Dennis Gaubatz
- Detroit Lions (1963-1964)
- Baltimore Colts (1965-1969)
- NFL Champion (1968 )
Dennis Earl Gaubatz ( born February 11, 1940 in Needville, Texas ) is an American former American football player at the position of linebackers. He played in the National Football League ( NFL) for the Detroit Lions and the Baltimore Colts.
Youth
Dennis Gaubatz came from a modest economic circumstances. His father worked as a night watchman in a sulfur factory and moved to West Columbia, Texas, where his son attended high school with the family. In the football school team he played as a linebacker and center and was elected in his final year in the state of Texas selection.
Playing career
College career
Gaubatz got several scholarships offered and decided in 1959 to study at Louisiana State University ( LSU ). During his studies, he married his childhood sweetheart and was then monthly financial support from his college with 75 U.S. dollars. It was only in his second year he played linebacker college football for the LSU Tigers. In 1962 he won with his team with a 25:7 victory over the team from the University of Colorado Boulder the Orange Bowl. In the same year his choice was made in the selection of the Southeastern Conference. In 1963, the election of Gaubatz for All-American. Gaubatz was honored by his college because of his athletic performance three times.
Professional career
Dennis Gaubatz 1963 was selected by the Detroit Lions in the eighth round of the NFL Drafts as 111 players. The Boston Patriots of the American Football League ( AFL) showed interest in Gaubatz and chose him in the AFL Draft in the 25th round at 199 point. Gaubatz decided the contract offer the Lions to accept. He had aground the hope for the Lions as a starter, as the careers of two -budgetary Line backers of the Lions, Joe Schmidt and Carl Brettschneider, inclined towards the end. In his first game year he came mainly as a substitute at the linebacker position for use, he also received operating time on special teams the Lions. In 1964 he replaced Carl Brettschneider on the position of an Outside linebackers before he had to replace the later a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Joe Schmidt as a result of the violation as a Middle Linebacker. Both game years have been for the Lions not successful, they could qualify neither in 1963 nor in 1964 for the play- offs.
In addition to his football career Gaubatz successfully studied industrial technology. In 1965 he completed his studies successfully and worked after the NFL season at Ford This year, he was approached by Don Shula, the head coach of the Baltimore Colts, who presented him a contract offer with an annual salary of $ 18,000. Gaubatz gave his consent, sold with the help of the Colts his home in Detroit and moved to Baltimore. The Colts were a top team in the NFL and failed in the previous year only in the NFL playoff. Shula was able to integrate pre-season Gaubatz in his game system. He succeeded with numerous players the Colts as close to Johnny Unitas, Bobby Boyd or Bubba Smith friendship. Already in his first game year for the Colts Gaubatz was responsible for the announcement of the defense moves. With his team he could win 10 of 14 games in 1965 in the Regular Season. In the subsequent Divisional play-off game but the Colts failed on the Green Bay Packers 13-10. Although the Colts in the top league could continue to establish them in 1968 succeeded in re- making the play -offs. After 13 wins from 14 games beat the Colts in the Divisional play-off game with the Minnesota Vikings 24:14. In the NFL playoff is Gaubatz was able to prevail with his team against Cleveland Browns with 34:0. This victory meant for the Colts to move into the AFL- NFL World Championship Game, where they met the New York Jets. Gaubatz succeeded in playing a sack against Joe Namath, the quarterback for the Jets. But he could not therefore prevent the 16:7 defeat his team in Super Bowl III.
The 1969 season was good for neither the Colts nor Gaubatz. While the Colts lost their leading position in the NFL, is Gaubatz injured in the season by the hand and was replaced by Mike Curtis. Shula left after the season, the Colts and Gaubatz asked the Washington Redskins made to be because he wanted to play for their coach Vince Lombardi. Lombardi, however, died before the season and Gaubatz decided to end his playing career.
After playing career
Dennis Gaubatz also worked during his career with the Colts in the economy and sold in the off-season cement. He ran after his career, a bar and a concession stand. After he returned to his hometown, he worked in a senior position at Dow Chemical, 1998, he sat down to rest.