Al Phaneuf
{{Short description|Canadian gridiron football player (born 1944)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox gridiron football person
| name = Al Phaneuf
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1944|2|4}}
| birth_place = Almonte, Ontario, Canada
| death_date =
| death_place =
| team =
| number =
| status = Retired
| import = no
| position1 = Defensive back
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 191
| college = Kentucky
| playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|1969}}–{{CFL Year|1971}}
| playing_team1 = Montreal Alouettes
| career_highlights =
| CFLAllStar = {{CFL Year|1970}}
| CFLEastAllStar = {{CFL Year|1970}}
| awards = 1970 – CFL's (East) Most Outstanding Canadian Award
1969 – Gruen Trophy – Outstanding Eastern Rookie
}}
Al Phaneuf (born February 4, 1944) is a former defensive back in the Canadian Football League.
College
Al Phaneuf played college football at the University of Kentucky. During his second year at Kentucky, Phaneuf "became a Christian." After graduating there, he attended Florida Bible College.
Montreal Alouettes
Al Phaneuf played defensive back for 3 years with the Montreal Alouettes from 1969 to 1971, not missing a game, for a total of 42 games.{{cite web|title=All-Time CFL Player Roster|publisher=CFLapedia|url=http://cflapedia.com/Players/p/phaneuf_al.htm}} Phaneuf's best year was 1970, when he intercepted 9 passes and was a CFL all-star. He was also and runner up for the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award. That year, he played an important role in the Lark's Grey Cup victory by a score of 23-10 over the Calgary Stampeders by intercepting 2 passes.
In his rookie season, Phaneuf intercepted 4 passes and in his final one 3 more.{{cite news|author=Ann Weldon|title=Grid Star Carries Gospel To Youth|newspaper=The Evening Independent|date= May 1, 1971|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GOELAAAAIBAJ&sjid=k1cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7208,89363&dq=al+phaneuf&hl=en}}
Activities outside football
In October 1971, Phaneuf founded a Christian-based Youth Ranch for high school students on Montreal's West Island.{{cite news|author=Alan Fryer|title=Youth Ranch honours high school graduate Ranchers|newspaper=The South Shore News|date=May 22, 1975|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=excLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZFEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=838,6240599&dq=al+phaneuf&hl=en}} In July 1972, Phaneuf surprised the Canadian football world by announcing his retirement after only three years of play without any injury, to devote more time to the Youth Ranch.{{cite news |author=Bob Morrissey |title= Als' Phaneuf quits football for youth work |work=The Montreal Gazette |date= July 14, 1972 |page=19}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Gruen Trophy}}
{{58th Grey Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phaneuf, Al}}
Category:Canadian football defensive backs
Category:Canadian Football League Rookie of the Year Award winners
Category:Montreal Alouettes players
Category:People from Almonte, Ontario
Category:Sportspeople from Lanark County