Russ Francis: Difference between revisions
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Francis began high school at [[Kailua High School]] on [[Oahu]], [[Hawaii]], and finished at [[Pleasant Hill High School (Oregon)|Pleasant Hill High School]] in Oregon, southeast of [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonsportshall.org/russ_francis.html |title=Russ Francis – Football |publisher=[[Oregon Sports Hall of Fame]] |accessdate=2013-02-07 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301212526/http://oregonsportshall.org/russ_francis.html |archivedate=2012-03-01 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref> He set the national high school record for the [[javelin throw|javelin]] as a senior in 1971 at {{height|ft=259|in=9}}; the record stood until 1988.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/lists/all_time/prepout_at_m.html |title=Lists: High School: All-Time: Men |publisher=Track and Field News |date=2005-11-15 |accessdate=2013-02-08 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217104849/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/lists/all_time/prepout_at_m.html |archivedate=2013-02-17 |df= }}</ref> Francis was also a decathlete for Pleasant Hill. |
Francis began high school at [[Kailua High School]] on [[Oahu]], [[Hawaii]], and finished at [[Pleasant Hill High School (Oregon)|Pleasant Hill High School]] in Oregon, southeast of [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonsportshall.org/russ_francis.html |title=Russ Francis – Football |publisher=[[Oregon Sports Hall of Fame]] |accessdate=2013-02-07 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301212526/http://oregonsportshall.org/russ_francis.html |archivedate=2012-03-01 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref> He set the national high school record for the [[javelin throw|javelin]] as a senior in 1971 at {{height|ft=259|in=9}}; the record stood until 1988.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/lists/all_time/prepout_at_m.html |title=Lists: High School: All-Time: Men |publisher=Track and Field News |date=2005-11-15 |accessdate=2013-02-08 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217104849/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/lists/all_time/prepout_at_m.html |archivedate=2013-02-17 |df= }}</ref> Francis was also a decathlete for Pleasant Hill. |
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At the [[University of Oregon]] in [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]], {{height|ft=6|in=6}} Francis threw the javelin and played only 14 games of varsity football for the [[Oregon Ducks football|Ducks]]. Injured after three games as a sophomore in [[1972 Oregon Webfoots football team|1972]], he played <!--as a junior-->in [[1973 Oregon Webfoots football team|1973]],<ref name=rhach>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ka5VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=P-ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6546%2C5544845 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon)|last=Newnham |first=Blaine |title=Russ has a choice |date=January 25, 1974 |page=1D }}</ref> but sat out his senior season in [[1974 Oregon Webfoots football team|1974]].<ref name=fcfc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KEhWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iuoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6717%2C3799630 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon)|last=Conrad |first=John |title=Francis comes full circle in return to Eugene |date=October 16, 1993 |page=4D }}</ref> |
At the [[University of Oregon]] in [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]], {{height|ft=6|in=6}} Francis threw the javelin and played only 14 games of varsity football for the [[Oregon Ducks football|Ducks]]. Injured after three games as a sophomore in [[1972 Oregon Webfoots football team|1972]], he played <!--as a junior-->in [[1973 Oregon Webfoots football team|1973]],<ref name=rhach>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ka5VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=P-ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6546%2C5544845 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon)|last=Newnham |first=Blaine |title=Russ has a choice |date=January 25, 1974 |page=1D }}</ref> but sat out his senior season in [[1974 Oregon Webfoots football team|1974]].<ref name=fcfc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KEhWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iuoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6717%2C3799630 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon)|last=Conrad |first=John |title=Francis comes full circle in return to Eugene |date=October 16, 1993 |page=4D }}</ref> Russ joined Chi Psi Fraternity while at the University of Oregon. |
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He enrolled at rival [[Oregon State University]] in [[Corvallis, Oregon|Corvallis]] in order to expire his collegiate eligibility and be eligible for the [[1975 NFL Draft]].<ref name=snrfs>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U0cgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E50EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7183%2C4347392 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=(Alabama) |title=Sneaky Russ Francis has chance to play in pros |agency=Associated Press |date=January 26, 1975 |page=12B }}</ref> Briefly a [[Professional wrestling|pro wrestler]],<ref name=d74rres>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xcdVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PuADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6497%2C913394 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |last=Cawood|first=Neil |title=Russ resurfaces |date=December 4, 1974 |page=1B}}</ref> he trained for the ''[[Superstars (US Version)|Superstars]]'' competition and was selected in the first round by the [[1975 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]], the 16th overall pick and signed in May.<ref name=frtwr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9_RGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xfMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1147%2C2359828 |newspaper=Lewiston Evening Journal |location=(Maine) |agency=Associated Press |title=Francis the wrestler signs with Patriots |date=May 16, 1975 |page=22 }}</ref> |
He enrolled at rival [[Oregon State University]] in [[Corvallis, Oregon|Corvallis]] in order to expire his collegiate eligibility and be eligible for the [[1975 NFL Draft]].<ref name=snrfs>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U0cgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E50EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7183%2C4347392 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=(Alabama) |title=Sneaky Russ Francis has chance to play in pros |agency=Associated Press |date=January 26, 1975 |page=12B }}</ref> Briefly a [[Professional wrestling|pro wrestler]],<ref name=d74rres>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xcdVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PuADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6497%2C913394 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |last=Cawood|first=Neil |title=Russ resurfaces |date=December 4, 1974 |page=1B}}</ref> he trained for the ''[[Superstars (US Version)|Superstars]]'' competition and was selected in the first round by the [[1975 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]], the 16th overall pick and signed in May.<ref name=frtwr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9_RGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xfMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1147%2C2359828 |newspaper=Lewiston Evening Journal |location=(Maine) |agency=Associated Press |title=Francis the wrestler signs with Patriots |date=May 16, 1975 |page=22 }}</ref> |
Revision as of 18:33, 3 December 2018
No. 81 | |||||||||||
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Position: | Tight end | ||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||
Born: | Seattle, Washington | April 3, 1953||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||||
Weight: | 242 lb (110 kg) | ||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||
High school: | Pleasant Hill (OR) | ||||||||||
College: | Oregon | ||||||||||
NFL draft: | 1975 / round: 1 / pick: 16 | ||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||
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Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Russell Ross Francis (born April 3, 1953), is a retired American football player, a tight end for thirteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers.
Francis finished his NFL career with 393 receptions for 5,262 yards and 40 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.
Early life
Francis began high school at Kailua High School on Oahu, Hawaii, and finished at Pleasant Hill High School in Oregon, southeast of Eugene.[1] He set the national high school record for the javelin as a senior in 1971 at 259 ft 9 in (79.17 m); the record stood until 1988.[2] Francis was also a decathlete for Pleasant Hill.
At the University of Oregon in Eugene, 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Francis threw the javelin and played only 14 games of varsity football for the Ducks. Injured after three games as a sophomore in 1972, he played in 1973,[3] but sat out his senior season in 1974.[4] Russ joined Chi Psi Fraternity while at the University of Oregon.
He enrolled at rival Oregon State University in Corvallis in order to expire his collegiate eligibility and be eligible for the 1975 NFL Draft.[5] Briefly a pro wrestler,[6] he trained for the Superstars competition and was selected in the first round by the New England Patriots, the 16th overall pick and signed in May.[7]
NFL career
New England Patriots (1975–1980)
During the Patriots 30–27 win in 1976 over the two-time defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers on September 26, Francis caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Steve Grogan on fourth and one. In that same game, Francis had a career-best 139 yards receiving.[8] As a result, Howard Cosell proclaimed him as the "All-World Tight End."
In 1980, Francis caught a 23-yard pass from Harold Jackson, on a wide receiver reverse option play, in the Patriots 34–21 win over the New York Jets on November 2. He caught a 12-yard pass from WR Harold Jackson, on the same wide receiver reverse option play, in the Pats' 16–13 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football on December 8.
In 1978, Francis had a career-longest 53-yard reception and 126 yards receiving in the Patriots 21–14 win over the Oakland Raiders at the Oakland Coliseum on September 24. That season, he led the Patriots in receptions with 39 catches for 543 yards.
Francis was a Pro Bowl selection for three consecutive seasons (1977–1979).
Following the 1980 season, Francis retired from professional football.[9] Two things that Francis has said contributed greatly to this decision were, one, when the Patriots refused to give him his promised bonus for making the Pro Bowl (because his injury from a motorcycle accident kept him out of the game); and, secondly, when his roommate, Darryl Stingley, was paralyzed by a Jack Tatum hit in August 1978,[10] the Patriots tried to cancel Stingley's medical insurance. Francis was the first teammate at Stingley's side immediately after the hit, and he has said it was tough to play after that.[11]
Francis was traded to the defending Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers for a draft pick that the Patriots used to select future Hall of Fame linebacker Andre Tippett.
San Francisco 49ers (1982–1987)
After leaving the Patriots, Francis got a job with ABC Sports. While in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl, Francis interviewed Bill Walsh, the 49ers head coach. Walsh told him this was the only time in his life he would be able to play football, and that he would never get these years back and should not turn his back on this chance. Francis came out of retirement, after sitting out the 1981 season, joined the 49ers and eventually won a Super Bowl ring as a member of the 1984 49ers.[11] Francis played a key role in San Francisco's win over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX (5 catches for 60 yards). In 1985, Francis had a career-high 44 receptions.
New England Patriots (1987–1988)
After being waived by the 49ers during the 1987 season, Francis signed with his old team, the Patriots, before the season's final game.[12] His second tenure in New England was less successful than his first, however, and he played just one more season. Francis spent 1989 injured before being waived[13] and retiring.
Superstars, Professional wrestling career; retirement
Francis qualified for The Superstars final and the World Superstars in 1980 and 1981, finishing second in the 1980 final and fourth in 1981. He won the football preliminary in 1981 and set a record of 23.91 seconds in the 50-yard (46 m) swimming event. The record stood until 1986, when it was broken by Greg Louganis.[14]
Francis appeared in a 20-man battle royal at WrestleMania 2 along with other NFL stars. He is the son of wrestling promoter Ed Francis, He briefly competed full-time in the American Wrestling Association after retiring from football. He also competed in the National Wrestling Alliance's NWA Hawaii where he held the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship one time with his older brother, Billy Roy Francis.[15]
After retiring, he hosted The Russ Francis Show from 8 am to noon on 107.7 WTPL "The Pulse", out of Concord, New Hampshire, and later he hosted Forever West Outdoors from 4 to 6 pm on 1400 AM KODI, out of Cody, Wyoming. In 2015, he was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame as a contributor.
Championships and accomplishments
- NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Bill Francis[15]
Politics
In 2000 Francis challenged long-time Democratic incumbent, Patsy Mink for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district. Running as a Republican, Francis was defeated, winning 35.97% of the vote to Mink's 61.59%.
References
- ^ "Russ Francis – Football". Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2012-03-01. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Lists: High School: All-Time: Men". Track and Field News. 2005-11-15. Archived from the original on 2013-02-17. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ Newnham, Blaine (January 25, 1974). "Russ has a choice". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1D.
- ^ Conrad, John (October 16, 1993). "Francis comes full circle in return to Eugene". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 4D.
- ^ "Sneaky Russ Francis has chance to play in pros". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). Associated Press. January 26, 1975. p. 12B.
- ^ Cawood, Neil (December 4, 1974). "Russ resurfaces". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
- ^ "Francis the wrestler signs with Patriots". Lewiston Evening Journal. (Maine). Associated Press. May 16, 1975. p. 22.
- ^ "Francis hexes Steelers". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 27, 1976. p. 2C.
- ^ Tosches, Rick (January 18, 1982). "Russ Francis: no regrets about early retirement". Bend Bulletin. (Oregon). UPI. p. D1.
- ^ "Stingley has some feeling after surgery". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. August 14, 1978. p. 4C.
- ^ a b starbulletin.com
- ^ "Sports People; Francis Rejoins Patriots". The New York Times. 24 December 1987. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
- ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO FOOTBALL; Morgan Out for Season". The New York Times. 17 November 1989. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
- ^ "The Superstars". The Superstars. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
- ^ a b "NWA Hawaiian Tag Team Title History". Solie's Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
Total Patriots Encyclopedia
External links
- Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame Profile
- Official New England Patriots Biography
- Career statistics from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference ·
- 1953 births
- Living people
- American Conference Pro Bowl players
- American football tight ends
- College football announcers
- New England Patriots players
- Oregon Ducks football players
- Oregon Ducks men's track and field athletes
- People from Pleasant Hill, Oregon
- San Francisco 49ers players
- Sportspeople from Hawaii
- Players of American football from Hawaii
- Super Bowl champions