Vince Kendrick
Encyclopedia
Vincent Kendrick is a former American college and professional football
player who was a running back
in the National Football League
(NFL) for two seasons during the 1970s. Kendrick played college football
for the University of Florida
, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Atlanta Falcons
and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
of the NFL.
in 1952. He attended Miami Springs High School
in Miami Springs, Florida
, where he played high school football
for the Miami Springs Golden Hawks.
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
, where he played for coach Doug Dickey
's Florida Gators football
team from 1971 to 1973. As a senior team captain
in 1973, he rushed 127 times for 567 yards and five touchdowns. In his three-year college career, he totaled 1,269 yards on 279 attempts in an injury-plagued career spent primarily blocking for tailback Nat Moore
.
Kendrick graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree
in broadcasting
in 1980.
, and he played for the Falcons for a single season in , mainly as a backup and on special teams. He sat out 1975
after suffering a knee injury in a preseason game against the New York Jets
. One of many injured Falcons, he was left unprotected for the 1976 NFL Expansion Draft
, and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers expansion team. In Tampa Bay, he found himself in competition with his Florida Gators successor, Jimmy DuBose
, for the fullback
spot on the Bucs' roster. He scored the Bucs' first franchise touchdown, in an exhibition game against the Falcons, but was never able to regain his pre-injury form and was released after the season opener against the Houston Oilers.
, working with the running backs. After his first wife died, Kendrick and his young son Vinnie briefly lived in the football dormitory. Kendrick left coaching after the 1983 season, and eventually married his second wife, a minister. He worked as the community service director for the city of Deerfield Beach, Florida
. His son Vinnie was accepted the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado
, where he played two seasons for the Air Force Falcons football
team; he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force.
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...
player who was a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in the National Football League
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...
(NFL) for two seasons during the 1970s. Kendrick played 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...
for the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and thereafter, he played professionally for the 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 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...
of the NFL.
Early years
Kendrick was born in Miami, FloridaMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
in 1952. He attended Miami Springs High School
Miami Springs High School
Miami Springs High School is a secondary school located at 751 Dove Avenue in Miami Springs, Florida, USA; its principal is Anna L. Rodriguez. The school is part of Miami-Dade County Public School's nationally-accredited magnet program, specializing in travel and tourism, the oldest of its kind in...
in Miami Springs, Florida
Miami Springs, Florida
Miami Springs is a Miami suburban city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city was founded by Glenn Hammond Curtiss, "The Father of Naval Aviation", and James Bright, during the famous "land boom" of the 1920s and was originally named Country Club Estates...
, where he played high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
for the Miami Springs Golden Hawks.
College career
Kendrick received an athletic scholarshipAthletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where he played for coach Doug Dickey
Doug Dickey
Douglas Adair "Doug" Dickey is a former American college football player and coach and college athletics administrator. Dickey is a South Dakota native who was raised in Florida and graduated from the University of Florida, where he played college football...
's Florida Gators football
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
team from 1971 to 1973. As a senior team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
in 1973, he rushed 127 times for 567 yards and five touchdowns. In his three-year college career, he totaled 1,269 yards on 279 attempts in an injury-plagued career spent primarily blocking for tailback Nat Moore
Nat Moore
Nathaniel "Nat" Moore is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for thirteen seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. Moore played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for...
.
Kendrick graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
in 1980.
Professional career
The Atlanta Falcons selected Kendrick in the fourth round (96th pick overall) of the 1974 NFL Draft1974 NFL Draft
The 1974 National Football League Draft took place at the Americana Hotel in New York City on January 29–30, 1974. Each of the 26 NFL teams was granted 17 selections for a total of 442 picks....
, and he played for the Falcons for a single season in , mainly as a backup and on special teams. He sat out 1975
1975 Atlanta Falcons season
The 1975 Atlanta Falcons season was the Falcons' 10th season. The Falcons drafted Steve Bartkowski with their first round pick in the NFL Draft.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-References:**...
after suffering a knee injury in a preseason game against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. One of many injured Falcons, he was left unprotected for the 1976 NFL Expansion Draft
1976 NFL Expansion Draft
The 1976 National Football League Expansion draft was held on March 30 – 31, 1976. The expansion teams, the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, each selected 39 players from the other 26 NFL teams. When one player was chosen from an existing team, that team was then permitted to...
, and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers expansion team. In Tampa Bay, he found himself in competition with his Florida Gators successor, Jimmy DuBose
Jimmy DuBose
Jimmy DeWayne DuBose is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League for three seasons in the 1970s...
, for the fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
spot on the Bucs' roster. He scored the Bucs' first franchise touchdown, in an exhibition game against the Falcons, but was never able to regain his pre-injury form and was released after the season opener against the Houston Oilers.
Life after the NFL
Kendrick returned to Gainesville after his two seasons in the NFL, first as a graduate assistant for coach Doug Dickey, and then as an assistant coach for new head coach Charley PellCharley Pell
Charles Byron "Charley" Pell was an American college football player and coach. Pell was an Alabama native and an alumnus of the University of Alabama, where he played college football. He is most notably remembered as the head coach of the Clemson University and the University of Florida...
, working with the running backs. After his first wife died, Kendrick and his young son Vinnie briefly lived in the football dormitory. Kendrick left coaching after the 1983 season, and eventually married his second wife, a minister. He worked as the community service director for the city of Deerfield Beach, Florida
Deerfield Beach, Florida
Deerfield Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, USA. The city is named for the numerous deer that once roamed the area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 75,018...
. His son Vinnie was accepted the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
, where he played two seasons for the Air Force Falcons football
Air Force Falcons football
The Air Force Falcons are a college football team from the United States Air Force Academy, located just outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the NCAA Division I and the Mountain West Conference.-Style:...
team; he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force.
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- Florida Gators football, 1970–1979
- List of Florida Gators football players
- List of University of Florida alumni