Post by TheShadow on Jul 25, 2011 16:16:44 GMT -5
kansascitykansan.com/
by Nick Sloan
One of the very first professional football players to come out of Kansas City, Kan., has died.
Former Wyandotte Bulldogs great Skip Thomas passed away from a heart attack this weekend.
Thomas, after attending Wyandotte High School, committed to play football at Arizona Western Junior College.
After a stint there, Thomas was picked up by the University of Southern California.
Following his college career, Thomas was drafted by the Oakland Raiders and became one part of one of the most feared secondaries of all time.
In six NFL seasons, he finished with 17 career interceptions and started on the very first Super Bowl winning Oakland Raiders team in 1976.
Nicknamed "Dr. Death," Thomas was one of four tough-hitting players featured in the Raiders secondary.
He joined "The Assassin" Jack Tatum, Willie Brown and "The Hitman" George Atkinson. As a group, they were nicknamed "The Soul Patrol."
"The Soul Patrol" developed a reputation of a hard-hitting unit and one not to mess with over the middle of the field. Thomas, Tatum and Atkinson particularly had some monster tackles during their Raiders careers.
In an NFL Films countdown of the best secondary tandems, he and Brown were named #8 all-time.
He played exclusively for the Raiders from 1972 – 1977.
Thomas was originally from Higginsville, Mo.
by Nick Sloan
One of the very first professional football players to come out of Kansas City, Kan., has died.
Former Wyandotte Bulldogs great Skip Thomas passed away from a heart attack this weekend.
Thomas, after attending Wyandotte High School, committed to play football at Arizona Western Junior College.
After a stint there, Thomas was picked up by the University of Southern California.
Following his college career, Thomas was drafted by the Oakland Raiders and became one part of one of the most feared secondaries of all time.
In six NFL seasons, he finished with 17 career interceptions and started on the very first Super Bowl winning Oakland Raiders team in 1976.
Nicknamed "Dr. Death," Thomas was one of four tough-hitting players featured in the Raiders secondary.
He joined "The Assassin" Jack Tatum, Willie Brown and "The Hitman" George Atkinson. As a group, they were nicknamed "The Soul Patrol."
"The Soul Patrol" developed a reputation of a hard-hitting unit and one not to mess with over the middle of the field. Thomas, Tatum and Atkinson particularly had some monster tackles during their Raiders careers.
In an NFL Films countdown of the best secondary tandems, he and Brown were named #8 all-time.
He played exclusively for the Raiders from 1972 – 1977.
Thomas was originally from Higginsville, Mo.