Perry Tuttle
Encyclopedia
Perry Tuttle is a former Clemson football standout in the early 1980s. His career continued into the National Football League
(Buffalo Bills
, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, and Atlanta Falcons
) and Canadian Football League
(Winnipeg Blue Bombers
). Now, he is known for his inspirational speaking, sports marketing, and sports ministry
.
to Russell Samuel and Betty Mae Tuttle. He attended North Davidson High School
and was a standout player throughout his high school career. His successes in high school led to his recruitment by and later him attending Clemson University
.
, which allowed the Tigers to defeat the Nebraska Cornhuskers
for the National Championship. His celebration after the TD catch in the 3rd quarter, of arms outstretched above his head with ball in hand, made the cover of the January 11, 1982 edition of Sports Illustrated
. The S.I picture headline reads, “No.1” with a caption stating, “Orange Bowl Hero Perry Tuttle of Clemson.” In 1991, Clemson made Tuttle a part of their Hall of Fame, and in 1996, he was named as a member of Clemson’s Centennial team. Later in 1999, “a panel of historians ranked Tuttle as the 14th best player in Clemson football history.”
by the Buffalo Bills. It was in Buffalo that Tuttle spent the majority of his three seasons in the NFL. For the two seasons that he spent with the Bills, Tuttle had 24 receptions for 375 yards and 3 touchdowns. Between 1982 and 1983, the latter year was his most productive season. He averaged 15.4 yard a catch on 17 receptions for 264 total yards. After his two seasons in with the Bills, his career in the NFL took a major decline. Due to a very short time with the Buccaneers, Tuttle did not post any stats in Tampa Bay
. And later, while in Atlanta, he only played in 5 games which led to only minimal stat production, 1 reception for 7 yards.
, 50- 11, to win the Grey Cup
Championship, the equivalent to the Super Bowl
in the NFL. The Bombers quarterback Tom Burgess awarded the Offensive Most Value Player honor and linebacker Greg Battle
was named Defensive Most Valuable Player. In the third quarter of the game, Tuttle caught a 60 yard pass that later led to his 5 yard touchdown catch. Two seasons after the Blue Bombers championship win, in 1992, Tuttle ended his football career and moved his family back to North Carolina
(Charlotte). A few years after his retirement, Tuttle was once again recognized for his outstanding football talent with an induction into the Winnipeg Blue Bomber Hall of Fame.
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...
(Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, and Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
) and Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
(Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
). Now, he is known for his inspirational speaking, sports marketing, and sports ministry
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
.
Early life
Perry Warren Tuttle was born on August 2, 1959 in Lexington, North CarolinaLexington, North Carolina
Lexington is the county seat of Davidson County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 19,953. It is located in central North Carolina, twenty miles south of Winston-Salem. Major highways include I-85, U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 70, U.S. Route 52 ...
to Russell Samuel and Betty Mae Tuttle. He attended North Davidson High School
North Davidson High School
North Davidson Senior High School is a public high school in Welcome, North Carolina . It was established in 1952 and is located along Old US Highway 52 in northern Davidson County. The high school serves the Welcome, Arcadia and Midway areas...
and was a standout player throughout his high school career. His successes in high school led to his recruitment by and later him attending Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
.
College Life
The prime of Tuttle football career was during his three seasons (1978-1981) at Clemson University. His career still stands as one of the most remarkable and memorable of the school’s history. As of the 2008 Clemson football season, Tuttle ranks 2nd all-time for touchdown receptions with 17, 2nd all-time for receiving yards with 2,534, 4th all-time for receptions with 150, and 9th all-time yards per catch with 16.82. His most influential season came in 1982 when he earned 1st team All- American honors. Also, during this season, he left a mark on Clemson football history that will never be forgotten. Tuttle caught what ended up being the winning touchdown pass in the 1981 Orange BowlOrange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
, which allowed the Tigers to defeat the Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
for the National Championship. His celebration after the TD catch in the 3rd quarter, of arms outstretched above his head with ball in hand, made the cover of the January 11, 1982 edition of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
. The S.I picture headline reads, “No.1” with a caption stating, “Orange Bowl Hero Perry Tuttle of Clemson.” In 1991, Clemson made Tuttle a part of their Hall of Fame, and in 1996, he was named as a member of Clemson’s Centennial team. Later in 1999, “a panel of historians ranked Tuttle as the 14th best player in Clemson football history.”
NFL career
On April 27, 1982, the 6 foot, 178 pound, Tuttle was selected in the first round (19th overall) of the NFL draftNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by the Buffalo Bills. It was in Buffalo that Tuttle spent the majority of his three seasons in the NFL. For the two seasons that he spent with the Bills, Tuttle had 24 receptions for 375 yards and 3 touchdowns. Between 1982 and 1983, the latter year was his most productive season. He averaged 15.4 yard a catch on 17 receptions for 264 total yards. After his two seasons in with the Bills, his career in the NFL took a major decline. Due to a very short time with the Buccaneers, Tuttle did not post any stats in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
. And later, while in Atlanta, he only played in 5 games which led to only minimal stat production, 1 reception for 7 yards.
CFL career
In 1986, Tuttle began his 6 season career in Canadian Football League with Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Throughout his time with the Bombers, he caught 321 passes for 5,817 yards for 41 touchdowns. On November 25, 1990 at B.C Place Stadium in Vancouver, the Bombers (12-6) defeated the Edmonton EskimosEdmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
, 50- 11, to win the Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
Championship, the equivalent to the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
in the NFL. The Bombers quarterback Tom Burgess awarded the Offensive Most Value Player honor and linebacker Greg Battle
Greg Battle
Greg Battle was an award-winning Canadian Football League linebacker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1987 to 1993 and from 1997 to 1998.He graduated from Arizona State University...
was named Defensive Most Valuable Player. In the third quarter of the game, Tuttle caught a 60 yard pass that later led to his 5 yard touchdown catch. Two seasons after the Blue Bombers championship win, in 1992, Tuttle ended his football career and moved his family back to North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
(Charlotte). A few years after his retirement, Tuttle was once again recognized for his outstanding football talent with an induction into the Winnipeg Blue Bomber Hall of Fame.