Thomas Haskins
Encyclopedia
Thomas A. Haskinshttp://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1973/august_11_1973_144713.html is a former running back
in the Canadian Football League
.
for three seasons. There, he finished his collegiate career holding 21 school records, co-holding 5 school records. In addition to scoring 50 all-time touchdowns, he set the all-time rushing record for Division I-AA with 5349 yards. As of 2002, this ranks him third all-time in Division I-AA. As of 2008, Haskins is the only VMI football player to have his jersey number retired. He is also set to be inducted into the VMI Sports Hall of Fame in November, 2008.http://www.vmikeydets.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=101147&SPID=3913&DB_OEM_ID=9800&ATCLID=1363180
of the CFL and played there for the next six seasons, winning a Grey Cup
championship in his final year with the team. On February 22, 2003, Haskins signed a free-agent contract with the Edmonton Eskimos
. However, a month later, Haskins suffered from a benign brain tumor
the size of an orange which was removed.http://www.canada.com/sports/football/cfl/greycup2003/story.html?id=944aaa30-670f-41dc-a558-318c6b394c35 As a result, Haskins did not suit up for a single game for the Eskimos. Despite that, the Eskimos honoured his contract for the 2003 season. In March 2004, Haskins was released by the Eskimos. Despite vowing to return to professional football after recovering from the tumor, Haskins decided to retire.
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
College career
Haskins played for Virginia Military InstituteVirginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
for three seasons. There, he finished his collegiate career holding 21 school records, co-holding 5 school records. In addition to scoring 50 all-time touchdowns, he set the all-time rushing record for Division I-AA with 5349 yards. As of 2002, this ranks him third all-time in Division I-AA. As of 2008, Haskins is the only VMI football player to have his jersey number retired. He is also set to be inducted into the VMI Sports Hall of Fame in November, 2008.http://www.vmikeydets.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=101147&SPID=3913&DB_OEM_ID=9800&ATCLID=1363180
Professional career
In 1997, Haskins joined the Montreal AlouettesMontreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
of the CFL and played there for the next six seasons, winning a Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
championship in his final year with the team. On February 22, 2003, Haskins signed a free-agent contract with the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
. However, a month later, Haskins suffered from a benign brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
the size of an orange which was removed.http://www.canada.com/sports/football/cfl/greycup2003/story.html?id=944aaa30-670f-41dc-a558-318c6b394c35 As a result, Haskins did not suit up for a single game for the Eskimos. Despite that, the Eskimos honoured his contract for the 2003 season. In March 2004, Haskins was released by the Eskimos. Despite vowing to return to professional football after recovering from the tumor, Haskins decided to retire.