Sid Tinsley

Sid Tinsley

Tinsley at Clemson in 1941
Personal information
Born:	(1920-01-14)January 14, 1920 Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S.
Died:	June 3, 2006(2006-06-03) (aged 86) Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:	168 lb (76 kg)
Career information
College:	Clemson
Position:	Punter
Undrafted:	1945
Career history
Pittsburgh Steelers (1945)
Career highlights and awards
NFL punting yards leader (1945)
Career NFL statistics
Punts: 57 Punting yards: 2,308 Yards per punt: 40.5

Sidney Wallace Tinsley (January 14, 1920 – June 3, 2006) was an American football punter in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football at Clemson, Tinsley played one season for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1945.

College career

Tinsley played college football for the Clemson Tigers program.^[1] While at Clemson, Tinsley was a running back.^[2]

Tinsley's college career was interrupted by World War II, as he was drafted into the Army. After returning to Clemson in 1944, Tinsley found out that his roommate and Tigers teammate Claude Rothell was killed during the Normandy landings.^[3]

NFL career

After college, Tinsley played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers during their 1945 season.^[4] Although he was a running back at Clemson, the Steelers primarily used Tinsley as punter.^[5] Tinsley did rush the ball 5 times for 3 yards.^[6] Tinsley also recorded an interception and recovered a fumble.^[6] However, Tinsley's greatest accomplishment came through his punting, as he led the league in punts (57) and punting yards (2,308) in 1945.^[6] An injury ahead of the 1946 season ended his football career.^[3]

References

1. Vandervort, Will (June 22, 2016). "Clemson's 25 best teams: No. 25". The Clemson Insider. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
2. Spear, Bob (November 26, 2009). "Clemson impact players from the rivalry". The State. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
3. Cooper, Rick (April 4, 2002). "Innocence interrupted CLEMSON FOOTBALL: Returns to Riggs Field, where Sid Tinsley played on eve of World Ward II Howard said Tinsley touchdown was 'greatest run I have ever seen'". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
4. Wexell, Mendelson & Aretha 2014, p. 212.
5. Burlbaugh 2004, p. 168.
6. "Sid Tinsley Stats". Pro Football Reference. Sports-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2017.

Bibliography

• Burlbaugh, George (2004). The War, the Steagles, and the Card-pitts. Lulu. ISBN 1411611985.
• Wexell, Jim; Mendelson, Abby; Aretha, David (2014). The Steelers Experience: A Year-by-Year Chronicle of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc. ISBN 978-0-7603-4576-4.