Role American football player 1935 Boston Redskins Education McDaniel College | 1935-1940 Detroit Lions Positions Running back Name Bill Shepherd | |
Date of birth (1911-12-04)December 4, 1911 Place of birth Clearfield, Pennsylvania, U.S. Place of death Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Died March 1967, Detroit, Michigan, United States | ||
Date of death March 8, 1967 (age 55) | ||
William Leroy "Bill" Shepherd (December 4, 1911 – March 1967) was an All-American running back for Western Maryland College, now called McDaniel College. As well as 4x All-NFL in 5 years for National Football League; played for the Boston Redskins and Detroit Lions.
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Attributes
Shepherd was describe as "heavy, strong, sawed-off (5’9") running back who could be positioned at tailback or fullback alternately (and was a) productive pro passer." Shepherd was also known as being a great defensive player being "part of a vigorous defensive unit that shut out eight of its nine opponents, including all of the major foes: Villanova, Boston College, Catholic U, Georgetown and Bucknell.
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All NFL Team
All-American Controversy
According to James Mark Purcell, one of the founders of College Football Historical Society, Bill Shepherd, like many other players during his time, did not make the All-American Team due to Politics. Purcell Explains that the coaches knew who he was as he was considered the best back the two All-star colleges games, while then 1st team all American Fred "Buzz" Borries only made it on as a reserve. He describe the situation in 1934 as "[would have been] politically impossible for even Jim Thorpe to get any All-America voter attention". Purcell gives the example that only one All-American started in the Chicago all-star game. He implies that the reasons for this were due Buzz Borriess playing for Navy and that two other great running backs also for consideration were from Shepherd's home town, splitting the vote among the local writers. Even Grantland Rice was quoted as saying that Shepherd was a better back then Buzz Borries and should have been on the all American team.