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BOBBY JOE PRIDE - (Football 1968-71)
A four-year football letterman for the Lions from 1968-71, Bobby Joe Pride was a member of the first integrated collegiate football team in the state of Alabama under coach Hal Self.
He finished his career with 3,655 all-purpose yards, which, at the time (1971), was second best in school history behind his teammate Leonard Thomas (3,938). That mark still ranks eighth in school history. His career numbers include 854 rushing yards, 799 receiving yards, 1,525 kickoff return yards and 477 punt return yards for 3,655 all-purpose yards.
He scored seven career touchdowns, including two kickoff returns for touchdowns in his career - 67 yards against Jacksonville State in 1968 and 100 yards against Tennessee-Martin in 1970. The 100-yard return is tied for a school record. Pride led the team in kickoff returns in 1970 with 18 for 623 yards and a 34.5 average and again in 1971 with 19 for 417 yards and a 21.0 average. His 623 kickoff return yards in 1970 set a school record that has since been broken.
He had 1,106 all-purpose yards in 1970 with 177 rushing, 254 receiving, 623 on kickoff returns and 52 on punt returns. He finished with 1,069 all-purpose yards in 1971 with 144 rushing, 417 receiving, 417 on kickoff returns and 101 on punt returns. Pride played wingback and tailback his first two seasons before moving to flanker.
A 1977 UNA graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree, the Decatur, Ala., native was inducted into the Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. He spent the majority of his professional career with Champion Paper.
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