Former Saints head coach J.D. Roberts dies at 88
Field Level Media
26 May 2021, 05:55 GMT+10
J.D. Roberts, the second head coach in New Orleans Saints history, has died at the age of 88.
He was also an original member of the Saints staff in 1967.
Roberts went 7-25-3 in his 2 1/2 seasons as head coach from 1970-72. He was hired as the interim coach in November 1970 to replace Tom Fears.
Roberts was the first NFL head coach that quarterback Archie Manning played for, and his first game as the interim coach saw Tom Dempsey kick a then-record 63-yard field goal as time expired on Nov. 8, 1970.
Former Saints head coach J.D. Roberts dies at 88
Field Level Media
26 May 2021, 05:55 GMT+10
J.D. Roberts, the second head coach in New Orleans Saints history, has died at the age of 88.
He was also an original member of the Saints staff in 1967.
Roberts went 7-25-3 in his 2 1/2 seasons as head coach from 1970-72. He was hired as the interim coach in November 1970 to replace Tom Fears.
Roberts was the first NFL head coach that quarterback Archie Manning played for, and his first game as the interim coach saw Tom Dempsey kick a then-record 63-yard field goal as time expired on Nov. 8, 1970.
New Orleans Saints mourn the loss of J.D. Roberts Roberts was the second head coach in franchise history and an original member of the Saints’ staff May 25, 2021 at 01:25 PM Copied!
The New Orleans Saints mourn the loss of J. D. Roberts, the second head coach in franchise history and an original member of the Saints staff.
Hired midway through the 1970 season as the interim head coach on November 3, 1970, Roberts spent the next two seasons in the full time position. In his first game in charge, Roberts led the Saints to a 19-17 victory over the Detroit Lions in Tulane Stadium when Tom Dempsey kicked a then NFL record 63-yard field goal as time expired. Roberts also served as the first head coach for Saints Hall-of-Fame quarterback and Ring-of-Honor inductee Archie Manning. Before his time as a head coach, Roberts was an original member of the Saints staff as a scout and linebackers coach from 1967-69 before being assigned
Black History Month 2019: Prentice Gautt, first black football player on scholarship at OU remembered for humility and respect
Prentice Gautt
Prentice Gautt’s status as the first black football player on scholarship at OU is often what he’s remembered for. But his humility and respect for others is what makes his legacy great. This story is part of a series The Daily will publish throughout February in honor of Black History Month.
George Stoia III • @GeorgeStoia
P
rentice Gautt walked alone to the Oklahoma freshman football team bus. He had hit rock bottom.
It was 1956 and he and the Sooners were on their way back from playing in Tulsa and had stopped for dinner. When Gautt entered the restaurant, the owner approached him and said he had to eat in the basement by himself due to the color of his skin. Not wanting to make a scene, Gautt politely went back to the bus where he would wait for his white teammates.