:Charley Cowan
{{Short description|American football player (1938–1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image =
| caption =
| number = 73
| position = Tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date|1938|06|19}}
| birth_place = Braeholm, West Virginia, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1998|04|29|1938|06|19}}
| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 264
| high_school = Buffalo (WV)
| college = New Mexico Highlands
| draftyear = 1961
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 45
| afldraftyear = 1961
| afldraftround = 5
| afldraftpick = 36
| pastteams =
- Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|1961}}–{{NFL Year|1975}})
| highlights =
- 3× Pro Bowl (1968–1970)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 206
| pfr = CowaCh00
}}
Charles Edward "Charlie" Cowan (June 19, 1938 – April 29, 1998){{cite web |title=Charlie Cowan Stats – Pro-Football-Reference.com |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CowaCh00.htm |website=pro-football-reference.com |access-date=16 May 2022}} was an American professional football offensive tackle and guard who played fifteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Los Angeles Rams from 1961 to 1975. He played in three Pro Bowls and was second team All Pro twice.
Early life
Cowan was born on June 19, 1938, in Braeholm, West Virginia. He attended the segregated Buffalo High School in Accoville, Logan County, West Virginia.{{Cite web |title=West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://wvswa.org/west-virginia-sports-hall-of-fame-p972-482.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=wvswa.org}} He played fullback and end on the school's football team. Future American Football League (AFL) star receiver Lionel Taylor, was three years ahead of Cowan at Buffalo High.{{Cite web |title=Lionel Taylor Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TaylLi00.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Williamson |first=Dwight |date=2020-06-10 |title=Charlie Cowan -- another NFL legend from Logan County |url=https://www.coalvalleynews.com/opinion/dwight-williamson-charlie-cowan----another-nfl-legend-from-logan-county/article_cfc9f183-60fe-5a5b-b0bd-1e035a4c8538.html |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=The Coal Valley News |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Jeansomme |first=John |date=January 2, 1975 |title=Offensive Line Game: Personal Battle |work=The Miami Herald (Newsday Service) |pages=145}} There is a street named after Cowan in Logan County, "Cowan Avenue".
College football
In 1957, Cowan followed Taylor (class of 1959) to New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU). Cowan was a football All-American, and also an All-American on the basketball team. He had the nickname "Humps". He played several positions on NMHU's football team.{{Cite web |title=Lionel Taylor (2001) - Hall of Fame |url=https://nmhuathletics.com/honors/hall-of-fame/lionel-taylor/12/kiosk |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=New Mexico Highlands University Athletics |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-02-27 |title=NMHU alum Cowan to be inducted into NM Sports Hall of Fame, Fulgenzis recognized |url=https://nmhuathletics.com/news/2019/2/27/NMSHOF2019.aspx |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=New Mexico Highlands University Athletics |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Charles "Humps" Cowan (2002) - Hall of Fame |url=https://nmhuathletics.com/honors/hall-of-fame/charles-humps-cowan/18 |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=New Mexico Highlands University Athletics |language=en}} As in high school, at NMHU Cowan was a ball-carrier at fullback and end, not a lineman.{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=Jim |date=December 12, 1975 |title=Interior Linemen Are Coal Miners of Football |work=Lebanon Daily News |pages=9}}
Taylor and Cowan only played one year together at NMHU, but it was Taylor that led Cowan to the school. After finishing high school, Cowan had left West Virginia State University. When Taylor (who had also left West Virginia State years earlier) learned this from Cowan, Taylor called his NMHU coach Don Gibson and urged him to pursue Cowan. The coach convinced Cowan's parents it would be a good move, and Cowan came to NMHU.
Professional football
The Rams selected Cowan in the fourth round of the 1961 NFL draft (45th overall). He was taken in the fifth round of the 1961 AFL draft by the Denver Broncos. Future Rams teammate Joe Scibelli was taken by the Rams in the 10th round.{{Cite web |title=1961 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1961/draft.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1961 AFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1961_AFL/draft.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} Cowan and Scibelli would play their entire careers together on the Rams offensive line from 1961-1975.
Because of his size, the Rams converted him from a fullback to an offensive lineman beginning in his first year. Cowan doubted himself, but kept going as a lineman because he saw he was making a little progress; and then by the middle of his second season his self-confidence in being a lineman was established. The Rams' confidence in Cowan came earlier, starting when he held his own blocking against Eugene "Big Daddy" Lipscomb in his first game.
Cowan played his first three years at guard, starting 26 games. During his fourth season (1964), he transitioned to right tackle, where he played over four years alongside Scibelli at right guard. In 1969 through the end of his career in 1975, he played right tackle. The 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m), 264 lb (119 kg) Cowan was a huge intimidating presence alongside right guard Hall of Famer Tom Mack from 1966 to 1975, playing seven of those years immediately next to Mack at right tackle.{{Cite web |title=Tom Mack Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MackTo00.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} Ken Iman was at center from 1965 to 1974,{{Cite web |date=2010-11-15 |title=Former Packers center, Eagles coach dies at 71 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=5807004 |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} and Scibelli at right guard from 1961 to 1975.{{Cite web |title=Joe Scibelli Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/ScibJo00.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
In that 1961 to 1975 span, the Rams made the playoffs 5 times (1967, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975),{{Cite web |title=Los Angeles Rams Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/index.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1967 Regular Season Standings, NFL.com {{!}} Official Site of the National Football League |url=https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/1967/reg |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=1969 Regular Season Standings, NFL.com {{!}} Official Site of the National Football League |url=https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/1969/REG |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=1973 Los Angeles Rams Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/1973.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1974 Los Angeles Rams Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/1974.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1975 Los Angeles Rams Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/1975.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} reaching the NFC championship game of the 1974–75 NFL playoffs{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota Vikings - December 29th, 1974 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412290min.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} and the 1975–76 NFL playoffs,{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams - January 4th, 1976 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197601040ram.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} but losing to the Minnesota Vikings and to the Dallas Cowboys, respectively. In the 1974 divisional round, the Rams defeated the Washington Redskins,{{Cite web |title=December 22, 1974 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Washington Redskins at Los Angeles Rams Box Score and Game Statistics |url=https://profootballarchives.com/nflboxscores1/1974nfl186.html |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=profootballarchives.com}} as Cowan was successful against the opposing the right defensive end Verlon Biggs.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} In the 1975 divisional round, Doug France started in his place as the Rams defeated the St. Louis Cardinals.{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams - December 27th, 1975 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197512270ram.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} Cowan came back to play against the Cowboys, his final game, as the Rams could not get past them. Cowan was replaced by Doug France in 1976.{{Cite web |title=1976 Los Angeles Rams Roster & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/1976_roster.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
Cowan was selected three times to play in the Pro Bowl, 1968-1970. The Associated Press (AP) twice named him second-team All Pro in 1968-69, and in 1968, The Sporting News selected Cowan first-team All-Conference.{{Cite web |title=1968 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1968/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1969 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1969/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
At the time he retired in 1975, his 206 games as a Ram were the most in team history.{{Cite web |last=Dufresne |first=Chris |last2= |first2= |last3= |first3= |last4= |first4= |date=1990-06-17 |title=Sorry, Charlie : Former Ram Great Cowan Gets No Help from the NFL After Kidney Failure, but Old Friends Come to His Aid |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-06-17-sp-522-story.html |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} He was surpassed the next season by longtime teammate Merlin Olsen, a Hall of fame defensive tackle.{{Cite web |title=Merlin Olsen Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OlseMe00.htm |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Merlin Olsen {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/merlin-olsen/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=pfhof |language=en}} They were both later surpassed by Hall of fame offensive lineman Jackie Slater, who played 20 years and 259 regular season games for the Rams.{{Cite web |title=Jackie Slater Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SlatJa00.htm |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jackie Slater {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/jackie-slater/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=pfhof |language=en}}
Honors
Cowan has been inducted into the NMHU Hall of Fame (2002), the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame (2013), and the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame (2019). He was named a distinguished alumnus by the NMHU Foundation in 1976.{{Cite web |title=NMHU Distinguished Alumni and Awardees {{!}} New Mexico Highlands Foundation |url=https://nmhufoundation.org/nmhu-distinguished-alumni-and-awardees-old |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=nmhufoundation.org}}
Death
Cowan died in May 1998 of kidney failure, from which he had been suffering for a decade, undergoing dialysis for years and facing deep financial burdens.{{Cite web |last=Dufresne |first=Chris |last2= |first2= |last3= |first3= |last4=Up |first4= |date=1990-06-17 |title=Sorry, Charlie : Former Ram Great Cowan Gets No Help from the NFL After Kidney Failure, but Old Friends Come to His Aid |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-06-17-sp-522-story.html |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1998-05-02 |title=Former Rams Lineman Cowan Is Dead - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-rams-lineman-cowan-is-dead/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Florence |first=Mal |date=1998-05-01 |title=Former Ram Cowan Dies After Kidney Failure |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-01-sp-45227-story.html |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Los Angeles Rams 40th Anniversary Team}}
{{Los Angeles Rams 1961 draft navbox}}
{{Broncos1961DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cowan, Charlie}}
Category:People from Logan County, West Virginia
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Los Angeles Rams players
Category:Western Conference Pro Bowl players
Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players
Category:New Mexico Highlands Cowboys football players