Former GSU great Paul "Tank" Younger dies at 73


SAME OLD G

SAME OLD G

A product of Greatness
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http://espn.go.com/classic/obit/s/2001/0915/1251691.html

ST. LOUIS -- Paul "Tank" Younger, the first athlete from a predominantly black college to play in the NFL, died Saturday morning in Inglewood, Calif. He was 73.


The St. Louis Rams said Younger, who spent 46 consecutive years in the NFL as a player and executive, died after a long illness.


Younger played for the Los Angeles Rams from 1949-57 and ended his career with Pittsburgh in 1958.


He was a member of the Rams' renowned "Bull Elephant Backfield" along with "Deacon" Dan Towler and Dick Hoerner. The Rams won the 1951 NFL title, beating Cleveland 24-17.


Younger signed with the Rams as a free agent following his college career at Grambling State in Louisiana.


With 3,296 yards, Younger is the sixth-leading rusher in Rams' history. He was a first-team All-Pro selection at linebacker in 1951.


Younger had a long career as a scout and front-office executive, mostly with the Rams. He left the Rams in 1975 to become assistant general manager of the San Diego Chargers, a job he held until 1987.


Younger then returned to the Rams and retired in 1995. Last year, Younger was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.


Younger is survived by wife Lucille; son Howard; and two daughters, Harriette and Lucy. The Rams said service arraignments are pending.
 
I heard about it this morning. My prayers go out to GSU, the Rams and his family.
 



Tank Younger was a trend setter, a pioneer in the NFL as a player and as an executive. He opened doors for so many young African Americans and sought to help many gain employment in the league as a player and/or administrative employee.

I recall watching film clip of him from GSU and also with the Rams. My son used to always say that Tank Younger was a better power runner than Jim Brown. I said, " Jim Brown was the man". My son said, "Yeah, but Jim didn't go both ways".

God Bless the Younger Family!
 
I am glad I got the chance to meet him. He made a visit to AAMU back in the day. Couldn't believe Tank was standing on our football field.
 
YoungerPaul.jpg


An "Icon" from the Icon of BCF.......
R.I.P.
 
They asked Rob when Tank was going off to training camp if he thought that Tank would make it or not in the NFL. Rob replied, if they are playing football Tank would make it.

He was the trailblazer for football, he will be missed. God bless his soul and his family.
 
I read an article in Sunday's Monroe paper that mentioned how Rob refuses to name his greatest player. Rob was at the College Football Hall of Fame Induction banquet (when Tank was being inducted) and the question came up. Rob stated his reluctance to do so, but did state that off all the players, Tank is the only one who never asked.

Perhaps Tank knew what all others know...he is simply the best ever to play at the best ever!
 
GOD BLESS 'TANK'S' Soul and his Family!

TANK YOUNGER...........

One of the GREATEST to ever put on the pads!!!!!!

He paved the road and made it easier for all of us in this society especially those brothers with those multi-million dollar contracts.

You know The GOOD LORD is still assembling a GREAT team in Heaven................I think he might just have brought one of his CAPTAIN's on board! RIP TANK!

PEACE
 



Man, can you imagine the athletes of Tank's era. I know they didn't have weight training and all the sophisticated training techniques, but these were men.

I think of my father who is now 71 years old. All those years of hard manual labor on the farm and later in construction developed a chiseled body that was strong as a bull yet quick as a cat. You put on top of that the mentality of a pit bull.

That's how I envison the athletes who were the pioneers of the SWAC. Not only tough/strong physically but also mentally. They refused to accept failure and refused to be denied. We all owe them for paving the way and setting examples that we all could follow...whether athletes or not!

Thank you Tank Younger and all those like you who made us what we are today!
 
Tank, You will be Missed!!

Tank,
You were the beginning; you were the first in the line to build the legacy that is Eddie Robinson. We say thank you and God Bless you and your family.

I have heard countless stories of your days at Grambling. ;) As it was stated earlier, you are a true ICON of Football. More importantly, you are a Great American. No truer word can be spoken using the old adage "They don't make'em like that anymore!" than when referring to legends like you.

You are beloved by our family and you will be missed. But please always know that you will never be forgotten :(
 
RIP, "Tank"...

Man, can you imagine the athletes of Tank's era. I know they didn't have weight training and all the sophisticated training techniques, but these were men.

I think of my father who is now 71 years old. All those years of hard manual labor on the farm and later in construction developed a chiseled body that was strong as a bull yet quick as a cat. You put on top of that the mentality of a pit bull.

That's how I envison the athletes who were the pioneers of the SWAC. Not only tough/strong physically but also mentally. They refused to accept failure and refused to be denied. We all owe them for paving the way and setting examples that we all could follow...whether athletes or not!
Click to expand...

I definitely feel ya, Mike.
 
This exerpt came from The Monroe Newsstar (09/19/01). I'm personally glad to see the GMEN pay tribute in this manner!



Remembering Tank: Grambling lost one of its all-time greats this past weekend with the death of Paul "Tank" Younger. Younger played at Grambling from 1945-48 and was the first player from a predominantly African-American college to play in the NFL in 1949.

""I remember when I first got here in 1973 and noticed nobody wearing No. 22," said Williams, who played for the Tigers from 1973-76. "Then Coach Rob said nobody ever wears No. 22."

Wearing No. 22, Younger scored 60 touchdowns for the Tigers, which for a time was the modern college record for career touchdowns.

To honor Younger, Grambling will wear decals on their helmets for the rest of the year that bear "Tank #22."

"We want to show our allegiance to probably the greatest Tiger of all time," Williams said. "When you think of Tank and what he meant to Grambling and black college football, he is the greatest Tiger of them all."
 
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