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Bill Enyart

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For the Illinois National Guard adjutant general and politician, see William Enyart.
Bill Enyart
No. 41, 46
Position:Running back / linebacker
Personal information
Born:(1947-04-28)April 28, 1947
Pawhuska, Oklahoma
Died:February 10, 2015(2015-02-10) (aged 67)
Turner, Oregon
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school:Medford (OR)
College:Oregon State
NFL draft:1969 / round: 2 / pick: 27
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference
College Football Hall of Fame

William "Bill" "Earthquake" Donald Enyart (April 28, 1947 – February 10, 2015) was an American football player, a fullback for the Buffalo Bills (1969–1970) and linebacker for the Oakland Raiders in 1971.

Early life

Born in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, Enyart grew up in Medford, Oregon, and was a standout prep athlete at Medford High School. In his three seasons playing varsity football, the "Black Tornado" compiled a 26 record and an A-1 state title in his sophomore season (1962); he also played varsity basketball and baseball and graduated from MHS in 1965.[1]

College career

Enyart played college football for the Oregon State Beavers under head coach Dee Andros, who arrived in Corvallis from Idaho in 1965. After spending his freshman year on the mandatory "Rook" team, he played linebacker as a sophomore in 1966, and was the starting fullback for the famed OSU Giant Killers of 1967. Enyart earned first team All-Pac-8 Conference honors in 1967 and 1968 and first team All-American honors in 1968.[2]

In his senior season in 1968, Enyart set a school record with 1,304 yards rushing, while scoring 17 touchdowns, for a total of 102 points.[2] Two of his notable games were on the road against non-conference opponents. Against Utah at Salt Lake City in late September, he carried the ball fifty times for 299 yards and three touchdowns, setting single game school records in both categories;[3][4][5] he also tied a school record with four rushing touchdowns against Kentucky at Lexington.[6][7]

In the three seasons Enyart lettered, the Beavers posted an overall record of 21–8–1 (.717). He was chosen to play in five post-season All-Star games: East-West Shrine Game, Senior Bowl, Coaches All-America Game, College All-Star Game, and the Hula Bowl, where he was named the outstanding back. During his career at Oregon State, he rushed for 2,155 yards, seventh-most ever by a Beaver.[7]

Professional career

Enyart was selected early in the second round of the 1969 NFL/AFL Draft (27th overall) by the Buffalo Bills, who took Heisman Trophy-winning halfback O. J. Simpson with the first overall pick.[8] Enyart played in every game in 1969 and 1970, but wanted to play for a team on the West Coast; he was traded to the Oakland Raiders in January 1971 and converted to linebacker.[1]

He injured his left knee in a preseason game against the New York Jets in mid-August, but team doctors advised against surgery. Enyart was activated for only one game, the season finale, but Oakland (8–4–2) was the best team to miss the playoffs. Difficulties continued with the knee and he finally had surgery in October 1972, but never played another game.[9]

Legacy

Enyart was inducted into the Oregon State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. In May 2011, he was selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.[10] He eventually settled back in Oregon at Bend to raise his two children, and worked as a Medicaid case worker for the State of Oregon until he retired. Enyart died of cancer at age 67 in Turner in 2015.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Trower, Tim (February 10, 2015). "Passing of a Giant". Mail Tribune. (Medford, Oregon). Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Ex-Beaver Enyart Enters Hall of Fame," The Oregonian, July 22, 2012, pg. C3.
  3. ^ "Enyart keys Beaver victory, 24-21". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). September 29, 1968. p. 1B.
  4. ^ "Enyart sparks Beavers". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. September 29, 1968. p. 16.
  5. ^ "OSU back is cited". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). September 30, 1968. p. C1.
  6. ^ "Lyons ruins State, 35-34". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). October 13, 1968. p. 1B.
  7. ^ a b "RIP Bill Enyart: Beaver Nation loses one of its best". Oregon Stater. Spring 2015.
  8. ^ "Sports roundup". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). January 29, 1969. p. 11A.
  9. ^ "Hurt knee clouds Enyart's future". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. November 24, 1972. p. 3D.
  10. ^ "College Football Hall tabs Class of 2011". ESPN. Associated Press. May 17, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  11. ^ Oregon Live,, report on death
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