Don Orr
| Vanderbilt Commodores – No. 10 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback |
| Class | Graduate |
| Career history | |
| College | Vanderbilt (1955) |
| Bowl games | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Donald C. Orr was an American football player and official.[1] He was born in Miami, Florida.[2]
Vanderbilt University
[edit]Orr was a prominent quarterback for the Vanderbilt Commodores football teams of Vanderbilt University.[1]
1955
[edit]Orr led Vanderbilt to its first bowl victory by defeating Auburn 25 to 13 in the 1955 Gator Bowl. He was selected Vanderbilt's MVP of the game, and received a standing ovation upon getting the award.[3][4] Vandy's first two scores were a pass Orr to Joe Stephenson and a run by Orr respectively.[5]
NFL draft
[edit]He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 26th round of the 1956 NFL draft; but he never talked to the team.[1]
Official
[edit]Orr was a prominent National Football League (NFL) official for 25 seasons, from 1971 through 1995,[4] and a field judge in three Super Bowls.[1] He wore uniform number 77 for the majority of his NFL career. As a side judge in the 1979 AFC Championship Game between the Houston Oilers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Orr made a controversial incomplete pass call denying Oilers receiver Mike Renfro an apparent game-tying touchdown late in the third quarter.[6] The Oilers subsequently settled for a field goal and went on to lose 27–13.[6] The controversy prompted calls for the NFL to institute replay review.[7]
Contracting
[edit]Though officially retired in 2006, Orr is chairman of the board of Nashville Machine Co., a mechanical contracting company.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Traughber, Bill (November 9, 2011). "Don Orr: Vandy QB to NFL official". Vanderbilt University Athletics. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ "Don Orr: Vandy QB to NFL official". Vanderbilt University Commodores. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
- ^ National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). "Bowl/All-Star Game Records: Most Valuable Players in Former Major Bowls" (PDF). 2011 NCAA Division I Football Records. NCAA.org. p. 96. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
- ^ a b Bill Traughber (2011). Vanderbilt Football:Tales Of Commodore Gridiron History. p. 128. ISBN 9781609494230.
- ^ "December 31st, 1955" (PDF).
- ^ a b Grimsley, Will (January 8, 1980). "NFL backing official". The Daily Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia. Associated Press. p. 11.
- ^ Wolf, Mark (January 11, 1980). "An NFL Coverup on Renfro Call? Refs' Mistakes Part of Game". The Charlotte Observer. p. 3B.
- ^ "Where Are They Now?".
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