George Blackburn
Encyclopedia
George "Blackie" Blackburn (October 14, 1913 – May 15, 2006) was an American football
coach. He served as the head coach at Miami University
(1948), the University of Cincinnati
(1955–1960), and the University of Virginia
(1965–1970), compiling a career college football
record of 61–60–7. Blackburn was also an assistant coach under coaching legends Sid Gillman
at Miami and Cincinnati and under Earl Blaik
at the United States Military Academy
.
, Blackburn graduated from Findlay College
in 1936.
lead the Miami Redskins
to a victory over Texas Tech in the 1948 Sun Bowl. Blackburn was named head coach for the 1948 season after Gillman left. Blackburn stayed at Miami's head coach for one season guiding the team to 7–1–1 record and the 1948 Mid-American Conference
championship. In 1949, Gillman took the head coaching position at the University of Cincinnati
and Blackburn his assistant coach there. Woody Hayes
succeeded Blackburn at Miami for the 1949 season.
' head coach. he compiled an overall record of 25–27–6.
for one season at the University of Virginia
before being named head coach in 1965. During his six years as the Cavaliers
' head coach, he compiled an overall record of 29–32. In 1968, he was named Atlantic Coast Conference
Coach of the Year after leading the Cavaliers to a 7–3 record.
, Houston Oilers, and New England Patriots
of the NFL
.
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...
coach. He served as the head coach at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
(1948), the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
(1955–1960), and the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
(1965–1970), compiling a career college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
record of 61–60–7. Blackburn was also an assistant coach under coaching legends Sid Gillman
Sid Gillman
Sidney "Sid" Gillman was an American football player, coach, executive, and innovator. Gillman's insistence on stretching the football field by throwing deep downfield passes, instead of short passes to running backs or wide receivers at the sides of the line of scrimmage, was instrumental in...
at Miami and Cincinnati and under Earl Blaik
Earl Blaik
Earl Henry "Red" Blaik was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and United States Army officer. He served as the head football coach at Dartmouth College from 1934 to 1940 and at the United States Military Academy from 1941 to 1958, compiling a career college...
at the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
.
Early life
A native of Columbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, Blackburn graduated from Findlay College
University of Findlay
The University of Findlay is a private university located in the city of Findlay in Hancock County, Ohio, United States. It was affiliated with the Churches of God, General Conference, and was founded in 1882 by the city of Findlay and the Churches of God, General Conference. Findlay offers more...
in 1936.
Miami
As an assistant, Blackburn helped Sid GillmanSid Gillman
Sidney "Sid" Gillman was an American football player, coach, executive, and innovator. Gillman's insistence on stretching the football field by throwing deep downfield passes, instead of short passes to running backs or wide receivers at the sides of the line of scrimmage, was instrumental in...
lead the Miami Redskins
Miami RedHawks football
The Miami University RedHawks, known as the Miami Redskins before 1996, are a NCAA Division I FBS college football program that competes in the Mid-American Conference...
to a victory over Texas Tech in the 1948 Sun Bowl. Blackburn was named head coach for the 1948 season after Gillman left. Blackburn stayed at Miami's head coach for one season guiding the team to 7–1–1 record and the 1948 Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
championship. In 1949, Gillman took the head coaching position at the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
and Blackburn his assistant coach there. Woody Hayes
Woody Hayes
Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio...
succeeded Blackburn at Miami for the 1949 season.
Cincinnati
When Gillman left Cincinnati for the Los Angeles Rams for the 1955 season, Blackburn replaced him again. In his six years as the BearcatsCincinnati Bearcats football
The Cincinnati Bearcats football program represents the University of Cincinnati in a college football. They compete at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Big East Conference. The Bearcat football program is one of the nation's oldest, having fielded a team as...
' head coach. he compiled an overall record of 25–27–6.
Virginia
Blackburn was an assistant under Bill EliasBill Elias
William T. "Bill" Elias is an American former football coach. He served as the head coach at George Washington University, the University of Virginia, and the United States Naval Academy...
for one season at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
before being named head coach in 1965. During his six years as the Cavaliers
Virginia Cavaliers football
Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
' head coach, he compiled an overall record of 29–32. In 1968, he was named Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
Coach of the Year after leading the Cavaliers to a 7–3 record.
NFL scout
After leaving Virginia, Blackburn spent 17 years as a professional football scout with the New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, Houston Oilers, and New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
of the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.