Bobby Marlow

Bobby Marlow
Personal information
Born:(1930-02-08)February 8, 1930
Athens, Alabama, U.S.
Died:June 5, 1985(1985-06-05) (aged 55)
Career information
High school:Troy
College:University of Alabama
NFL draft:1953 / round: 1 / pick: 8
Career history

Robert R. Marlow (February 8, 1930 – June 5, 1985)[1] was an American and Canadian football running back who played for the University of Alabama and the Canadian Football League's (CFL) Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Biography

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Born on February 8, 1930, in Athens, Alabama,[1] Marlow moved to Troy at an early age.[2] He played high school football at Troy High School before playing college football for the University of Alabama from 1950 to 1952.[3] In 1950, Marlow's first season with the Crimson Tide, he had 118 rushing attempts, gaining 882 yards for an average of 7.5 per carry, and scored 9 touchdowns. His number of touchdowns doubled to 12 in 1951, as he rushed for 728 yards in 114 carries.[4] In that year's Iron Bowl against Auburn, Marlow had 233 rushing yards, breaking the team record; his mark was not bested until 1987. In 1952, he was named to the All-America Team,[2] after running for 950 yards in 176 attempts and scoring 10 touchdowns.[4] It was the third consecutive season that he led Alabama in rushing yards.[5] In Marlow's Crimson Tide career, the team had a win–loss record of 24–10 and won the 1953 Orange Bowl. At the end of his college career, Marlow had a school-record 2,560 rushing yards. The record lasted until 1971.[2]

The New York Giants selected Marlow with the eighth overall pick in the first round of the 1953 NFL draft.[6] However, he did not play in the NFL, and instead signed to play in the CFL.[3] The Roughriders ultimately signed Marlow.[7] In his career with the Roughriders, he scored 34 touchdowns and had 4,291 rushing yards in 833 attempts.[8] Marlow spent eight seasons in Canada, and later lived in Elkmont, Alabama, and Houston, Texas. In 1985, Marlow suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 55.[2][3] Marlow was named a member of the CFL's All Star All-Time Team.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Bobby Marlow". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Bobby Marlow". Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c "Fame was fleeting, but Marlow was one of the best". Troy Messenger. February 20, 2002. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Bobby Marlow". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  5. ^ 2019 Record Book: University of Alabama Crimson Tide Football (PDF). University of Alabama. 2019. p. 50. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  6. ^ "1953 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  7. ^ "Bobby Marlow Signs With Rough Riders". Kentucky New Era. Associated Press. March 30, 1953. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  8. ^ "All-Time Leaders in Saskatchewan Roughrider History" (PDF). Saskatchewan Roughriders. pp. 4–6. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2014.