Sam Tamburo
{{Short description|American football player (1926–1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Sam Tamburo
| image = Sam Tamburo - 1950 Bowman.jpg
| caption = Tamburo on a 1950 Bowman football card
| number = 8
| position = Defensive end
| birth_date = {{birth date|1926|7|1}}
| birth_place = New Kensington, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1998|12|18|1926|7|1}}
| death_place = New Kensington, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 200
| college = Penn State (1945–1948)
| draftyear = 1949
| draftround = 6
| draftpick = 61
| pastteams =
- New York Bulldogs ({{NFL Year|1949}})
- New York Yanks ({{NFL Year|1950}})*
- Pittsburgh Steelers (1950)*
| highlights =
- First-team All-American (1948)
- First-team All-Eastern (1948)
| pfr = T/TambSa20
}}
Samuel Joseph Tamburo Jr. (July 1, 1926 – December 18, 1998) was an American professional football defensive end who played one season with the New York Bulldogs of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Bulldogs in the sixth round of the 1949 NFL draft after playing college football at Pennsylvania State University.
Early life
Samuel Joseph Tamburo Jr. was born on July 1, 1926, in New Kensington, Pennsylvania.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TambSa20.htm | title=Sam Tamburo | publisher=Pro Football Reference | access-date=17 April 2025}} He played high school football at New Kensington High School, and earned all-state honors in 1943.{{cite news | url=https://archive.triblive.com/sports/other-local/new-ken-grad-tamburo-stood-up-for-beliefs-at-penn-state/ | title=New Ken grad Tamburo stood up for beliefs at Penn State | work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | date=May 9, 2015 | access-date=17 April 2025 | author=Guido, George}} Tamburo was inducted into the Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
College career
Tamburo was a four-year letterman for the Penn State Nittany Lions of Pennsylvania State University from 1945 to 1948.{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/players/t/tamb00400.html | title=Sam Tamburo | publisher=Pro Football Archives | access-date=17 April 2025}} In 1945, due to Jim Crow laws, Penn State was not allowed to bring its African-American players, Wally Tripplet and Dennis Hoggard, to a late-season matchup against the Miami Hurricanes. The players then held a vote on whether or not to cancel the game. When it was suggested by another player that Tripplet and Hoggard leave the room before the vote, Tamburo stated "No, they're part of the team. We are all Penn Staters." The team unanimously voted to cancel the game. Tripplet later said of Tamburo “Sam was my man. He was one of the guys who stood up when people thought America wasn't what it should be.” Tamburo was named first-team All-Eastern at end in 1948 by both the Associated Press (AP) and International News Service (INS).{{cite news|title=AP's All-Eastern Team|newspaper=The Durham Sun|date=November 22, 1948|page=3B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106037164/aps-all-eastern-team/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Bednarik Tops INS' All-East Gridiron Squad|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=November 30, 1948|page=12|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6C5PAAAAIBAJ&dq=All+Eastern+football+team&pg=PA12&article_id=3650,4739649}} Also in 1948, he earned American Football Coaches Association first-team All-American, AP third-team All-American, INS first-team All-American (offense), and Central Press Association second-team All-American honors.{{cite news|title=Midwest, Southwest Each Place Three On Collier's Team|newspaper=Dunkirk (NY) Evening Observer|date=December 3, 1948|page=16|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4487146/midwest_southwest_each_place_three_on/}}{{cite news|title=The 1948 AP All-America|work=Reno Gazette-Journal|date=December 1, 1948|page=16|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4486582/the_1948_ap_allamerica/}}{{cite news|title=INS Announces All-America: Jensen, Turner, Van Brocklin, Niemi Named From Coast|date=December 1948}}{{cite news|author=Walter L. Johns|title=Five Midwest Players on Central Press All-American|work=Wisconsin State Journal|date=1948-12-05}} Tamburo played in the Hula Bowl after his senior season.
Professional career
Tamburo was selected by the New York Bulldogs in the sixth round, with the 61st overall pick, of the 1949 NFL draft and by the Chicago Hornets in the sixth round, with the 38th overall pick, of the 1949 AAFC draft. He decided to sign with the Bulldogs on March 29, 1949.{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/t/tamb00400.html | title=Sam Tamburo Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | access-date=17 April 2025}} He played in all 12 games, starting two, for the Bulldogs during the 1949 season.
Tamburo signed with the New York Yanks of the National Football League (NFL) on June 30, 1950. However, he was later released.
Tamburo then signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. He was released by the Steelers on September 15, 1950.
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tamburo, Sam}}
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:American football ends
Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football players
Category:New York Bulldogs players
Category:New York Yanks players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:People from New Kensington, Pennsylvania
Category:Players of American football from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania