Otis Sistrunk
refer to caption
Otis Sistrunk in January, 2005
No. 60
Position:Defensive tackle, Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1946-09-18) September 18, 1946
Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:Spencer (Columbus)
College:None
Undrafted:1972
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:98
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Otis Sistrunk (born September 18, 1946) is an American former professional football player who played his entire seven-year career as a defensive lineman for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL), from 1972 to 1978. Sistrunk later became a professional wrestler in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).

Professional career

Sistrunk was born in Columbus, Georgia, and was one of the few NFL players of his day to not play college football,[1] going directly from William H. Spencer High School in Columbus, Georgia, to the United States Marines. After leaving the military, the 21-year-old found work at a Milwaukee meat-packing plant and played two years of semi-pro football in the area for the West Allis Racers [2] before joining the Norfolk Neptunes of the Continental Football League in 1969.[3]

Sistrunk played three years for the Neptunes (the last two in the semi-pro Atlantic Coast Football League after the CPFL folded); in 1971, a Los Angeles Rams scout spotted Sistrunk and believed he could play in the NFL.[4] During a team practice, he was observed by representatives of the Oakland Raiders, who brought Sistrunk to their team in 1972.[4]

Otis Sistrunk was inducted into the American Football Association's Semi Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982

"University of Mars"

Sistrunk (60) and teammate Phil Villapiano (41) for local public transportation operator AC Transit's "Project Linebacker" anti-graffiti campaign, c. 1976.

During a Monday Night Football telecast, a television camera beamed a sideline shot of the 6'4", 265-pound Sistrunk's steaming bald head to the nation. That, along with the Raiders’ listing of his educational background in the team program as "U.S. Mars” (shorthand for United States Marine Corps), prompted ABC commentator and ex-NFL player Alex Karras to suggest that the extraterrestrial-looking Sistrunk's alma mater was the "University of Mars."[5]

Sistrunk was named to the Pro Bowl in 1974. In 1976, playing under coach John Madden, Sistrunk was part of the Raiders team that won Super Bowl XI against the Minnesota Vikings.[6] He retired after the 1978 season, finishing his career with seven fumbles recovered and three interceptions in 98 games played.[7]

Wrestling career

Sistrunk had a brief wrestling career in the National Wrestling Alliance.[8] Following the breakup of the Fabulous Freebirds, Michael Hayes was in need of a partner and teamed up with Sistrunk. Together, they defeated Jimmy Snuka and Hayes' former tag team partner Terry Gordy to win the NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship on September 27, 1981.[9] Sistrunk soon retired after deciding that he did not enjoy wrestling, however, and the title was vacated in late 1981.[9][10]

Championships and accomplishments

Personal life

After leaving football, Sistrunk spent two years as a beer salesman.[6] He was then approached about working with the Army as a civilian employee. He spent twelve years working at Fort Benning, Georgia.[6] Sistrunk now manages Cowan Memorial Stadium at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington and helps with athletic training programs.[6][4]

He also had a brief movie career, appearing as a short-order cook in Car Wash (1976) and in a non-sexual role (as a police officer) in Alex de Renzy's porn film Babyface (1977).[11][12]

His nephew Caesar Rayford, was a defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys. He is a distant cousin to former NFL player Manny Sistrunk.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Conner, Floyd (2000). Football's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of the Game's Outrageous Characters, Fortunate Fumbles, and other Oddities. Brassey's. p. 9. ISBN 1-57488-309-7.
  2. ↑ "Booster Club of the Continental Football League". boosterclubcfl.com.
  3. ↑ "Continental Football League: A Mini-tragedy in Five Acts". Professional Football Researchers Association. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  4. 1 2 3 "What Happened to...Otis Sistrunk". Oakland Raiders. Archived from the original on 2007-11-05. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  5. ↑ Rand, Jonathan (2006). 300 Pounds of Attitude: The Wildest Stories and Craziest Characters the NFL Has Ever Seen. Globe Pequot. p. 181. ISBN 1-59228-995-9.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Reinert, Bob. "Otis Sistrunk: Former NFL Star Glad to Serve Soldiers". Defend America. Archived from the original on 2007-09-12. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  7. ↑ "Otis Sistrunk". Database Football. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  8. ↑ "Wrestlingdata profile".
  9. 1 2 3 "NWA National Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Archived from the original on 2007-12-18. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  10. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (2004). Tributes II: Remembering More of the World's Greatest Professional Wrestlers. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 198. ISBN 1-58261-817-8.
  11. ↑ "Otis Sistrunk Filmography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  12. ↑ "Otis Sistrunk". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  13. ↑ "The Redskins Book: Page 94". Washington Post. 1998-02-02. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
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