Gaynell Tinsley

Tinsley was born in Ruple, Louisiana and raised in Homer, Louisiana in the northern part of the state. He attended Louisiana State University where he played football and baseball and was selected as the captain of both teams. He was considered one of the greatest receivers in college football, earning consensus All-American honors in both 1935 and 1936. As a junior in 1935, Tinsley was named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press,{{Cite news |title=Lutz, Grayson Only Coast Stars On A.P. All-American: Four Southern Aces Given Laurels |last=Gould |first=Alan |date=December 7, 1935 |work=Oakland Tribune}} United Press,{{Cite news |title=Grayson On U.P. All-American Team: Moscrip And Lutz Placed On Reserves |last=Cameron |first=Stuart |date=November 11, 1935 |work=Oakland Tribune}} Liberty (selected based on a poll of 1,521 varsity players in all parts of the country),{{cite news |title=Bobby Wilson Named Liberty All-Players' All-America Eleven |work=Galveston Daily News |date=December 12, 1935}} Collier's Weekly,{{cite news |title=Inwood Smith Selected For Collier's 'American: Ohio State Guard One of Three Middlewestern Players Honored; Year Termed 'Greatest' |work=Circleville Herald |date=December 12, 1935}} the Newspaper Editors Association,{{Cite news |title=Here's NEA'S 1935 All-America Team |last=Bierman |first=Bernard |date=December 2, 1935 |work=Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune}} the International News Service,{{Cite news |title=Walsh's National Eleven Leaves Ohio Out in Cold: Both Minnesota Tackles Chosen; Backfield Includes Smith, Berwanger, Wilson and Grayson |last=Walsh |first=Davis |date=December 5, 1935 |work=Circleville Herald}} and The New York Sun.{{cite news |title=Reynolds Gets All-Star Post |work=Oakland Tribune |date=December 8, 1935}} At the time, at age 19 he was one of the youngest ever named to the All-America team.{{cite news|last1=Moshier|first1=Jeff|title=Hitting The High Spots|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19361125&id=5A1QAAAAIBAJ&pg=2096,843498&hl=en|access-date=May 17, 2016|work=The Evening Independent|date=November 25, 1936|page=6}} In 1936, Tinsley repeated as a first-team All-American with each of these publications and also received the first-team designation from the Central Press Association (selected by the captains of more than 50 college football teams at "important universities and colleges throughout the United States"),{{Cite news |title=Yankee Teams Step Out In All-Star Voting: Playing Captains Pick Top Warriors |last=Braucher |first=Bill |date=December 5, 1935 |work=Post-Herald (WV)}} and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.{{cite web|title=Walter Camp Football Foundation |url=http://waltercamp.org/index.php/teams_and_awards// |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218214203/http://waltercamp.org/index.php/teams_and_awards/ |archive-date=December 18, 2007 }}

File:Gaynell Tinsley playing for LSU.jpg

Tinsley's profile at the College Football Hall of Fame describes him as such: "Tinsley was a magnificent athletic specimen, standing 6-0, and weighing 196-pounds, size he used equally well as a defensive stalwart who was a blocking master."{{College Football HoF|id=1497|name=Gaynell Tinsley }} As a sophomore in 1934, Tinsley had a 65-yard pass reception, thrown by halfback Abe Mickal, against Southern Methodist University, which stood as a record for several years as "the longest pass in Southern football history." Tinsley's coach at LSU, Bernie Moore, once said, "Tinsley could have made All-American at any position. He was so tough, he made blockers quit. He's the greatest lineman I ever saw."

Tinsley concluded his college career by playing in the Chicago College All-Star Game, an annual game between college all-stars and an NFL team. Tinsley scored the only points of the game on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Sammy Baugh, as the college players defeated the Green Bay Packers, 6–0. This was the first victory for the college players against the professionals in the series.

In 1993, LSU selected its all-time team as part of the celebration of the centennial of LSU football. Tinsley was "the only unanimous choice" for LSU's "Early Years Team of the Century."[http://www.lsusports.net/src/data/lsu/assets/docs/fb/pdf/01fb257-273.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=5200 2001 LSU Football Media Guide] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625043422/http://www.lsusports.net/src/data/lsu/assets/docs/fb/pdf/01fb257-273.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=5200 |date=June 25, 2016 }}. p. 257. Retrieved October 16, 2016 Upon his death in 2002, LSU Sports described his contributions to the school's football teams of the mid-1930s as follows:

Tinsley is widely considered to be among the finest athletes to ever play at LSU. The star end led the Tigers to their first two SEC titles and played in two Sugar Bowls. He earned All-SEC and All-American honors in 1935–36 for his ability to dominate a game on both sides of the ball. In 1936, he was also second in balloting for national MVP honors. ... At 6-3, 215 pounds, Tinsley was considered to the prototype end of his era because of his mobility.

Tinsley was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals as the 12th overall pick in the 1937 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=1937 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1937/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He played for the Cardinals for three years: in 1937, 1938 and 1940. As a rookie in 1937, Tinsley set an NFL record with 675 receiving yards. He also ranked among the NFL's 1937 leaders in several categories, including 36 receptions (second in the NFL), 675 receiving yards (first in the NFL), 677 total yards from scrimmage (second in the NFL), five receiving touchdowns (second in the NFL), 18.8 yards per reception (first in the NFL) and 61.4 receiving yards per game (first in the NFL).{{cite web |title=Gaynell Tinsley |publisher=pro-football-reference.com |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TinsGa20.htm}} At the end of the 1937 season, Tinsley was selected as a first-team All-NFL player by the United Press, the NFL, New York Daily News, and Collyers Eye magazine.

Tinsley twice set the record for the longest pass reception in NFL history.{{cite news|last1=Kirksey|first1=George|title='Skins-Giants Stage Fight For Pro Lead|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19381128&id=Mm0jAAAAIBAJ&pg=2386,7227531&hl=en|access-date=September 23, 2016|work=The Pittsburgh Press|agency=United Press|date=November 28, 1938|page=23}} He set the mark first in 1937, when he caught a 97-yard pass from Pat Coffee for a touchdown against the Chicago Bears. He broke his own record the following season, against the Cleveland Rams in the Cardinals' final game, with a 98-yard touchdown reception from Doug Russell.{{cite news|title=Detroit Figures On Play-Off For Pro Grid Crown|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19381130&id=YN5PAAAAIBAJ&pg=3664,3496950&hl=en|access-date=September 23, 2016|work=The Evening Independent|agency=Associated Press|date=November 30, 1938|page=10}} Several NFL receivers have since recorded 99-yard receptions, but Tinsley's 98-yarder remains a Cardinals franchise record (although it has been tied twice).[https://web.archive.org/web/20060716051549/http://www.azcardinals.com/images/pdfs/indipassing.pdf Cardinals franchise passing records]. Arizona Cardinals. Retrieved September 23, 2016.{{cite web|title=Chicago/St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals Career Receiving Leaders|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/career-receiving.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=September 23, 2016}}

In 1938, Tinsley continued as one of the league's top receivers. He caught passes in nine of the Cardinals' eleven games during the season.{{cite news|title=Tinsley Selected Ace Pro Receiver|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5285709/tinsley_selected_ace_pro_receiver/|access-date=May 17, 2016|work=The Anniston Star|agency=United Press|date=December 22, 1938|page=10}} His 41 receptions in 1938 tied the all-time NFL single-season record, set by Don Hutson two seasons prior. He also ranked among the 1938 league leaders with 516 receiving yards (second in the NFL) and 46.9 yards per game (fourth in the NFL). He was again selected as a first-team All-NFL player, this time receiving the honor from Pro Football Writers, the NFL, and Collyers Eye magazine.

In March 1939, Tinsley signed a contract to play professional minor league baseball for the Marshall Tigers of the East Texas League.{{cite news|title=Tinsley Signs Pro Baseball Contract|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19390312&id=qO4aAAAAIBAJ&pg=2756,886396&hl=en|access-date=May 16, 2016|work=The Pittsburgh Press|agency=United Press|date=March 12, 1939|page=4}} He also left the Cardinals a week into training camp to take up a head coaching position at Haynesville High School in Haynesville, Louisiana, replacing Cecil Crowley.{{cite news|title=Gaynell Tinsley Will Coach At Haynesville High|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5374213/tinsley_will_coach_at_haynesville/|access-date=September 3, 2016|work=The Delta Democrat-Times|agency=Associated Press|date=August 18, 1939|page=6}}

He returned to the NFL and played in seven games in 1940 before he suffered a torn ligament in his left knee while making a tackle against the Cleveland Rams, which effectively ended his season.{{cite news|title=Gaynell Tinsley Through For Rest of Season|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1983&dat=19401026&id=uGIiAAAAIBAJ&pg=5110,5629488&hl=en|access-date=May 16, 2016|work=San Jose Evening News|agency=Associated Press|date=October 26, 1940|page=11}}

When Tinsley retired, he ranked fourth in NFL history in pass receptions, despite having played only three seasons of professional football. At the time, he was cited along with Don Hutson as being one of "the two greatest pass receivers of all time."{{cite news|last1=Conzelman|first1=Jimmy|title=Tinsley as Good as Hutson?|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5285730/tinsley_as_good_as_hutson/|access-date=May 17, 2016|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=September 6, 1940|page=38}}

After service in the U.S. Navy, Tinsley worked as a high school football coach in Haynesville, Louisiana. He then served as an assistant football coach at LSU through the 1947 season. In 1948, LSU's long-time football coach, Bernie Moore, retired, and Tinsley was promoted to replace his former mentor.{{cite news|title=Gaynell Tinsley Gets Louisiana State Post|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19480311&id=m5xQAAAAIBAJ&pg=3040,3335600&hl=en|access-date=May 16, 2016|work=Eugene Register-Guard|agency=Associated Press|date=March 11, 1948}} In 1949, Tinsley's team finished the regular season 8–2 and played in the Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma. He became the first person to participate in the Sugar Bowl as both a player and a head coach.{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Raymond|title=Gus Tinsley First in History In Sugar Bowl as Player, Coach|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5285804/gus_tinsley_first_in_history_in_sugar/|access-date=May 17, 2016|work=The Tennessean|date=December 30, 1949|page=25}} Tinsley's LSU teams never met with the same success they had achieved in 1949. In seven years as head coach at LSU, Tinsley's teams compiled a record of 35–34–6.{{cite news |title=LSU Shakes Up Athletic Department: Head Grid Coach Tinsley Fired |publisher=Council Bluffs Nonpareil |date=February 6, 1955}} Displeased with the team's performance, the LSU board of supervisors fired Tinsley in February 1955, though they agreed to pay his salary of $12,500 per year for the two remaining years on his contract. After the vote to remove him, Tinsley said, "I have not made any future plans as yet, but I do know that I will continue to help LSU whenever and wherever I can."

Tinsley was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1956.{{cite news|title=14 Elected To Football Hall of Fame|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19560108&id=UDEsAAAAIBAJ&pg=6108,816793&hl=en|access-date=May 17, 2016|work=Herald-Journal|agency=Associated Press|date=January 8, 1956}} He was elected as one of three charter members to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1959.{{cite news|title=Hall of Fame in Louisiana Picks Three|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19590104&id=Pp9WAAAAIBAJ&pg=1845,1090911&hl=en|access-date=May 17, 2016|work=The Spokesman-Review|agency=Associated Press|date=January 4, 1959|page=4}} Despite playing only two seasons during the decade, he was voted to the NFL 1930s All-Decade Team.{{cite web|title=NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1930s|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/news/nfl-s-all-decade-team-of-the-1930s/|publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame|access-date=September 10, 2017|date=January 8, 2012}} Tinsley died in 2002 at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at age 87.{{cite news |title=LSU's First All-American, Former Coach Gus Tinsley Dies |publisher=LSU Sports |url=http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=162476 |access-date=July 18, 2009 |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020065403/http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=162476 |url-status=dead }}

{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = AP }}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Louisiana College Wildcats

| conf = Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association

| startyear = 1937

| endyear = 1938

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1937

| name = Louisiana College

| overall = 3–6

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1938

| name = Louisiana College

| overall = 4–4–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Louisiana College

| overall = 7–10–1

| confrecord =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = LSU Tigers

| conf = Southeastern Conference

| startyear = 1948

| endyear = 1954

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1948

| name = LSU

| overall = 3–7

| conference = 1–5

| confstanding = T–10th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1949

| name = LSU

| overall = 8–3

| conference = 4–2

| confstanding = 5th

| bowlname = Sugar

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = 9

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1950

| name = LSU

| overall = 4–5–2

| conference = 2–3–2

| confstanding = 9th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1951

| name = LSU

| overall = 7–3–1

| conference = 4–2–1

| confstanding = T–3rd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1952

| name = LSU

| overall = 3–7

| conference = 2–5

| confstanding = 10th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1953

| name = LSU

| overall = 5–3–3

| conference = 2–3–3

| confstanding = 8th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1954

| name = LSU

| overall = 5–6

| conference = 2–5

| confstanding = 9th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = LSU

| overall = 35–34–6

| confrecord = 17–25–6

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record End

| overall = 42–44–7

| bowls = no

| poll =

| polltype = Rankings from final AP Poll

| legend = no

}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{College Football HoF|1497}}
• {{Footballstats |nfl=gus-tinsley |pfr=T/TinsGa20 }}

{{Navboxes

|list1 =

{{Louisiana College Wildcats football coach navbox}}

{{LSU Tigers football coach navbox}}

{{1935 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}

{{1936 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}

{{Chicago Cardinals 1937 draft navbox}}

{{NFL1930s}}

{{NFL receiving yardage leaders}}

{{NFL receptions leaders}}

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tinsley, Gaynell}}

Category:1915 births

Category:2002 deaths

Category:American football ends

Category:Chicago Cardinals players

Category:Louisiana Christian Wildcats football coaches

Category:LSU Tigers baseball players

Category:LSU Tigers football coaches

Category:LSU Tigers football players

Category:All-American college football players

Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees

Category:People from Homer, Louisiana

Category:Coaches of American football from Louisiana

Category:Players of American football from Louisiana

Category:Baseball players from Louisiana

Category:20th-century American sportsmen