Word: plunketts
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Dates: during 1970-1970
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QUARTERBACK. Jim Plunkett, Stanford, 6 ft. 3 in., 210 lbs. In the so-called Year of the Quarterback, Plunkett stands taller than any competitor. Winner of the Heisman Trophy by a lopsided vote, he not only led the Indians to their first Rose Bowl bid in 18 years but rolled up 7,887 yds. in total offense, a new career record for major-college quarterbacks. Big and brawny enough to shake off tacklers, Plunkett is a classic pro-style drop-back passer with a strong, accurate arm at all ranges. Rival coaches praise his tactical knowledge, his knack for reading...
Determined to prove it, Plunkett went home that summer and "worked my tail off. I threw almost every day to my old high school receivers." He worked even harder in his sophomore year as a "redshirt," practicing with the varsity but not playing in any games -so that he would have an additional year of eligibility. Finally, he started his first varsity game in 1968 against San Jose State College. Connecting on 10 out of 13 passes for 277 yds., he buried San Jose by throwing for four touchdowns and running for a fifth. A few spectacular performances later...
...next season he exploded for 2,673 yds. and 20 touchdowns, breaking virtually every passing record in the Pacific Eight Conference. This season, deftly mixing short bullets with long bombs, Plunkett was all but untouchable. In the opener he led Stanford to a 34-28 win over Arkansas by constantly outfoxing the defense. Noting that Plunkett completed ten first-down passes in 15 third-down situations, Arkansas Coach Frank Broyles marveled: "That's great quarterbacking...
Against Southern Cat, a team that Stanford had not beaten in twelve years, Plunkett completed a remarkable 61% of his passes to down the Spartans 24-14. Said U.S.C. Coach John McKay afterward, "Plunkett is not just a drop-back passer. He can roll out, run when he's in trouble, and get rid of the ball with guys hanging all over...
...Plunkett figures to have the pro scouts hanging all over him throughout the winter. "He could play for the pros right now," says the Dallas Cowboys' Gil Brandt. "He'll undoubtedly be the first guy selected in the draft." Far from resenting the publicity heaped on Plunkett, his teammates regard him as their personal property. "If anyone ever got by me and hurt Jim," says Offensive Tackle Bill Meyers, "I think I'd turn in my uniform." After cinching the Rose Bowl bid, Stanford lost its final two games -a letdown that the players regretted because...