Bernie Faloney facts for kids
Faloney featured in the October 1966 issue of Canadian Boy
|
|
| Date of birth: | June 15, 1932 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth: | Carnegie, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Date of death: | June 14, 1999 (aged 66) |
| Place of death: | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
|
Career information
|
|
| CFL status: | Import |
| Position(s): | QB |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 193 lb (88 kg) |
| College: | Maryland |
| NFL Draft: | 1954 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11 |
| Drafted by: | San Francisco 49ers |
| Hand: | Right |
|
Organizations
|
|
|
Career highlights and awards
|
|
| Retired #s: | Hamilton Tiger-Cats #10 |
|
Career stats
|
|
| Completions | 1,493 |
| Attempts | 2,876 |
| Percentage | 51.9 |
| TD–INT | 151–201 |
| Passing yards | 264 |
|
Canadian Football Hall of Fame, 1974
|
|
Bernie Faloney (born June 15, 1932 – died June 14, 1999) was a fantastic football player. He played mostly for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Before that, he was an amazing college player at the University of Maryland.
Bernie Faloney was born in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, U.S. He is a member of many sports halls of fame. These include the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats even retired his jersey number 10 in 1999. In 2006, he was named one of the CFL's top 50 players ever.
Contents
Early Life and College Football Journey
Bernie Faloney grew up in Carnegie, Pennsylvania. He played high school football there. Later, he went to the University of Maryland, College Park. He became a star quarterback for the Maryland Terrapins.
In 1952, he helped his team reach the Sugar Bowl. The next year, in 1953, Faloney led Maryland to become national champions. They also played in the 1954 Orange Bowl. At the end of that great season, he was one of the top players for the Heisman Trophy.
Bernie Faloney's Pro Career
In 1954, the San Francisco 49ers picked Faloney in the National Football League (NFL) draft. They wanted him to play as a defensive back. But a coach from Oklahoma, Pop Ivy, offered Faloney a better deal. Ivy was moving to the Edmonton Eskimos in Canada. He offered Faloney more money to play quarterback. This made it an easy choice for Faloney to play in Canada.
Faloney was a "scrambling quarterback." This means he was good at running with the ball when plays broke down. He helped the Eskimos win the 1954 Grey Cup. After that, he served in the U.S. Air Force for two years.
In 1957, Faloney joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He became one of the biggest stars in the CFL. He won two more Grey Cup championships with the Ti-Cats. Later, he played for the Montreal Alouettes and the BC Lions. He retired from football in 1967.
Faloney was chosen as the Eastern Conference's All-Star quarterback five times. He won the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award in 1961. He is the first CFL quarterback to win a Grey Cup with teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences.
Life After Football and Legacy
After retiring, Bernie Faloney lived in Hamilton, Ontario. He became a part-owner of a construction company. He also loved horses. He stayed active in his community and business.
Bernie Faloney faced some health issues later in life. He passed away on June 14, 1999. Just six days before he died, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats honored him. They announced that his number 10 jersey would be retired. He was the first Tiger-Cat player to receive this honor.
Honors and Recognition
Bernie Faloney was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1974. He also joined the Western Pennsylvania Hall of Fame in 1983. In 1985, he entered the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. The University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed him in 1988. Finally, he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.
In November 2006, he was voted onto the Honour Roll of the CFL's top 50 players. This was by the Canadian sports network TSN.
Tribute
A street in Hamilton, Ontario, near the Tim Hortons Field stadium, is named after him. It is called Bernie Faloney Way.
Video clips
- Canadian Football Hall of Fame member
External sources
- Graham Kelly, The Grey Cup (1999)
