plasticman
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I agree. This is the kind of name that sparks interest.
Who is Lowndes Shingler?
Whenever I decide to do a little research on the Dallas Cowboys history, such as their drafts, I often come across some incredible stories. Some are funny, some are sad.
Lowndes Shingler was the first quarterback drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in their franchise's history.
He was drafted in the 12th round of the Cowboys first draft which took place in 1961. The NFL and AFL had not merged and so there were two separate drafts. He was also taken in the 9th round of the AFL draft by the Oakland Raiders.
Shingler was the starting quarterback for Clemson in 1960, the second of three consecutive starting quarterbacks from Greenwood High School in North Carolina.
Thus far, I have found no information on an NFL career, I don't know if he was cut after training camp from either team or whether he even showed up at all.
I do know that later that year, after training camp would have ended, he joined the army.
Tragically, he committed suicide a year later while stationed in Germany. He was 23 year old.
Obviously sad and I wonder if his demons were related to football in any way. I'm not talking about physical damage to the brain but coping with no longer being regarded as a celebrity by those around him.
Even in high school, the starting quarterbacks of successful high school programs are immensely popular. They are constantly regarded as special by coaches, teachers, classmates, etc. They are constantly given special treatment as a result of being a football star.
But what happens when it is all over? People go about their business and those special times become more distant. I'm sure there are many ex-football players and other athletes that have to deal with the change if they are not properly grounded by those responsible for doing so.
I can remember a football player in my school getting extra points on his test because he scored a touchdown in the last game. That particular teacher didn't help him and may have prevented the student from working harder. In the end, that football player received a scholarship from a school but couldn't make it through the academics in his first semester. He was back home a year later.
Lowndes Shingler was from a different time, when such repercussions aren't considered. He is not the only one in football history that may have been affected in this way. We know about Larry Bethea, The story of the Cowboys #1 draft pick in 1964, Scott Appleton is equally sad but i won't describe it here.
Who is Lowndes Shingler?
Whenever I decide to do a little research on the Dallas Cowboys history, such as their drafts, I often come across some incredible stories. Some are funny, some are sad.
Lowndes Shingler was the first quarterback drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in their franchise's history.
He was drafted in the 12th round of the Cowboys first draft which took place in 1961. The NFL and AFL had not merged and so there were two separate drafts. He was also taken in the 9th round of the AFL draft by the Oakland Raiders.
Shingler was the starting quarterback for Clemson in 1960, the second of three consecutive starting quarterbacks from Greenwood High School in North Carolina.
Thus far, I have found no information on an NFL career, I don't know if he was cut after training camp from either team or whether he even showed up at all.
I do know that later that year, after training camp would have ended, he joined the army.
Tragically, he committed suicide a year later while stationed in Germany. He was 23 year old.
Obviously sad and I wonder if his demons were related to football in any way. I'm not talking about physical damage to the brain but coping with no longer being regarded as a celebrity by those around him.
Even in high school, the starting quarterbacks of successful high school programs are immensely popular. They are constantly regarded as special by coaches, teachers, classmates, etc. They are constantly given special treatment as a result of being a football star.
But what happens when it is all over? People go about their business and those special times become more distant. I'm sure there are many ex-football players and other athletes that have to deal with the change if they are not properly grounded by those responsible for doing so.
I can remember a football player in my school getting extra points on his test because he scored a touchdown in the last game. That particular teacher didn't help him and may have prevented the student from working harder. In the end, that football player received a scholarship from a school but couldn't make it through the academics in his first semester. He was back home a year later.
Lowndes Shingler was from a different time, when such repercussions aren't considered. He is not the only one in football history that may have been affected in this way. We know about Larry Bethea, The story of the Cowboys #1 draft pick in 1964, Scott Appleton is equally sad but i won't describe it here.
