Tony
Dorsett enjoyed nothing but success from his days as a Hopewell
Viking, to his collegiate career with the University of Pittsburgh,
and then in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. The fact that his teams
were successful was due in large part to his performance on the
field. With Hopewell in 1971 and 1972, he rushed for over 1000 yards
each season as the Vikings posted consecutive 9-1 records. In 1973,
he went to a downtrodden Pitt team that was 1-9 the previous year
but under first year coach Johnny Majors went 6-4-1 and to the
Fiesta Bowl. That season, he gained a freshman record 1586 yards
including three 200 yard plus games. After an 'off’ year in 1974
when he only gained 1004 yards, Tony was fantastic in 1975 as he ran for
1544 yards, leading the Panthers to the Sun Bowl, where they
defeated Kansas. The highlight of the season was rushing for a record 303 yards as Pitt defeated the
Notre Dame Irish.
The crowning glory of his college career came in 1976 as the Panthers went 12-0, won the
national championship by defeating Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, and
Tony captured the coveted Heisman Trophy. Tony at one time held
18 NCAA records, including rushing yards (6082). A number one draft
choice by the Dallas Cowboys, he immediately enjoyed the ultimate success
by helping Dallas win the Super Bowl over Denver and being named Rookie of the Year. He made
the Pro Bowl the following year when the Cowboys went back to the
Super Bowl, only to lose to Pittsburgh, 35-31. During a Monday Night
game against the Minnesota Vikings in 1982, Tony scored a rushing
touchdown from his team's one yard line, a 99-yard scrimmage play
that may be tied but never broken. Tony made the Pro Bowl
four other times and had eight 1000 yard seasons. In his NFL career,
which included the 1988 season at Denver, he rushed for 12,739 yards
and scored 72 touchdowns. Tony was inducted into the
Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
Tony
Dorsett enjoyed nothing but success from his days as a Hopewell
Viking, to his collegiate career with the University of Pittsburgh,
and then in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. The fact that his teams
were successful was due in large part to his performance on the
field. With Hopewell in 1971 and 1972, he rushed for over 1000 yards
each season as the Vikings posted consecutive 9-1 records. In 1973,
he went to a downtrodden Pitt team that was 1-9 the previous year
but under first year coach Johnny Majors went 6-4-1 and to the
Fiesta Bowl. That season, he gained a freshman record 1586 yards
including three 200 yard plus games. After an 'off’ year in 1974
when he only gained 1004 yards, Tony was fantastic in 1975 as he ran for
1544 yards, leading the Panthers to the Sun Bowl, where they
defeated Kansas. The highlight of the season was rushing for a record 303 yards as Pitt defeated the
Notre Dame Irish.
The crowning glory of his college career came in 1976 as the Panthers went 12-0, won the
national championship by defeating Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, and
Tony captured the coveted Heisman Trophy. Tony at one time held
18 NCAA records, including rushing yards (6082). A number one draft
choice by the Dallas Cowboys, he immediately enjoyed the ultimate success
by helping Dallas win the Super Bowl over Denver and being named Rookie of the Year. He made
the Pro Bowl the following year when the Cowboys went back to the
Super Bowl, only to lose to Pittsburgh, 35-31. During a Monday Night
game against the Minnesota Vikings in 1982, Tony scored a rushing
touchdown from his team's one yard line, a 99-yard scrimmage play
that may be tied but never broken. Tony made the Pro Bowl
four other times and had eight 1000 yard seasons. In his NFL career,
which included the 1988 season at Denver, he rushed for 12,739 yards
and scored 72 touchdowns. Tony was inducted into the