

from 1946 to 1951. He was a line coach for the Wolfpack.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Suffridge, Bob 1916 births 1974 deaths All-American college football players American football guards Philadelphia Eagles players Players of American football from Knoxville, Tennessee Tennessee Volunteers football players College Football Hall of Fame inductees Georgia Pre-Flight Skycrackers football players United States Navy personnel of World War II United States Navy officers

Early years

College career

Professional career

Coaching career

See also

References