Larry Hand

Hand was born in 1940 in Paterson, New Jersey, grew up in West Milford, New Jersey, and attended Butler High School.{{cite web|title=Larry Hand|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|accessdate=February 22, 2016|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HandLa20.htm}}{{cite news|title=Larry Hand|publisher=New Jersey Sports Heroes|accessdate=February 22, 2016|url=http://www.njsportsheroes.com/larryhandfb.html}}Presinzano, Jessica. [http://www.northjersey.com/story/entertainment/2017/10/11/celebrities-politicians-and-athletes-who-call-north-jersey-home/753145001/ "Celebrities, politicians and athletes who call North Jersey home"], The Record (Bergen County), October 11, 2017. Accessed November 18, 2017. "Larry Hand, formerly of the Detroit Lions was born in Paterson, but grew up in West Milford." When he began high school, he was five feet, six inches tall, and weighed 135 pounds. He did not play varsity football until his senior year and, even then, was not a starter. After graduating from high school, Hand took a job working as a mason in Butler.

Hand grew to be six feet, four inches tall, and 215 pounds, and enrolled at Appalachian State Teachers College in Boone, North Carolina. He began playing college football for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team in 1962 at age 22 under head coach Jim Duncan. At the end of his junior year in 1963, he was unanimously selected as a first-team tackle on the All-Carolinas Conference football team.{{cite news|title=Hand, Tart Unanimous Picks For All-Carolinas Team|newspaper=The High Point (NC) Enterprise|date=December 1, 1963|page=29|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4396095/hand_tart_unanimous_picks/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} He was also selected as the outstanding lineman in the conference.{{cite news|title=Edwards Pokes A Little Fun At Grid Substitution Ruling|newspaper=The High Point (NC) Enterprise|date=December 4, 1963|page=16|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4396142/edwards_pokes_a_little_fun/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} After his senior year, he was selected as the most valuable player in the Carolinas Conference.{{cite news|title=Wheless, Hand Unanimous Choices|newspaper=The Daily Times-News|date=December 14, 1964|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4396202/wheless_hand_unanimous_choices/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} He was also named to the NAIA All-America team,{{cite news|title=Rowe Selected On 2nd Team All-American|newspaper=The Daily Times-News|date=December 23, 1964|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4396253/rowe_selected_on_2nd_team_allamerican/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{cite news|title=Black Named All-America On NAIA Unit|newspaper=Spartanburg Herald|date=December 23, 1964|page=21|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19641222&id=rG8sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wcsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4992,4091014&hl=en}} and was the only player selected as a first-team player on both the offensive and defensive units of the NAIA District 26 team—he was picked as a tackle on offense and an interior lineman on defense.{{cite news|title=Elon Places Four on NAIA District Team|newspaper=Burlington (NC) Daily Time-News|date=November 25, 1964|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4395887/elon_puts_four/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} His #71 jersey was later retired by Appalachian State,{{cite web|title=A Big Hand: 'Late Bloomer' Will Have His No. 71 Retired by Appalachian|publisher=Appalachian State University|accessdate=February 21, 2016|url=http://www.appstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=1543549}} one of only four Appalachian State jerseys to be retired.{{cite web|title=App State greats – Larry Hand|publisher=appfans.com|accessdate=February 22, 2016|url=http://www.appfans.com/2010/06/02/app-state-greats-larry-hand/}}

In December 1963, the Detroit Lions selected Hand as a "future selection" in the 10th round of the 1964 NFL draft. As a rookie in 1965, Hand share responsibility at the right defensive end position with Sam Williams. He appeared in all 14 games at defensive end for the Lions in the 1965, 1966, and 1967 seasons. On October 1, 1967, he scored his first NFL touchdown on an interception against Cardinals' quarterback Jim Hart.{{cite news|title=Hand Gets Into Point Act|newspaper=News-Journal|date=October 8, 1967|page=36|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4396546/hand_gets_into_point_act/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} He had a total of two interceptions for touchdowns during the 1967 season.

In September 1968, Hand sustained torn ligaments to his knee in the season opener, underwent surgery, and missed the remainder of the 1968 season.{{cite news|title=Lions Injured End Out for the Season|author=Jack Saylor|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=September 18, 1968|page=1D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4396646/lions_injured_end_out_for_the_season/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} In 1969, he held out for the first two weeks of training camp, but re-signed with the Lions in late July.{{cite news|title=Hand Ready to Quit|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=April 30, 1969|page=2D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4396753/hand_ready_to_quit_lions/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{cite news|title=Lions Have Hand|newspaper=The Berkshire Eagle|date=July 26, 1969|page=19}} Hand returned to his position as the Lions' right defensive end, starting all 14 games during the 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1973 seasons. He had a 62-yard interception return for touchdown in 1970 and was selected as the defensive most valuable player for the 1972 Lions.{{cite news|title=Hand, Freitas honored as most valuable Lions|newspaper=Record-Eagle (Traverse City)|date=December 22, 1972|page=2B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4396811/hand_freitas_honored_as_most_valuable/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} In 1973, Hand again held out during the early weeks of training camp, finally signing a contract in early August.{{cite news|title=Lions Finally Get Larry Hand Signed|newspaper=The Argus-Press (Owosso, MI)|date=August 9, 1973|page=18|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19730809&id=13ciAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wKwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3367,3727926&hl=en}}

In 1974, Hand appeared in 13 games at defensive end for the Lions, eight as a starter. In 1975, the Lions moved Hand from his regular spot at right defensive end to right defensive tackle. He started all 14 games for the Lions at that position during the 1975 season and 10 more in 1976. In May 1975, he was honored with a ceremony in his hometown of Butler, New Jersey, in which he was presented with the key to the city.{{cite news|title=Lions' Hand Has His Day|author=Jack Saylor|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=May 13, 1975|page=2D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4396960/lions_hand_has_his_day/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} On November 14, 1976, in the 10th game of the season, Hand injured his knee against the New Orleans Saints and missed the remainder of the season.{{cite news|title=Lions' Hand Out for Year|newspaper=Ironwood Daily Globe|date=November 19, 1976|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4397052/lions_hand_out_for_year/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

In April 1977, Hand tested the waters as a free agent and received an offer from the Houston Oilers.{{cite news|title='I Hope the Lions Still Want Me' – Larry Hand|author=Jack Saylor|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=February 17, 1977|page=4D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4397403/i_hope_the_lions_still_want_me/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} The Lions matched the Oilers' offer, and Hand returned to the Lions.{{cite news|title=Lions Match Oilers' Offer, Keep Hand|author=Jack Saylor|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=April 22, 1977|pages=1D, 5D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4397146/lions_match_oilers_offer_keep_hand/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} He appeared in all 14 games for the Lions in 1977, but was not a starter. In August 1978, the Lions placed Hand on waivers, ending his NFL career.{{cite news|title=2 Lion vets on waivers|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=August 17, 1978|pages=1D, 8D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4397196/2_lions_vets_on_waivers/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} At the time of his retirement, Hand's 164 games with the Lions ranked fourth in franchise history behind Wayne Walker, Dick LeBeau, and Darris McCord.{{cite web|title=Player Season Finder Query Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|accessdate=February 20, 2016|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=combined&year_min=1920&year_max=2015&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=99&league_id=&team_id=det&is_active=&is_hof=&pos_is_qb=Y&pos_is_rb=Y&pos_is_wr=Y&pos_is_te=Y&pos_is_e=Y&pos_is_t=Y&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_ol=Y&pos_is_dt=Y&pos_is_de=Y&pos_is_dl=Y&pos_is_ilb=Y&pos_is_olb=Y&pos_is_lb=Y&pos_is_cb=Y&pos_is_s=Y&pos_is_db=Y&pos_is_k=Y&pos_is_p=Y&c1stat=&c1comp=gt&c1val=&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&c5comp=&c5gtlt=lt&c6mult=1.0&c6comp=&order_by=g&draft=0&draft_year_min=1936&draft_year_max=2015&type=&draft_round_min=0&draft_round_max=99&draft_slot_min=1&draft_slot_max=500&draft_pick_in_round=0&draft_league_id=&draft_team_id=&college_id=all&conference=any&draft_pos_is_qb=Y&draft_pos_is_rb=Y&draft_pos_is_wr=Y&draft_pos_is_te=Y&draft_pos_is_e=Y&draft_pos_is_t=Y&draft_pos_is_g=Y&draft_pos_is_c=Y&draft_pos_is_ol=Y&draft_pos_is_dt=Y&draft_pos_is_de=Y&draft_pos_is_dl=Y&draft_pos_is_ilb=Y&draft_pos_is_olb=Y&draft_pos_is_lb=Y&draft_pos_is_cb=Y&draft_pos_is_s=Y&draft_pos_is_db=Y&draft_pos_is_k=Y&draft_pos_is_p=Y}}

In the early 1980s, Hand moved to the Winston-Salem area in North Carolina.{{cite news|title=Carolina's coast is hunter's delight|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=December 19, 1982|page=11H|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4397546/carolinas_coast_is_hunters_delight/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{cite news|title=Former NFL player coming here|newspaper=The Gaffney (SC) Ledger|date=September 20, 1989|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4397586/former_nfl_player_coming_here/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} He worked for many years as a stock broker for E.F. Hutton and Co., Inc. and lived in the Winston-Salem area with his wife, Darlene.

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Category:1940 births

Category:Living people

Category:Butler High School (New Jersey) alumni

Category:People from West Milford, New Jersey

Category:Players of American football from Passaic County, New Jersey

Category:Players of American football from Paterson, New Jersey

Category:American football defensive ends

Category:American football defensive tackles

Category:Appalachian State Mountaineers football players

Category:Detroit Lions players