J. T. "Blondy" Black
John Thomas "Blondy" Black (August 20, 1920 – May 4, 2000) was a professional American football player.
| Position: | Fullback | ||||||||
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| Born: | August 20, 1920 Philadelphia, Mississippi | ||||||||
| Died: | May 4, 2000 (aged 79) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | Mississippi State University | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1943 / Round: 2 / Pick: 13 (By the Brooklyn Dodgers) | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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Black was born in Philadelphia, Mississippi. He attended Mississippi State University from 1939 to 1942, where he played football and ran track. He was the offensive cornerstone of MSU's only undefeated football team in 1940. While competing for MSU, he held a school record for running the 100-yard dash in 9.6 seconds in 1941. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry during his varsity football career. Black holds the MSU record for highest yards per rush average in a single game (19.5) and in a season (6.9), both set in 1942. He was a two-time All-SEC selection in 1941 and 1942 and was a UPI All-American in 1943. He also was a three-year letterman in track.
While serving in the military during World War II, Black played professional football under the assumed name of Mike Matiza. In 1946, he played for the Buffalo Bisons, and in 1947 for the Baltimore Colts.[1]
Early life and education
In 1943, Black joined the United States Marine Corps and became a lieutenant.[2][3] While in the Marines, he played football under the name "Mike Matiza".[4]
Black later pursued a career as a land developer and car dealership owner in Yazoo City. He was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1976.[5]
References
- Archived May 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- "Obituary: J.T. 'Blondy' Black", Madison County Herald (Canton, Mississippi), May 18, 2000, page 12.
- "'Blondy' was decades ahead of his time", Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum website, April 29, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- Cleveland, Tyler. "Philly's Blondy Black played in MSU's 1941 win", The Neshoba Democrat On The Web website, December 31, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- Archived September 6, 2006, at the Wayback Machine