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Tom Cosgrove (American football)

From Wikipedia - Reading time: 6 min
For the baseball player, see Tom Cosgrove (baseball).
Tom Cosgrove
University of Maryland
Born:June 21, 1930
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died:March 28, 2017
Potomac, Maryland, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)Center
CollegeMaryland
NFL draft1952 / Round: 13 / Pick: 156
Drafted byCleveland Browns
Career highlights and awards
  • Maryland Athletics HOF (2005)

Tom Cosgrove (June 21, 1930 – March 28, 2017) was an American football offensive lineman. He played collegiately for the Maryland Terrapins at the University of Maryland, starting on the varsity squad from 1949 to 1952.

In October 1952 Cosgrove made national news as one of three Maryland players coming forward ahead of a game to expose attempted bribery in conjunction with a point shaving scandal. A fugitive wanted in the case surrendered and was arrested shortly thereafter.

Cosgrove was selected in the 13th round of the 1952 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns.

In 2005 Cosgrove was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame.

Biography[edit]

Early years[edit]

Tom Cosgrove was born June 21, 1930, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended West Catholic Preparatory High School, playing a reserve role for the school football team.[1]

College career[edit]

Cosgrove entered the University of Maryland in 1948, playing football on the freshman team.[2] The influx of older student-athletes back from military service in World War II had worked its way through college ranks, and younger players were expected to play a more impactful role on the varsity football squad in 1949, in the estimation of Baltimore Sun sports editor Paul Menton.[2]

Menton was not wrong. Tom Cosgrove was inserted as a starter at center from his first game in 1949.[3]

In 1950, Cosgrove was named an honorable mention All-American.[3]

In the 1951 season, Cosgrove was named a second-team All-American.[3] He was also honored with the Coaches' Award for the team's most outstanding offensive lineman.[4]

He played in the 1952 Sugar Bowl at Tulane Stadium defeating Tennessee 28-13, 1953 North-South Shrine Game, the Senior Bowl, and the College All-Star Game.[3]

1952 Bribery scandal[edit]

Although drafted into the NFL in January 1952, Cosgrove returned to Maryland in the fall of 1952 to play another season. In October he became the subject of national news coverage as part of a bribery scandal in which he and two of his teammates went to authorities and informed them they had been offered cash to alter the result of a forthcoming game with Louisiana State University (LSU). Cosgrove — a center who handled the ball on each offensive play[5] — asserted that he had been offered $1,000 for his part in the $1,500, three player scandal.[6]

Cosgrove and his two teammates — guard Frank Navarro and star quarterback Jack Scarbath — indicated that the bribes were offered as part of a point shaving scheme in which the Maryland squad was to keep the margin of victory under 21 points.[6] The bribe offers were rejected by all three, who alerted authorities in advance of the game.[6]

Maryland ultimately beat LSU by a score of 34–6, a margin of 28 point, in the October 25 game.[6] An Associated Press news report noted of the game that "Scarbath completed three touchdown passes in the game. Cosgrove's [snaps] from center were accurate and fast. Navarro held his guard position as usual."[6]

A fugitive wanted as a suspect in the case, Louis Leonard Glickfield of Hyattsville, Maryland, a 21-year old Maryland student, surrendered to authorities on October 29.[7]

Professional career[edit]

Cosgrove was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round (156th overall) of the 1952 NFL Draft.[8]

Life after football[edit]

After the end of his playing career Cosgrove became a commercial airline pilot. He flew for Capital Airlines and then for United Airlinesafter the two merged. Cosgrove retired in 1990 to Potomac, Maryland.

Cosgrove married Marguerite Wilson, with whom he had 8 children.

Death and legacy[edit]

Cosgrove died March 28, 2017, a Potomac, Maryland.[9] His body was interred at Arlington National Cemetery Section 30, Site 841-RH.

In 2005, Tom Cosgrove was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "West Catholic, Roman Win," Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 6, 1947; p. 22.
  2. ^ a b Paul Menton, "Sophomores Will Lead Terp Gridders in Fall," Baltimore Evening Sun, Jan. 8, 1949; p. 8.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Cosgrove Named to Terps Hall of Fame," (permalink) University of Maryland Terrapins official web site, umterps.com/ Sept. 8, 2005.
  4. ^ 2001 Maryland Terrapins Football Media Guide. University of Maryland, 2001; p. 200.
  5. ^ Red Smith, "Views of Sport," Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 31, 1952; p. 45.
  6. ^ a b c d e Richard K. Tucker and Lawrence C. McDaniel, "Terp Stars Offered $1500 Bribe to Fix U of M Football Game," Baltimore Evening Sun, Oct. 29, 1952; pp. 1, 3.
  7. ^ "Fugitive Surrenders in Bribe Case at Maryland," Hanover [PA] Evening Sun, Oct. 30, 1952; p. 22.
  8. ^ Maryland Draft Players/Alumni, Pro Football Reference, retrieved 17 January 2009.
  9. ^ Legacy Obituaries, "Legacy", obituary retrieved 30 March 2017.
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