Bill "Red" Dawson
Full Name:  William Alfred Dawson
   School:  Valdosta High School in Valdosta, Georgia

Seminole Relations:  Brother of Rhett Dawson

Legacy Bricks:  Legacy Walk Map Link
   1993 Football HOF - Loc 40


Click On Photo To Enlarge
  Fred Biletnikoff and RED DAWSON


FSU Career
Football
Year  No  Pos     Hgt  Wgt  Cl  Ltr  Hometown
1961  83  E       6-3  198  So       Valdosta, GA                
1962  83  E       6-3  214  So-R *   Valdosta, GA                
1963  83  E       6-3  231  Jr-R *   Valdosta, GA                
1964  83  E       6-3  223  Sr-R *   Valdosta, GA                


Member of the FSU Hall of Fame
Elected into the FSU Hall of Fame in 1993
The "...big redhead (who) could be one of the best in the country," said his head coach, Bill Peterson, was recruited out of Valdosta High School in southern Georgia. A two-time all state performer, Dawson was also a member of two state championship teams from the tradition-rich football school.

The FSU coaching staff wasted little time going after the scrappy country kid who played both sides of the ball. Dawson enrolled at The Florida State University weighing 170 lbs. soaking wet. By his senior season, however, Dawson had exploded to a monstrous 6'3", 220 lbs.

Settling in at the tight end position, Dawson became a premier player for the Seminoles. He hauled in 34 aerials for 416 yards and three touchdowns during the "Fred Biletnikoff-era" at FSU.

When he was not a receiving threat, Dawson was very much a blocking threat. He had the grit to dispose of any defensive pass rushers who dared challenge.

A respected quality was his role of a team General. Coach Peterson described him as ,"...one of the best team leaders I have ever been associated with. When 'Red' spoke, his teammates listened."

Dawson was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams as a junior in 1963. But professional football had to wait a year when he decided to remain a student - and a part of Seminole football.

Dawson co-captained the 1964 Seminoles with Biletnikoff. That Florida State team stifled their cross-state rivals, the Florida Gators, 16-7. It was an unprecedented victory forever ending the University of Florida's reign as the state's dominant football program.

"Red" Dawson enjoyed his final triumph as a Seminole in the 1965 Gator Bowl against the University of Oklahoma, 36-19. Soon after, Dawson slipped off into the professional ranks with the Boston Patriots.

He became an assistant coach at Marshall University following his retirement from professional football. He later went on to serve as the school's acting head football coach.



FSU Statistics
Football
Season Statistics
Defense
         |       Tackles        |   Sacks  |    Fumble    |     Pass Defense    | Blkd |   PAT Attempts  |        |         |    |
Year  GP |  ua   a Tot  tfl-yds |   no-yds | ff fr-yds-td | int-yds-td qbh brup | kick |   kick  rsh rcv |   fg   | saf dxp | td | pts
---------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
1961   1 |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
1962  10 |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  2-  0- 0 |   1-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6
1963   8 |  25  19  44  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6
1964  10 |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6
---------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Tot   29 |  25  19  44  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  2-  0- 0 |   1-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  3 |  18
Offense/Kick and Punt Returns
         |       Rushing        |      Receiving       |         Passing          |     Kick Returns      |     Punt Returns      |  all
Year  GP |  no  yds  avg td lg  |  no  yds  avg td lg  | cmp- att-int  yds td lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  | purp
---------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
1961   1 |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-  0 - 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |    0
1962  10 |   0    0  0.0  0     |   3   37 12.3  1     |   0-  0 - 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   37
1963   8 |   0    0  0.0  0     |  19  231 12.2  1     |   0-  0 - 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  231
1964  10 |   0    0  0.0  0     |  12  148 12.3  1     |   0-  0 - 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  148
---------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Tot   29 |   0    0  0.0  0     |  34  416 12.2  3     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  416
Football
Game Participation
                            |      Starts
1961                        | GP  Off  Def
----------------------------|--------------
Oct  7 Mississippi          |  1           
----------------------------|--------------
Tot                         |  1   0    0

                            |      Starts
1962                        | GP  Off  Def
----------------------------|--------------
Sep 15 Citadel              |  1  RE   RE  
Sep 22 Kentucky             |  1           
Sep 29 Furman               |  1           
Oct  5 Miami                |  1           
Oct 20 Georgia              |  1           
Oct 27 Virginia Tech        |  1  RE   RE  
Nov  3 Houston              |  1           
Nov 10 Georgia Tech         |  1           
Nov 17 Florida              |  1           
Nov 24 Auburn               |  1           
----------------------------|--------------
Tot                         | 10   2    2

                            |      Starts
1963                        | GP  Off  Def
----------------------------|--------------
Sep 20 Miami                |  1  RE   RE  
Sep 28 Texas Christian      |  1  RE   RE  
Oct 12 Wake Forest          |  1  RE   RE  
Oct 19 Southern Mississippi |  1  RE   RE  
Oct 26 Virginia Tech        |  1  RE   RE  
Nov  2 Furman               |  1  RE   RE  
Nov 16 North Carolina State |  1  RE   RE  
Nov 23 Auburn               |  1  RE   RE  
----------------------------|--------------
Tot                         |  8   8    8

                            |      Starts
1964                        | GP  Off  Def
----------------------------|--------------
Sep 19 Miami                |  1  RE       
Sep 26 Texas Christian      |  1  RE       
Oct  3 New Mexico State     |  1  RE       
Oct 10 Kentucky             |  1  RE       
Oct 17 Georgia              |  1  RE       
Oct 24 Virginia Tech        |  1  RE       
Oct 31 Southern Mississippi |  1  RE       
Nov  7 Houston              |  1  RE       
Nov 14 North Carolina State |  1  RE       
Nov 21 Florida              |  1  RE       
Jan  2 Oklahoma             |  1  RE       
----------------------------|--------------
Tot                         | 11  11    0

----------------------------|--------------
Career Tot                  | 30  21   10
Football
Game Statistics
                            |       Tackles        |   Sacks  |    Fumble    |     Pass Defense    | Blkd |   PAT Attempts  |        |         |    |
1962                        |  ua   a Tot  tfl-yds |   no-yds | ff fr-yds-td | int-yds-td qbh brup | kick |   kick  rsh rcv |   fg   | saf dxp | td | pts
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Sep 15 Citadel              |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Sep 29 Furman               |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6
Oct  5 Miami                |   2   1   3  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 20 Georgia              |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  1-  0- 0 |   1-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 27 Virginia Tech        |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  1-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Nov  3 Houston              |   3   6   9  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Tot                         |   5   7  12  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  2-  0- 0 |   1-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |  0    0 |  1 |   6

                            |       Tackles        |   Sacks  |    Fumble    |     Pass Defense    | Blkd |   PAT Attempts  |        |         |    |
1963                        |  ua   a Tot  tfl-yds |   no-yds | ff fr-yds-td | int-yds-td qbh brup | kick |   kick  rsh rcv |   fg   | saf dxp | td | pts
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Sep 20 Miami                |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Sep 28 Texas Christian      |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 12 Wake Forest          |   3   2   5  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 26 Virginia Tech        |   5   4   9  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Nov  2 Furman               |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Nov  9 Georgia Tech         |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6
Nov 16 North Carolina State |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Nov 23 Auburn               |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Tot                         |   8   6  14  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |  0    0 |  1 |   6

                            |       Tackles        |   Sacks  |    Fumble    |     Pass Defense    | Blkd |   PAT Attempts  |        |         |    |
1964                        |  ua   a Tot  tfl-yds |   no-yds | ff fr-yds-td | int-yds-td qbh brup | kick |   kick  rsh rcv |   fg   | saf dxp | td | pts
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Sep 19 Miami                |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Sep 26 Texas Christian      |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 17 Georgia              |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 24 Virginia Tech        |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 31 Southern Mississippi |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6
Nov  7 Houston              |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Nov 21 Florida              |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Jan  2 *Oklahoma            |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Tot                         |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |  0    0 |  1 |   6

* Bowl Game stats not included
                            |       Rushing        |      Receiving       |         Passing          |     Kick Returns      |     Punt Returns      |  all
1962                        |  no  yds  avg td lg  |  no  yds  avg td lg  | cmp- att-int  yds td lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  | purp
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Sep 15 Citadel              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   1   15 15.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   15
Sep 29 Furman               |   0    0  0.0  0     |   1   17 17.0  1     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   17
Oct  5 Miami                |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Oct 20 Georgia              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   1   11 11.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |   11
Oct 27 Virginia Tech        |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Nov  3 Houston              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Tot                         |   0    0  0.0  0     |   3   43 14.3  1     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   43

                            |       Rushing        |      Receiving       |         Passing          |     Kick Returns      |     Punt Returns      |  all
1963                        |  no  yds  avg td lg  |  no  yds  avg td lg  | cmp- att-int  yds td lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  | purp
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Sep 20 Miami                |   0    0  0.0  0     |   2   24 12.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   24
Sep 28 Texas Christian      |   0    0  0.0  0     |   1   25 25.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   25
Oct 12 Wake Forest          |   0    0  0.0  0     |   3   37 12.3  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |   37
Oct 26 Virginia Tech        |   0    0  0.0  0     |   2   33 16.5  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |   33
Nov  2 Furman               |   0    0  0.0  0     |   1   13 13.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   13
Nov  9 Georgia Tech         |   0    0  0.0  0     |   4   48 12.0  1     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   48
Nov 16 North Carolina State |   0    0  0.0  0     |   2   25 12.5  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   25
Nov 23 Auburn               |   0    0  0.0  0     |   4   26  6.5  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   26
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Tot                         |   0    0  0.0  0     |  19  231 12.2  1     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  231

                            |       Rushing        |      Receiving       |         Passing          |     Kick Returns      |     Punt Returns      |  all
1964                        |  no  yds  avg td lg  |  no  yds  avg td lg  | cmp- att-int  yds td lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  | purp
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Sep 19 Miami                |   0    0  0.0  0     |   2   17  8.5  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   17
Sep 26 Texas Christian      |   0    0  0.0  0     |   2   35 17.5  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   35
Oct 17 Georgia              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   1    9  9.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |    9
Oct 24 Virginia Tech        |   0    0  0.0  0     |   2   32 16.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   32
Oct 31 Southern Mississippi |   0    0  0.0  0     |   2   17  8.5  1     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   17
Nov  7 Houston              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   1   11 11.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   11
Nov 21 Florida              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   2   27 13.5  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   27
Jan  2 *Oklahoma            |   0    0  0.0  0     |   1   16 16.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   16
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Tot                         |   0    0  0.0  0     |  12  148 12.3  1     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  148

* Bowl Game stats not included


Pro Career
Football
Height: 6-3   Weight: 240
Drafted: 1964, 12th Round Los Angeles  Rams, E     
         1964, AFL Draft, 19th Round Boston Patriots, E     

Year  Abbr   Team                                No      Pos
1965  Bos    Boston Patriots                     83      TE-DE


Pro Statistics
Football
Offensive Statistics
Year Team  GP  GS    Rec   Yds  Avg Long  TD
--------------------------------------------
1965 Bos    9   0      0     0  0.0         
--------------------------------------------
1 Year      9   0      0     0  0.0        0