Gaynell Tinsley
Encyclopedia
Gaynell Charles "Gus" Tinsley (February 1, 1915 – July 24, 2002) was an American football
end and coach. He was a consensus All-American for Louisiana State
in 1935 and 1936 and an All-NFL selection while playing for the Chicago Cardinals
in 1937 and 1938. During his three years in the NFL, Tinsley set or tied NFL single-season records with 674 receiving yards in 1937 and 41 pass receptions in 1938. He later served as the head football coach at LSU from 1948–1954.
and raised in Homer, Louisiana
in the northern part of the state. He attended Louisiana State University where he played football and baseball and was selected as the captain of both teams. He was considered one of the greatest receivers in college football, earning consensus All-American honors in both 1935 and 1936. As a junior in 1935, Tinsley was named as a first-team All-American by the Associated Press
, United Press, Liberty Magazine
(selected based on a poll of 1,521 varsity players in all parts of the country), Collier's Weekly
, the Newspaper Editors Association, the International News Service
, and the New York Sun
. In 1936, Tinsley repeated as a first-team All-American with each of these publications and also received the first-team designation from the Central Press Association
(selected by the captains of more than 50 college football teams at "important universities and colleges throughout the United States"), and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Tinsley's profile at the College Football Hall of Fame
describes him this way: "Tinsley was a magnificent athletic specimen, standing 6-0, and weighing 196-pounds, size he used equally well as a defensive stalwart who was a blocking master." As a sophomore in 1934, Tinsley had a 65-yard pass reception (thrown by halfback Abe Mickal) against Southern Methodist University
, which stood as a record for several years as "the longest pass in Southern football history." Tinsley's coach at LSU, Bernie Moore
, once said, "Tinsley could have made All-American at any position. He was so tough, he made blockers quit. He's the greatest lineman I ever saw."
Tinsley concluded his college career by playing in an annual game between the college all-stars and an NFL team. Tinsley scored the only points of the game on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Sammy Baugh
, as the college players defeated the Green Bay Packers
, 6-0.
In 1993, LSU selected its all-time team as part of the celebration of the centennial of LSU football. Tinsley was "the only unanimous choice" for LSU's "Early Years Team of the Century." Upon his death in 2002, LSU Sports described his contributions to the school's football teams of the mid-1930s as follows:
. He played for the Cardinals for three years in 1937, 1938 and 1940. As a rookie in 1937, Tinsley set an NFL record with 675 receiving yards, and had the longest reception in the NFL at 97 yards. He also ranked among the NFL's 1937 leaders in several categories, including 36 receptions (2nd in the NFL), 675 receiving yards (1st in the NFL), 677 total yards from scrimmage (2nd in the NFL), five receiving touchdowns (2nd in the NFL), 18.8 yards per reception (1st in the NFL) and 61.4 receiving yards per game (1st in the NFL). At the end of the 1937 season, Tinsley was selected as a first-team all-NFL player by the United Press, the NFL, the New York Daily News, and Collyers Eye Magazine.
In 1938, Tinsley continued as one of the league's top receivers, and he was selected as a first-team NFL 1938 All-Pro player. His 41 receptions in 1938 tied the all-time NFL single-season record, and he once again had the longest pass reception in the 1938 NFL season at 98 yards. He also ranked among the 1938 league leaders with 516 receiving yards (2nd in the NFL) and 46.9 yards per game (4th in the NFL). He was selected again selected as a first-team all-NFL player, this time receiving the honor from the Pro Football Writers, the NFL and Collyers Eye Magazine.
When Tinsley retired, he ranked fourth in NFL history in pass receptions, despite having played only three seasons of professional football.
. He then served as an assistant football coach at LSU through the 1947 season. In 1948, LSU's long-time football coach, Bernie Moore, retired, and Tinsley was hired to replace his former mentor. In 1949, Tinsley's team finished the regular season 8–2 and played in the Sugar Bowl
against Oklahoma. Tinsley's LSU teams never met with the same success they had achieved in 1949. In seven years as head coach at LSU, Tinsley's teams compiled a record of 35–34–6. Displeased with the team's performance, the LSU board of supervisors fired Tinsley in February 1955, though they agreed to pay his salary of $12,500 per year for the two remaining years on his contract. After the vote to remove him, Tinsley said, "I have not made any future plans as yet, but I do know that I will continue to help LSU whenever and wherever I can."
, at age 87.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
end and coach. He was a consensus All-American for Louisiana State
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in 1935 and 1936 and an All-NFL selection while playing for the Chicago Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1937 and 1938. During his three years in the NFL, Tinsley set or tied NFL single-season records with 674 receiving yards in 1937 and 41 pass receptions in 1938. He later served as the head football coach at LSU from 1948–1954.
College football All-American
Tinsley was born in Ruple, LouisianaClaiborne Parish, Louisiana
Claiborne Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Homer and as of 2000, the population is 16,851.-History:The parish is named for the first Louisiana governor, William C. C. Claiborne....
and raised in Homer, Louisiana
Homer, Louisiana
Homer is present day parish seat of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, United States. The town was named after the Greek poet Homer and was laid out around the Courthouse Square in 1850 by Frank Vaughn. The present day brick courthouse, built in the Greek Revival style of architecture, is one of only...
in the northern part of the state. He attended Louisiana State University where he played football and baseball and was selected as the captain of both teams. He was considered one of the greatest receivers in college football, earning consensus All-American honors in both 1935 and 1936. As a junior in 1935, Tinsley was named as a first-team All-American by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, United Press, Liberty Magazine
Liberty Magazine
Liberty is a magazine published by the Seventh-day Adventist Church that covers issues involving separation of church and state, and current events in politics...
(selected based on a poll of 1,521 varsity players in all parts of the country), Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
, the Newspaper Editors Association, the International News Service
International News Service
International News Service was a U.S.-based news agency founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909.Established two years after the Scripps family founded the United Press Association, INS scrapped among the newswires...
, and the New York Sun
New York Sun
The New York Sun was a weekday daily newspaper published in New York City from 2002 to 2008. When it debuted on April 16, 2002, adopting the name, motto, and masthead of an otherwise unrelated earlier New York paper, The Sun , it became the first general-interest broadsheet newspaper to be started...
. In 1936, Tinsley repeated as a first-team All-American with each of these publications and also received the first-team designation from the Central Press Association
Central Press Association
The Central Press Association was an American newspaper syndication company based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in business from 1910 to 1971. At its peak, the Central Press supplied features, columns, and photographs to more than 400 newspapers and 12 million daily readers.-History:Virgil Venice...
(selected by the captains of more than 50 college football teams at "important universities and colleges throughout the United States"), and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Tinsley's profile at the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
describes him this way: "Tinsley was a magnificent athletic specimen, standing 6-0, and weighing 196-pounds, size he used equally well as a defensive stalwart who was a blocking master." As a sophomore in 1934, Tinsley had a 65-yard pass reception (thrown by halfback Abe Mickal) against Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
, which stood as a record for several years as "the longest pass in Southern football history." Tinsley's coach at LSU, Bernie Moore
Bernie Moore
-External links:...
, once said, "Tinsley could have made All-American at any position. He was so tough, he made blockers quit. He's the greatest lineman I ever saw."
Tinsley concluded his college career by playing in an annual game between the college all-stars and an NFL team. Tinsley scored the only points of the game on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Sammy Baugh
Sammy Baugh
Samuel Adrian "Slingin' Sammy" Baugh was an American football player and coach. He played college football for the Horned Frogs at Texas Christian University, where he was a two-time All-American. He then played in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins from 1937 to 1952...
, as the college players defeated the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, 6-0.
In 1993, LSU selected its all-time team as part of the celebration of the centennial of LSU football. Tinsley was "the only unanimous choice" for LSU's "Early Years Team of the Century." Upon his death in 2002, LSU Sports described his contributions to the school's football teams of the mid-1930s as follows:
"Tinsley is widely considered to be among the finest athletes to ever play at LSU. The star end led the Tigers to their first two SEC titles and played in two Sugar Bowls. He earned All-SEC and All-American honors in 1935-36 for his ability to dominate a game on both sides of the ball. In 1936, he was also second in balloting for national MVP honors. ... At 6-3, 215 pounds, Tinsley was considered to the prototype end of his era because of his mobility."
Professional football player
Tinsley was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals as the 12th overall pick in the 1937 NFL Draft1937 NFL Draft
The 1937 National Football League Draft was the second draft held by the NFL. The draft took place December 12, 1936, consisting of 10 rounds, with 100 player selections two of which would later become members of the Professional Football Hall of Fame...
. He played for the Cardinals for three years in 1937, 1938 and 1940. As a rookie in 1937, Tinsley set an NFL record with 675 receiving yards, and had the longest reception in the NFL at 97 yards. He also ranked among the NFL's 1937 leaders in several categories, including 36 receptions (2nd in the NFL), 675 receiving yards (1st in the NFL), 677 total yards from scrimmage (2nd in the NFL), five receiving touchdowns (2nd in the NFL), 18.8 yards per reception (1st in the NFL) and 61.4 receiving yards per game (1st in the NFL). At the end of the 1937 season, Tinsley was selected as a first-team all-NFL player by the United Press, the NFL, the New York Daily News, and Collyers Eye Magazine.
In 1938, Tinsley continued as one of the league's top receivers, and he was selected as a first-team NFL 1938 All-Pro player. His 41 receptions in 1938 tied the all-time NFL single-season record, and he once again had the longest pass reception in the 1938 NFL season at 98 yards. He also ranked among the 1938 league leaders with 516 receiving yards (2nd in the NFL) and 46.9 yards per game (4th in the NFL). He was selected again selected as a first-team all-NFL player, this time receiving the honor from the Pro Football Writers, the NFL and Collyers Eye Magazine.
When Tinsley retired, he ranked fourth in NFL history in pass receptions, despite having played only three seasons of professional football.
Coaching career
After service in the U.S. Navy, Tinsley worked as a high school football coach in Haynesville, LouisianaHaynesville, Louisiana
Haynesville is a town in northern Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, United States, located just south of the Arkansas border. The population was 2,679 at the 2000 census....
. He then served as an assistant football coach at LSU through the 1947 season. In 1948, LSU's long-time football coach, Bernie Moore, retired, and Tinsley was hired to replace his former mentor. In 1949, Tinsley's team finished the regular season 8–2 and played in the Sugar Bowl
1950 Sugar Bowl
The 1950 edition to the Sugar Bowl featured the second ranked Oklahoma Sooners and the 9th ranked LSU Tigers.Prior to the game, former LSU player Piggy Barnes was caught spying on Oklahoma practices with a telescope and a camera....
against Oklahoma. Tinsley's LSU teams never met with the same success they had achieved in 1949. In seven years as head coach at LSU, Tinsley's teams compiled a record of 35–34–6. Displeased with the team's performance, the LSU board of supervisors fired Tinsley in February 1955, though they agreed to pay his salary of $12,500 per year for the two remaining years on his contract. After the vote to remove him, Tinsley said, "I have not made any future plans as yet, but I do know that I will continue to help LSU whenever and wherever I can."
Later years
Tinsley died in 2002 at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, LouisianaBaton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
, at age 87.
Head coaching record
See also
- 1935 College Football All-America Team1935 College Football All-America TeamThe 1935 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1935 college football season...
- 1936 College Football All-America Team1936 College Football All-America TeamThe 1936 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1936 college football season...