Sid Tinsley Explained

Sid Tinsley
Position:Punter
Birth Date:14 January 1920
Birth Place:Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S.
Death Place:Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S.
Height Ft:5
Height In:9
Weight Lbs:168
College:Clemson
Draftpick:1
Pastteams:
Highlights:
  • NFL punting yards leader (1945)
Undraftedyear:1945
Statlabel1:Punts
Statvalue1:57
Statlabel2:Punting yards
Statvalue2:2,308
Statlabel3:Yards per punt
Statvalue3:40.5

Sidney Wallace Tinsley (January 14, 1920 – June 3, 2006) was an American football punter in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football at Clemson, Tinsley played one season for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1945.

College career

Tinsley played college football for the Clemson Tigers program.[1] While at Clemson, Tinsley was a running back.[2]

Tinsley's college career was interrupted by World War II, as he was drafted into the Army. After returning to Clemson in 1944, Tinsley found out that his roommate and Tigers teammate Claude Rothell was killed during the Normandy landings.[3]

NFL career

After college, Tinsley played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers during their 1945 season. Although he was a running back at Clemson, the Steelers primarily used Tinsley as punter. Tinsley did rush the ball 5 times for 3 yards.[4] Tinsley also recorded an interception and recovered a fumble.[4] However, Tinsley's greatest accomplishment came through his punting, as he led the league in punts (57) and punting yards (2,308) in 1945.[4] An injury ahead of the 1946 season ended his football career.[3]

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vandervort. Will. Clemson's 25 best teams: No. 25. The Clemson Insider. June 22, 2016. January 2, 2017.
  2. News: Spear. Bob. Clemson impact players from the rivalry. The State. November 26, 2009. January 2, 2017.
  3. Web site: Cooper. Rick. Innocence interrupted CLEMSON FOOTBALL: Returns to Riggs Field, where Sid Tinsley played on eve of World Ward II Howard said Tinsley touchdown was 'greatest run I have ever seen'. Spartanburg Herald-Journal. April 4, 2002. November 9, 2024.
  4. Web site: Sid Tinsley Stats. Sports-Reference. Pro Football Reference. January 2, 2017.