Billy Lothridge
William Lamar Lothridge was an American professional football player who was a punter and safety in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, the Los Angeles Rams, the Atlanta Falcons and the Miami Dolphins. He played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Early life
Lothridge was a graduate of Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Georgia where he played quarterback. He teamed with Billy Martin both at Gainesville and later in Georgia Tech to form a dominant passing/rushing attack. As a senior, he received All-State and All-Southern honors.He accepted a football scholarship from Georgia Tech and became a starter as a junior, registering 1,006 passing yards, 6 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 478 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns.
As a senior in 1963, he posted 1,017 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 223 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns. He ranked fourth in nation in scoring, tenth in punting and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting behind Roger Staubach.
In 1969, he was inducted into the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame. In 1986, he was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Lothridge was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 1964 NFL draft and by the Oakland Raiders in the 12th round of the 1964 AFL draft. He signed with the Cowboys to be a punter and placekicker.As a rookie, even though he tore a ligament in his left knee in training camp, he was named the team's punter and third-team quarterback. His net punting average of 37.9 yards wasn't reached by another Cowboy until the 2006 season. He also tied a franchise record with a 75-yard punt in the fifth game against the New York Giants.
On August 29, 1965, he was traded along with a fourth round draft choice to the Baltimore Colts, in exchange for the rights to future All-Pro Ralph Neely.