Bill Cline
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1943)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox CFL biography
| name = Bill Cline
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1943|9|2}}
| birth_place = Valdese, North Carolina, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| team =
| number = 27, 14
| status =
| position1 = Quarterback
| position2 = defensive back
| position3 = punter
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 190
| high_school = Valdese (NC)
| college = East Carolina (1961–1964)
| playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|1965}}–{{CFL Year|1967}}
| playing_team1 = Ottawa Rough Riders
| playing_years2 = {{CFL Year|1968}}
| playing_team2 = Saskatchewan Roughriders
| career_highlights =
}}
William Jerome Cline (born September 2, 1943) is an American former professional football quarterback and defensive back who played for the Ottawa Rough Riders and Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for East Carolina.{{cite web|url=http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=clinebil001|title=Bill Cline|work=justsportsstats.com}}
Early life
Cline was born on September 2, 1943, in Valdese, North Carolina and attended and played football for Valdese High School. As a senior in 1960, he was named team MVP while also being selected to the Northwestern 3A All-Conference Team, North Carolina All-State Team, and he was also selected North Carolina Shrine Bowl Team.{{Cite web |title=Bill Cline - Football Player Burke County NC |url=http://burkecountysportshalloffame.com/bc.html |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=burkecountysportshalloffame.com}}
College career
Cline played college football for East Carolina. While with the Pirates he gained a total of 3,383 yards which was an East Carolina record for 25 years. He threw for 2,425 yards and 27 touchdowns while also returning punts for the team. In 1964 he led the Pirates to a win in the 1964 Tangerine Bowl and was also named the game's MVP.{{Cite web |title=Bill Cline (1974) - ECU Athletics Hall of Fame |url=https://ecupirates.com/honors/ecu-athletics-hall-of-fame/bill-cline/27 |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=East Carolina University Athletics |language=en}}
Professional career
=Ottawa Rough Riders=
In 1965, Cline signed with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). With the team he was mainly used as the punter. He also played defensive back and quarterback sparingly for the team.
Cline was once again used as a punter in 1966, while also playing his other positions on offense and defense. As a member of the Rough Riders in 1966 he was a part of the league runner-ups as they lost the 1966 Grey Cup.{{Cite web |title=CFL Results Nov. 26, 1966 Ottawa Rough Riders 14 vs Saskatchewan Roughriders 29 on CFLdb Statistics |url=https://stats.cfldb.ca/league/cfl/schedule/1966/11/26/ott-vs-ssk/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=stats.cfldb.ca}}
In 1967, Cline played his final year with the Rough Riders as he continued to be a punter, defensive back, and quarterback.
=Saskatchewan Roughriders=
In 1968, Cline signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. During the season he was used mainly as a defensive back with a diminished role, only catching two interceptions for seventeen yards in five games.{{Cite web |title=Bill Cline football Statistics on StatsCrew.com |url=https://www.statscrew.com/football/stats/p-clinebil001 |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=www.statscrew.com |language=en}}
Honors
Cline is a member of the East Carolina University Athletics Hall of Fame and the Burke County Sports Hall of Fame.
References
{{reflist}}
{{East Carolina Pirates quarterback navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cline, Bill}}
Category:Players of American football from North Carolina
Category:American football defensive backs
Category:Canadian football defensive backs
Category:Players of Canadian football from North Carolina
Category:East Carolina Pirates football players
Category:Ottawa Rough Riders players