 |
 |
| Hall of Famer |
CHAMPION |
.Then
:... Playing
center; the best, a fan's delight.
............. ...Now:...
Dwight's Computers for kids; "thanks Dwight."
...
Dwight Stephenson
spent his entire pro career with the Miami Dolphins, and was considered by many
to be the "best at his position ever" in the NFL. He was selected to five straight
Pro Bowls (1983-87), and earned starting honors in four of those contests (1983-86).
His four Pro Bowl starts is tied for the third-most in team history. Stephenson
anchored an offensive line which allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL each of
his seasons as a starter and enabled Miami quarterback Dan Marino to set numerous
passing records. His playing career ended prematurely after suffering
torn anterior cruciate and lateral colateral ligaments in his left knee against
the New York Jets on December 7, 1987, when he was hit unexpectedly by Marty
Lyons on a New York fumble return.
. 
Coach Shula .....Coach Bryant
Stephenson
also served as an Assistant Offensive Line Coach on coach Don Shula's
Dolphin staff in 1992. Before joining the Dolphins as a second round draft choice
in 1980, he had an outstanding college career at Alabama, where he was called
"the greatest center I have ever coached"
by the late Paul "Bear" Bryant. He helped lead the Crimson Tide to consecutive
national championships in 1978 and 1979, three straight Sugar Bowl victories
from 1977 -1979, and a 21 game winning streak during his junior and senior years.
He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his sixth year of eligibility
after having been a finalist on five occasions. In 1990, he also was voted as
the center on the Dolphins' Silver Anniversary all-time team, and on December
12, 1994, he was enshrined on the Dolphin Honor Roll at Pro Player Stadium.
“If I could tell a young player to learn
from one of my veterans, to follow around and copy one player, that player would
always be Dwight,” Shula once told a reporter.
  |
Marino
is ready.
Never
too busy, an autograph for Traci
must
of D
. . . . . . . . ."Thanks
to Dwight Stephenson, who was the most incredibe
leader on the field. He is a Hall of Fame player as well as a Hall of Fame person.
Thank you Dwight, . ." .....
Dan Marino (Retirement interview, March
13, 2000)...ribued
tothe e mm
In
an earlier interview, when asked for a particlar play involving Dwight, Marino
said, “He made so many unbelievable plays, you can’t pick
just one out. Because of what I had to concentrate on during a game, it was
hard for me to notice Dwight while he was in there. “But,” he
added, “I sure noticed it when he was not in there"....
A
few years ago, when Stephenson was approaching greatness, NBC isolated a camera
on him for an entire game. The tape showed that he might have the quickest reations
of any other offensive lineman in history. The ball was in the quaterback's
hands and Stephenson's free hand was on the chest of the noseguard before that
poor guy was even out of his stance.
The game that dazzeled everyone was the Dolphins' victory over the undefeated
Super Bowl bound Bears in 1985, when the 6'2, 285 pound Stephenson, with his
left arm strapped to his side to protect a seperated shoulder, buried 325 tackle
William Perry. "We're getting ready to meet Miami in the playoffs and I'm
watching films of that game." Cleveland noseguard Bob Golic, "Stephenson
took Perry on about four out of five plays and physically threw him to the ground.
I'm sitting there telling myself, why am I watching this? I'm not learning anything
from this other than how to bunce."
Sports
Illustrated's SI Vault, 09,09,87.
....................................
1986 Delivering the ball |
2002 Still delivering |
2003 - 2007 And delivering |
On
February 11, 2006 Dwight joined a distinguished list of former Walter
Camp 'Man of the Year' recipients which includes former NFL standout
players, Roger Staubach, Gales Sayers, and Jim Kelly. The Walter Camp
Award honors an individual who has been closely associated with the
game of football as a player, coach or close attendant to the game.
He must have contributed to the public service for the benefit of the
community, the country and his fellow man. He must have an impeccable
reputation for integrity and must be dedicated to our American Heritage
and the philosophy of Walter Camp |
| 1.For more career info, visit the NFL Hall of Fame's 'Dwight Stephenson Site' : | 1.CLick here |
| 2. BioArticle written in volume XX of 'The Coffin Corner' by Joe Horrigan (1998) for Profesional Football Researchers Assn. | 2. Click here |
The same attributes responsible for Dwight's
success on the football field and so important to him as a person
have helped him make a successful transition to the world of business.
Below is a link to the home page of the
D. Stephenson Construction Company.
Click anywhere above to see more
about the Dwight Stepehnson Construction,Inc.
To see photos from the 2008 HOF Charity Classic,
click here.
"A digital
divide?? That's no way.
Not here, its unnessary in the U.S.A."
.......................
and delivering.................................
