Bob Talamini
Encyclopedia
Robert Guy "Bob" Talamini (born January 8, 1939 in Louisville, Kentucky
), a stout, 6'1", 250 lb lineman, earned third-team All-SEC honors at the University of Kentucky and was drafted by the Houston Oilers of the American Football League
. His professional career began with the AFL's first training camp in 1960, and was capped the day the New York Jets
stunned the NFL's Baltimore Colts
in Super Bowl III
on January 12, 1969.
Hall of Famers George Blanda
and Billy Cannon
benefited from his blocking as the Oilers won the first two AFL Championships. Talamini made first-team All-AFL in 1962 and was a regular at American Football League All-Star games, selected to six straight, through 1967. He anchored an offensive line that gave Blanda time to set passing records that would last for decades and opened holes for the likes of Cannon, Charlie Tolar
, Sid Blanks
and Hoyle Granger
to run through. Talamini, Don Floyd
and Jim Norton were the last of the original Oilers.
After two AFL crowns and three Eastern Division titles, Talamini watched the club rebuild and win the division again in 1967. The Oilers fell one game short in 1967, but Talamini got to realize his dream the following year when he was released and picked up by the New York Jets
. Opening holes for Matt Snell
and blocking defenders away from Joe Namath
. Talamini was selected to the All-Time All-AFL
second team.
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
), a stout, 6'1", 250 lb lineman, earned third-team All-SEC honors at the University of Kentucky and was drafted by the Houston Oilers of the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
. His professional career began with the AFL's first training camp in 1960, and was capped the day the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
stunned the NFL's Baltimore Colts
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
in Super Bowl III
Super Bowl III
Super Bowl III was the third AFL-NFL Championship Game in professional American football, but the first to officially bear the name "Super Bowl". This game is regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history...
on January 12, 1969.
Hall of Famers George Blanda
George Blanda
George Frederick Blanda was a collegiate and professional football quarterback and placekicker...
and Billy Cannon
Billy Cannon
William Abb "Billy" Cannon is an All-American, 1959 Heisman Trophy winner and 2008 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and one of the American Football League's most celebrated players.He was born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and moved...
benefited from his blocking as the Oilers won the first two AFL Championships. Talamini made first-team All-AFL in 1962 and was a regular at American Football League All-Star games, selected to six straight, through 1967. He anchored an offensive line that gave Blanda time to set passing records that would last for decades and opened holes for the likes of Cannon, Charlie Tolar
Charlie Tolar
Charlie Tolar was an early American Football League star.Tolar attended Northwestern State University of Louisiana...
, Sid Blanks
Sid Blanks
Sid Blanks is a retired American college and professional football player. A halfback, he played college football at Texas A&I University, and played professionally in the American Football League for the Houston Oilers from 1964 through 1968. He also played for the Boston Patriots on the AFL in...
and Hoyle Granger
Hoyle Granger
Hoyle John Granger is a former collegiate and professional American football player in the United States. He played his college football at Mississippi State. He was the first pick in the fifth round of the 1966 American Football League draft, by the Houston Oilers...
to run through. Talamini, Don Floyd
Don Floyd
Donald Wayne Floyd was a professional American football defensive end who played in the American Football League . Born in Abilene, Texas, He played his high school football in Midlothian, Texas, for the Midlothian Panthers. Midlothian named a stadium in his honor, but built a new one...
and Jim Norton were the last of the original Oilers.
After two AFL crowns and three Eastern Division titles, Talamini watched the club rebuild and win the division again in 1967. The Oilers fell one game short in 1967, but Talamini got to realize his dream the following year when he was released and picked up by the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Opening holes for Matt Snell
Matt Snell
Matt Snell was the American Football League's New York Jets owner Sonny Werblin's first coup, prior to his 1965 acquisition of Joe Namath...
and blocking defenders away from Joe Namath
Joe Namath
Joseph William "Joe" Namath , nicknamed "Broadway Joe" or "Joe Willie", is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for the University of Alabama under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and his assistant, Howard Schnellenberger, from 1962–1964, and professional football in the...
. Talamini was selected to the All-Time All-AFL
American Football League All-Time Team
The American Football League All- Time Team was selected on January 14, 1970. The first and second teams would be determined by a panel of members of the AFL's Hall of Fame Board of Selectors: Since the First team included two halfbacks, rather than a halfback and a fullback, Cookie Gilchrist, a...
second team.