Sam "Bam" Cunningham

[cumberlandreds]

Sam "Bam" Cunningham passed away at the age of 71. He was a stand out RB for USC and then in the NFL with Patriots. I remember him for diving over the top of his offensive line to score a bunch of TD's in one of the Rose Bowls of the early 70's. He was also known for helping bring integration to football in the south. His USC team in 1970 throttled an all white Bear Bryant coached Alabama team. Bryant saw he couldn't compete any longer without black players and started recruited them for 1971. Alabama went on to dominate the SEC throughout the 70's. Jerry Claiborne said Sam Cunningham did more for integrate Alabama in 60 minutes than Martin Luther King did in 20 years. RIP Sam Cunningham.


https://www.espn.com/college-footbal...rusher-dies-71

[RichRed]

One of the best football names of all time.

[Roy Tucker]

I remember that ‘73 Rose Bowl against OSU. Cunningham sky’ed over the Buckeyes for 4 second half TDs. Quite the player.

I worked with the OSU kicker Blair Conway from that team for a couple years. Showed us all of his Buckeye paraphernalia like letters, programs, golden pants, etc.

[Betterread]

When I was a boy, I pretended to leap over snowbanks like Sam Bam Cunningham jumped over the line of scrimmage for TDS. One of my favorite RBs. Older brother of Randall Cunningham, great Eagles/Vikings QB and helped Alabama integrate through his performance vrs an all-white ‘Bama team in 1970.

[westofyou]

When I was a boy, I pretended to leap over snowbanks like Sam Bam Cunningham jumped over the line of scrimmage for TDS. One of my favorite RBs. Older brother of Randall Cunningham, great Eagles/Vikings QB and helped Alabama integrate through his performance vrs an all-white ‘Bama team in 1970.

We used to go where they put all the towns leaves and do the same, it was a blast

[GAC]

I remember that ‘73 Rose Bowl against OSU. Cunningham sky’ed over the Buckeyes for 4 second half TDs. Quite the player.

He smoked us in that '73 Rose Bowl, and was the MVP. Drafted by the Patriots, in '74 he was teamed up with another Buckeye PAC-10 nemesis in QB Jim Plunkett. The following year they drafted QB Steve Grogan (who I liked). Remember WRs Reggie Rucker, Darryl Stingley and Stanley Morgan.