Joe Blahak
Encyclopedia
Joseph Philip "Joe" Blahak (born August 29, 1950 in Columbus
, Nebraska
) is a former professional football
player, a defensive back
for several NFL
teams in the mid 1970s. He played college football
at Nebraska
under head coach Bob Devaney
, and was a member of the 1970
and 1971
undefeated national championship
teams. Blahak played high school football
at Scotus Central Catholic High School
in Columbus
.
, Blahak was involved in a controversial play on national television. In the "Game of the Century
" against #2 Oklahoma
on Thanksgiving, he was accused of clipping
Sooner punter Joe Wylie during a punt return that Johnny Rodgers
returned 72 yards for a touchdown, but was not penalized. He forced a fumble and recovered another in the game. He also ended Alabama's best scoring chance in the 1972 Orange Bowl
by intercepting a Terry Davis
pass in the end zone; Nebraska crushed the #2 Crimson Tide 38-6 for the consensus national title. In his senior season, the 1972
team finished fourth and won a third consecutive Orange Bowl
, defeating Notre Dame
40-6.
, taken in the 8th round by the Houston Oilers
, the 183rd overall pick. He was claimed off waivers the next year by the Minnesota Vikings
, where he played two years before going to the newly-formed Tampa Bay Buccaneers
in the 1976 NFL Expansion Draft
. Blahak was an opening-day starter for the Bucs, but only played with the team for two games. He was one of two players cut to make room for newly-signed receiver Morris Owens
, and running back Rod McNeill
. He was picked up toward the end of the season by the New England Patriots
, and returned to the Vikings in 1977
before retiring.
Columbus, Nebraska
Columbus is a city in east central Nebraska, United States. Its population was 22,111 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Platte County.-Pre-settlement history:...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
) is a former professional football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player, a defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
for several NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
teams in the mid 1970s. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
under head coach Bob Devaney
Bob Devaney
Robert S. "Bob" Devaney was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Wyoming from 1957 to 1961 and at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from 1962 to 1972, compiling a career college football record of 136–30–7...
, and was a member of the 1970
1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1970 college football season. The team was coached by Bob Devaney and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln...
and 1971
1971 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1971 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1971 college football season. Nebraska was coached by Bob Devaney and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln...
undefeated national championship
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
teams. Blahak played high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at Scotus Central Catholic High School
Scotus Central Catholic High School
Scotus Central Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Columbus, Nebraska. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha.-General information:Scotus Central Catholic is located in Columbus, Nebraska...
in Columbus
Columbus, Nebraska
Columbus is a city in east central Nebraska, United States. Its population was 22,111 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Platte County.-Pre-settlement history:...
.
Collegiate career
During his junior season at Nebraska in 19711971 college football season
The 1971 college football season saw Coach Bob Devaney's Nebraska Cornhuskers repeat as national champions. After being ranked 2nd in the preseason poll, Nebraska captured first place the following week and remained there for the rest of 1971 and won the Orange Bowl 38–6 in a #1 vs...
, Blahak was involved in a controversial play on national television. In the "Game of the Century
Game of the Century (college football)
The phrase "Game of the Century" is a superlative that has been applied to several college football contests played in the 20th century, the first full century of college football in the United States...
" against #2 Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
on Thanksgiving, he was accused of clipping
Clipping
-Words:* Clipping , the cutting-out of articles from a paper publication* Clipping , shortening the articulation of a speech sound, usually a vowel* Clipping , the formation of a new word by shortening it, e.g...
Sooner punter Joe Wylie during a punt return that Johnny Rodgers
Johnny Rodgers
Johnny Steven Rodgers is a former American college football player voted the University of Nebraska's "Player of the Century" and the winner of the 1972 Heisman Trophy.-College career:...
returned 72 yards for a touchdown, but was not penalized. He forced a fumble and recovered another in the game. He also ended Alabama's best scoring chance in the 1972 Orange Bowl
1972 Orange Bowl
The 1972 Orange Bowl was played on January 1, 1972, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. In the final game of the 1971 college football season, top-ranked and defending national champion Nebraska soundly defeated the #2 Alabama Crimson Tide, 38–6....
by intercepting a Terry Davis
Terry Davis
Terence Anthony Gordon Davis CMG PC , known as Terry Davis, is a British Labour Party politician, and former Member of Parliament for the Birmingham Hodge Hill constituency, and former Secretary General of the Council of Europe...
pass in the end zone; Nebraska crushed the #2 Crimson Tide 38-6 for the consensus national title. In his senior season, the 1972
1972 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1972 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1972 college football season. The team was coached by Bob Devaney and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.-Schedule:-Roster:...
team finished fourth and won a third consecutive Orange Bowl
1973 Orange Bowl
The 1973 edition of the Orange Bowl featured Nebraska, and Notre Dame.Nebraska's Johnny Rodgers scored on an 8 yard touchdown ran as Nebraska took a 7-0 lead. In the second quarter, Gary Dixon scored on a 1 yard touchdown ran as Nebraska led 14-0. Rodgers then found Frosty Anderson for a 52 yard...
, defeating Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
40-6.
NFL career
Blahak was one of ten Huskers selected in the 1973 NFL Draft1973 NFL Draft
The 1973 National Football League Draft was held on January 30–31, 1973.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
, taken in the 8th round by the Houston Oilers
1973 Houston Oilers season
The 1973 Houston Oilers season was the 4th season in league and the 14th overall. The team matched their previous season's output of 1–13. They missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.-Schedule:-Standings:-References:...
, the 183rd overall pick. He was claimed off waivers the next year by the Minnesota Vikings
1974 Minnesota Vikings season
-References:...
, where he played two years before going to the newly-formed Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers played their debut season in 1976, making league history as the first team to play an entire 14-game season without winning or tying a single game. They did not score until their third game and did not score a touchdown until their fourth. They lost by a touchdown or...
in the 1976 NFL Expansion Draft
1976 NFL Expansion Draft
The 1976 National Football League Expansion draft was held on March 30 – 31, 1976. The expansion teams, the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, each selected 39 players from the other 26 NFL teams. When one player was chosen from an existing team, that team was then permitted to...
. Blahak was an opening-day starter for the Bucs, but only played with the team for two games. He was one of two players cut to make room for newly-signed receiver Morris Owens
Morris Owens
Morris Owens , is a former professional American football player who was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leading receiver in 1976, their first season in the National Football League. He is also Hilly Hicks' uncle....
, and running back Rod McNeill
Rod McNeill
Rodney Carlyle McNeill is a former American football running back. Drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1974, he spent two seasons with them before playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976. In the inaugural 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, he was the team's kick returner.-External links:*...
. He was picked up toward the end of the season by the New England Patriots
1976 New England Patriots season
The 1976 New England Patriots season was the seventh season for the team in the National Football League and 17th season overall. After a nine-year stretch in which they posted just one .500 season amid eight losing years, the Patriots turned around their fortunes, going 11–3 and rushing for 2,957...
, and returned to the Vikings in 1977
1977 Minnesota Vikings season
1977 was the 17th year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 58th regular season of the National Football League. The Vikings finished with a record of nine wins and five losses. Quarterback Fran Tarkenton was injured with a broken leg in week 9 and missed the rest of the...
before retiring.