Sid Watson

Sidney John Watson (May 4, 1932 – April 25, 2004) was an American football player and college ice hockey coach. He played halfback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. He played college football at Northeastern University. He was also the head hockey coach at Bowdoin College from 1959 to 1983.

Sid Watson
Biographical details
Born(1932-05-04)May 4, 1932
Andover, Massachusetts
DiedApril 25, 2004(2004-04-25) (aged 71)
Naples, Florida
Alma materNortheastern
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1960–1983Bowdoin College
Head coaching record
Overall326–210–11
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1971 ECAC Hockey Division II Champion
1975 ECAC Hockey Division II Champion
1976 ECAC Hockey Division II Champion
1978 ECAC Hockey Division II Champion
Awards
1966 UPI New England Coach of the Year
1969 Clark Holder Award
1970 Edward Jeremiah Award
1970 Clark Holder Award
1971 Edward Jeremiah Award
1976 UPI Eastern Small College Coach of the Year
1978 Edward Jeremiah Award
1983 Schaeffer Pen Award
2001 Hobey Baker Legends of College Hockey
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
Northeastern University Athletic Hall of Fame
Maine Sports Hall of Fame
Andover, Massachusetts Hall of Fame 2005 Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame
Sid Watson
No. 39, 41
Position:Halfback
Personal information
Born:(1932-05-04)May 4, 1932
Andover, Massachusetts
Died:April 25, 2004(2004-04-25) (aged 71)
Naples, Florida
Career information
High school:Punchard (MA)
College:Northeastern
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:45
Rushing yards:516
Receiving yards:423
Kick return yards:1,269
Total touchdowns:6
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early life

Watson was born in Andover, Massachusetts and attended Punchard High School.[1]

College career

Watson attended and played football as a running back at Northeastern University, where he averaged more than 100 rushing yards per game and 7.1 yards per carry during his career.[2] He played on Northeastern's 1951 undefeated team, and was chosen Little All America in 1953 and captained the 1954 team.[3] He still holds Northeastern's school records for most single-season points (74)[2] and held the record for most career points (191) until 1997.[3] In addition to lettering in football for three years, Watson also received one letter in basketball and three in ice hockey.[3]

Professional football career

After graduating from college, Watson played in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1955 to 1957. He then played with the Washington Redskins in 1958.[4]

Hockey coaching career

Watson became co-head coach of the Bowdoin College ice hockey team with C. Nels Corey in 1958.[2] He then became the full head coach in 1959, a position he held until 1983. While coach, he led the Polar Bears to the ECAC 2 playoffs 16 times and won conference championships in 1971, 1975, 1976 and 1978.[4] Watson was awarded the Eddie Jeremiah Memorial Trophy, recognizing the national Small College Coach of the year in 1970, 1971 and 1978.[4] In 2001, he was awarded the prestigious Hobey Baker Legends of College Hockey Award.[5]

Administrator career

After retiring as a coach, Watson served as Bowdoin's Athletic Director. He was also the chairman of the NCAA ice Hockey Rules and Tournament Committee for six years, and served as president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and a member of the board of governors of the American College Hockey Coaches Association.[4]

Legacy

In 1996, Bowdoin dedicated the Sidney J. Watson Fitness Facility in his honor.[2] In 2004, following Watson's death, the Division III Men's Player of the Year Award was renamed the Sid Watson Award.[6] In 2009, Bowdoin named their new ice hockey arena the Sidney J. Watson Arena, which holds approximately 2,300 spectators and is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified.[7]

Personal life

Watson was married and had five children and 11 grandchildren. He died after suffering a Myocardial infarction in Naples, Florida on April 25, 2004.[8]

References

  1. "Beloved coach Sid Watson dies". The Bowdoin Orient. April 30, 2004. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  2. "Inductee Sidney J. Watson". Bowdoin College. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  3. "Inductee Sidney J. Watson Class of 1956". Northeastern University. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  4. "Inductee Sid Watson". U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  5. Nichole Gleisner (2004-04-27). "Obituary; Sidney Watson, NFL player, Bowdoin hockey coach, 71". Boston Herald.
  6. http://www.uscho.com/2004/10/27/acha-diii-player-award-named-for-bowdoins-legendary-sid-watson/
  7. "Bowdoin Home to Country's First Newly Constructed LEED-Certified Ice Arena". Bowdoin College. July 27, 2009. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  8. "Sid Watson, 71, Hockey Coach at Bowdoin". The New York Times. April 29, 2004. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Award Created
Bill Riley Jr.
Edward Jeremiah Award
1969–70, 1970–71
1977–78
Succeeded by
Jack Canniff
Don Brose
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.