Bulldog Turner

Player

Coach

  • New York Titans (1962 )
  • 2 × Pro Bowl selection ( 1951, 1952)
  • 8 × All-Pro selection (1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1948)
  • 4 × NFL Champion (1940, 1941, 1943, 1946)
  • NFL 1940s All- Decade Team
  • Back number 66 blocked by Bears
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame (1966 )
  • College Football Hall of Fame (1960 )
  • Texas Sports Hall of Fame

Douglas Clyde " Bulldog" Turner ( born March 10, 1919 in Plains, Texas, USA, † October 30, 1998 in Gatesville, Texas) was an American football player and American - Trainer. He played in the National Football League ( NFL) for the Chicago Bears.

Youth

Clyde Turner grew up in Sweetwater, where he attended high school. He played in the local football team in various positions. Particularly striking he was not there, his body weight was too low. At no position he could establish himself as a starter. At the age of 16 he received his degree and subsequently worked as a cattle seller to get the money for a college degree to earn. In his spare time he was able to increase his original body weight of 70 kg to 86 kg through rigorous training. To impress his environment, he slept with his pointed and later nickname " Bulldog" itself.

Playing career

College career

From 1937 to 1939 studied Bulldog Turner Hardin - Simmons University. The Hardin - Simmons University had a football in the sport relatively minor team. Turner, who was able to increase his weight again at 97 kg at the College, ran for their football team, and was initially intended for any particular Spielerpostion. Since the original starting players had injured on the position of the center, he was employed in the offensive line and the team was immediately well as a starter. During his three years lasting college career, his team won 23 games, lost three and played twice in a draw.

Professional career

Turner played in college in a relatively minor football team. In the 40s of the 20th century, the system of the NFL Draft was still in its infancy. Professional scouts were still unknown, the NFL teams relied primarily on the All-American lists that published the various press organs. All the more surprising was the interest of the NFL teams at Bulldog Turner. Although it was the Bears in 1940 managed to pod judge Turner in the first round in seventh place tried the Detroit Lions Turner to their team to tie. The NFL put a stop to this violation of their rules and spoke against the Lions a fine in the amount of 5,000 U.S. dollars.

The Bears were coached by George Halas. Bulldog Turner was employed by him in his rookie season as a center of quarterback Sid Luckman, but also got use time as a guard than tackle, as well as linebacker in the defense of the team. Turner was able to win his first title in his first year as a pro. In the NFL championship game in 1940, the Washington Redskins were beaten with 73:0. Turner could carry an interception for a touchdown in the opponent's end zone. In 1941, the Bears were able to defend their title They defeated the New York Giants with 37:9. Again, Turner began an interception.

1942 Halas left the Bears during the season and was replaced by Hunk Anderson and Luke Johnsos. The Bears played a defeat -free season and Turner was able to achieve eight interceptions in the season and use this as an area gain of 96 yards. But completely surprising his team lost the NFL playoff against the Redskins with 14:6. Turner and his team remained unimpressed by this defeat and secured in 1943 with a 41:21 win the title in the third final against the Redskins. Turner started again from a pass.

In the 1945 season, Turner was only two games for the team from Chicago contest. He was used by the U.S. Army for military service and spent it as a player in a football team of the Air Force.

In 1946 George Halas returned to the Bears as a coach and led the team for the fourth title in seven years. In the NFL playoff to the Giants with 24:14 had to admit defeat. Once again, Turner intercepted a pass of the opposing quarterbacks.

1947 was responsible for a playful highlight Turner. In a game against the Redskins, he was able to intercept a pass from Sammy Baugh and wear it over a distance of 96 yards into the end zone of the Redskins. He wore Baugh, who still tried to stop the generation of future touchdowns him over a distance of seven yards into the end zone with.

After the 1952 season ended after 132 Turner play in the NFL his playing career.

Coaching career

Bulldog Turner was committed after his playing career by the Bears as an assistant coach. In 1962, was head coach of the New York Titans. He held that office one years held and was subsequently replaced by Weeb Ewbank.

Honors

Bulldog Turner played twice in the Pro Bowl, the final game of the best players of the season. Eight times he was elected to the All Pro. His shirt number is no longer assigned by the Bears. Turner is a member of the NFL 1940s All- Decade Team, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.

Death

Clyde Turner died of lung cancer and was buried in Greenbriar Cemetery in Gatesville. He left behind two daughters.

152702
de