Frederick W. Grant Jr. (January 20, 1925 – August 3, 1993) was an American football player and coach who played fullback for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and was the head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | January 20, 1925 Christiansburg, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died: | August 3, 1993 (aged 68) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Christiansburg (VA) |
| College: | Wake Forest (1943) Alabama (1944–1946) |
| Position: | Fullback |
| NFL draft: | 1945 / round: 22 / pick: 220 |
| Career history | |
| As a player: | |
| As a coach: | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Early life
editGrant was born on January 20, 1925, in Christiansburg, Virginia.[1] His parents, Fred and Zenith Grant, owned Grant's Tavern in Christiansburg.[2]
Playing
editGrant was a standout athlete at Christiansburg High School and played for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in 1943. In his only season at Wake Forest, Grant led the Southern Conference in scoring. Grant transferred to the University of Alabama in 1944.[2] On November 18, 1944, he ran back an interception for an 87-yard touchdown to help the Tide defeat the undefeated Mississippi State Maroons 19–0.[3] The following season he led the Southeastern Conference in scoring with 11 touchdowns and was a member of the team that won the 1946 Rose Bowl.[2]
Coaching
editGrant joined the Regina Roughriders in 1947 and was made the team's head coach towards the end of the season. He was retained for the 1948, 1949, and 1950 seasons and complied an overall record of 21–22.[1][4]
Later life
editWhile coaching in Saskatchewan, Grant continued his studies at the University of Alabama during the offseason.[4] After leaving football he resided in Norcross, Georgia and worked as a design engineer and food facilities consultant. He died on August 3, 1993, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta after a brief illness.[2]
Head coaching record
edit| Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Ties | Result | |||
| REG | 1947 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .667 | 3rd in WIFU | 0 | 0 | 0 | Missed playoffs | |
| REG | 1948 | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | 2nd in WIFU | 0 | 1 | 1 | Lost in WIFU Finals | |
| REG | 1949 | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 2nd in WIFU | 1 | 1 | 0 | Lost in WIFU Finals | |
| SSK | 1950 | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 2nd in WIFU | 0 | 1 | 0 | Lost in WIFU Semifinals | |
| Total | 21 | 22 | 0 | .488 | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||||
References
edit- ^ a b "Fred Grant". Pro Football Archives. Pro Football Archives. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Fred Grant". The Tuscaloosa News. August 5, 1993. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- ^ "Alabama Defeats Mississippi State". The New York Times. November 19, 1944.
- ^ a b "Fred Grant Returns to Riders". The Calgary Herald. November 22, 1949. Retrieved July 24, 2023.