The press made much of his personal story. "I was extremely quiet when I got to Stanford," acknowledges Plunkett. Leading James Lick High School in San Jose to an unbeaten season as a senior, he was chosen for a state all-star game and was heavily recruited by colleges. MY HERO Project seeks unique works of art by professional and student artists that celebrate the lives and courageous acts of heroes who work to promote change by positively affecting others and their communities. Plunkett's first game was a 206 victory over the Oakland Raiders, the Patriots' first regular-season contest at Schaefer Stadium. Former Raider and Stanford star quarterback Jim Plunkett of Atherton wasn't too pleased with that last one. But more than most athletes, he understands perspective. Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. His parents were both blind. Continuing to be effective, Plunkett finished second in the NFL in passing yards in 1973, and in 1974 led the Patriots to an impressive 6-1 start, and the team's first non losing season in eight years, finishing second in the NFL in team scoring with 348 points, seven behind league leader Oakland. His performance led to Plunkett playing in a state all-star game and that in turn led to interest from numerous colleges. The world's most inspirational film competeition because of YOU. Stanford, CA 94305-6105. AWR 80. Was he a child, a teen, or an adult?Bonus 100 pts: How old was he exactly? Moore, a tight end who went on to an eight-year NFL career, talked himself into a one-on-one foot race with Plunkett the summer before their senior season, when players gave up trips home and time off to continue training together. He didn't want her to get burned on the stove.''. And if I left some clothes on the floor, she would step on them and find out. led four postseason wins. Plunkett threw for 2,935 yards, 20 touchdown passes, and 18 picks in that season. The players liked him. They met while attending the California School for the Blind in Berkeley, and were married in 1934. He wasnt selected to the Pro Bowl, never made the All-Pro team, and completed less than half of his passes. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. '', His mother attended the 1971 Rose Bowl game that Stanford won, 27-17, from Ohio State. ''The thing I'm sorry for,'' he said, ''is that my father worked so hard but he wasn't around for the best part -winning the Heisman Trophy, going to the Rose Bowl, being the No. [4] In 1983, Plunkett again ascended from backup to starter to quarterback the relocated Los Angeles Raiders to victory in Super Bowl XVIII. With a Super Bowl MVP in hand, Plunkett's comeback season was complete. But as far as shes concerned, its still a work in progress. From the spoken words of influential leaders, to emotionally powerful lyrics in a song, heroic audio is all around us. It was a memorable year as he surpassed many of his league records, passing for 2,715 yards and 18 touchdowns as Stanford went 8-3 and won the Pac-8. He gives of his time, his energy, his money, and he's got a genuine humility. A doctor discovered a thyroid tumor, which nearly ended his college career. The surgery required to remove a malignant tumor would end his football playing days. Plunkett received the Voit Trophy in both 1969 and 1970. They came together in Oakland after Plunkett washed out in New England and San Francisco and was contemplating retirement. ''She had a bad experience on a plane a few years ago coming back from visiting her family in New Mexico. . Plunkett also carries innumerable physical scars from his playing days. "Years of getting my butt kicked," Plunkett says. He retired during the 1988 pre-season as the fourth-leading passer in Raiders history. Visitors, teachers, students, and MY HERO staff publish all kinds of stories, from inspirational essays about a close friend, to important global issues. He was also named the nations top football player in addition to winning the Maxwell Award. Jim Plunkett was instrumental in the Oakland Raiders winning Super Bowl titles in 1980 and 1983. His junior year was even better when he set league records for touchdown passes (20), passing yards (2,673) and total offense (2,786), ranking third nationally in total offense and fifth in passing. View winning films from the MY HERO International Film Festival! The tumor turned out to be benign, but Plunkett has never forgotten the generosity shown by Rust. He is valued at Stanford not only for his academic achievements, but also for his humility and commitment as a student from the very beginning. His parents were blind from the start. The biggest obstacle he faced was when he was 30 years old and played for the San Francisco 49ers. '', That's not always easy when the hucksters move in. 1 pick in the 1971 draft. [16] Arguments for induction focus on his two Super Bowl victories and Super Bowl MVP award, along with the personal challenges he overcame in the NFL. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. Jim was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. '', His mother is of Mexican heritage, his father was a mixture of German, Irish and Mexican. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. After all, the quarterback Jim Plunkett replaced early last season, Dan Pastorini, made nearly $360,000. . The most celebrated player in Stanford football history came from just down the road, and a world away. Jim Plunkett is a remarkable man who has overcome many obstacles in his life. In his senior year, 1970, he led Stanford to a conference championship and their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1952, a game that ended with a 2717 Stanford victory over the heavily favored Ohio State Buckeyes. At Stanford, Plunkett set a school records for passing yards (2,156) and touchdowns (14) as a sophomore, and then broke those records in subsequent seasons finishing his NCAA career with 7,809 passing yards and 53 touchdowns. Browse our About Page to get quick overviews of the different areas of MY HERO. In 1971, he was drafted by the New England Patriots, and he went on to have a successful career in the NFL. America loved the kid. After that, she was totally blind. He was a good student and an excellent athlete. Jim attended high school at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco. . His father, William, was legally blind and worked as a news vendor. ''She also went to some of the Stanford games in Palo Alto,'' he said. That game is credited with returning the Stanford football program to prominence, and Plunkett's performance helped established a template for what soon became a college football staple: offenses dedicated to passing the ball. Jim Plunkett was born in San Francisco, California on December 5th, 1947. As White notes, the Stanford coaching staff had learned football as mostly an exercise in running the ball. He is an inspiration to all who know him. [12] His performance originally caused head coach John Ralston to switch him to defensive end, but Plunkett was adamant in remaining at quarterback, throwing 500 to 1,000 passes every day to polish his arm. He chose to play for Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind. As a sophomore, 1968, he passed for 2,156 yards, a record in what was then the Pac-8 Conference. His parents were both blind. Stanford University. Armada Halogen is the leading technology powered travel security risk management company with swift response capabilities. Any time that I didn't do that, I heard about it. His mother lives in San Jose with Mary Ann, the younger of his two sisters. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. He was born into a poor family, and his father was a news vendor who supported his wife and three children by selling news. There was a famous juncture at which Stanford head coach John Ralston, an eventual college football Hall of Famer, almost coached Plunkett out of quarterback contention. ''But growing up, I didn't feel like I had to take care of either my father or my mother. Success as a California high school quarterback was followed by an unsteady start in college, a beginning in which his coach almost took the ball from his hands. While Jim Plunketts story is a well-known one, he is not a Hall of Fame quarterback; he is considered an unlikely figure in the movie industry. He was a star quarterback in high school, and went on to play for Stanford University. I remember my father always told me to come straight home after school. "I don't know where I would have gone," Plunkett says, "but I would have transferred. Unfortunately, Jims father died in 1969 when Jim was 21. ''I don't think she would have cared if I had quit, she always was worried about me getting hurt,'' he said. "I'm proud of that game," Plunkett said of Oakland's 27-10 victory over Philadelphia. He is the only eligible two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback who has not been voted in. ", Each former teammate, it seems, has a singular piece of lore. Jim Plunkett is my hero because he inspires me to never give up. My sisters Genevieve and Mary Ann don't like to tell me that my mother is coming to the game because they know I'll worry that she's all right.''. He was tall in the pocket, very powerful, a strong leader. '', During his two years in oblivion, his mother was more concerned about him than his career. I still feel good when I think about it., Assistant coach Mike Whitewho later was head coach for Cal, the University of Illinois and the Oakland Raidersremembers vividly the doubts about whether Plunkett "could project enough" to motivate a team as a quarterback. His father, who was of Irish descent, passed away when Plunkett was just nine years old. But sometimes I'd forget. Nancy founded the Kelp Fest in 2009 in order to help local communities better understand and appreciate the kelp forest. CAR 70. Despite some impressive moments in the Silver and Black, he will never make the Hall of Fame. Several worthy Raiders, including Daryl Lamonica, Cliff Branch, and Lester Hayes, are no longer present in Canton, Ohio. Jim Plunkett was the 1970 Heisman Trophy winner at Stanford and led the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories in the 1980s. Then followed three sensational seasons at Stanford, culminating with the 1970 Heisman Trophy. And while he is a celebrity, he is hoping to complete a pass at the Raiders' treasury for a new contract that might double his $180,000 annual salary. Two forgettable seasons with the San Francisco 49ers were followed by two fruitless years with the Raiders, who plucked him from the NFL scrapheap but buried him on the bench. And then there's family. Jim Plunkett's parents, Jack and Aletha, were both blind. In addition to this, he became the second of four players to win the Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl MVP, alongside Roger Staubach, Marcus Allen, and Desmond Howard. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. And the people who grew close to him 40 years ago are the same ones who are closest to him today: a circle of love and mutual support that owes its origins to a team and a time that shaped Jim Plunkett's life, and those of many others. He also shined the light back on everybody else.". I have taught linguistics and phonetics at multiple universities for the past 15 years.Technology has made exciting advances in phonetics, the science concerned with the structure and function of human speech, in recent years. He is a role model for never giving up. Professionally created material to help you get started in hero film making! He passed for 18 touchdowns and 2,299 yards during the season, guiding the Raiders to nine victories in their last 11 games and a wild-card spot in the playoffs. The Raiders advanced to Super Bowl XVIII, where they defeated the Washington Redskins, 389. Accepting Ongoing Submissions! Surgery for a benign tumor in his neck in August 1966 slowed him physically and academically during his first year at Stanford. But he's quick to turn conversations into the kind of comedic sparring he perfected in locker rooms. Jim made great contributions to professional football because he helped the Raiders beat the Washington Redskins in the Super Bowl. When the dog began to display some nervous aggression, Meghan despaired. Jim also had two sisters. Jim also had two sisters. Since 1995, The MY HERO Project has been using media, art and technology to celebrate the best of humanity. Jim Plunkett, Class: Induction: 1990 Sport(s): - Position: Quarterback Years: 1968-1970 Place of Birth: Santa Clara, CA Date of Birth: Dec 05, 1947 Jersey . I asked to be traded, Plunkett says, and Mr. Davis said no.. 1 Ohio State in the 1971 Rose Bowl. The NFL's Comeback Player of the Year then Yasmine Sherif, who leads Education Cannot Wait, a UN-hosted, global fund for education in emergencies. Jim Plunkett is the story of a three-year NFL career that was filled with busts. I like that. The second title came after more struggles, after losing his starting job to Wilson and then regaining it after Wilson was injured. The family lived in relative poverty, and received state financial aid. He was the youngest of three children and his parents divorced when he was just a toddler. Browse, share, and add to our enormous collection of inspiring hero films. His mother then took a job as a bank teller to support the family. DAC 79. He became the starting quarterback for the Raiders midway through the 1980 season. Health Scare Nearly Ends Plunkett's College Career Jim Plunkett was born in San Jose, California, to parents of Native American and Hispanic descent. The High Unemployment Rate Among Deaf People In Burundi. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius, and his ethnicity is white, making him an American by nationality. In addition, the American College Football Coaches Association designated him as their Offensive Player of the Year. Though Plunkett threw five interceptions in the 31-17 defeat, he got the start the next week for the 2-3 Raiders, who thought rookie Marc Wilson was too green. Aside from the Heisman, he captured the Maxwell Award for the nation's best player and was named player of the year by United Press International, The Sporting News, and SPORT magazine. An outstanding rookie year in the NFL with the New England Patriots preceded numerous injuries and a drift to the ranks of the ordinary. Jim was a hard worker because, instead of feeling sorry for himself, he spent his time trying to improve. Jim and his sisters learned to work hard and do things for themselves as they grew up. [17] The arguments against his induction center on Plunkett having only three winning seasons, unimpressive career statistics, and no Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections. Born to blind parents, he worked several part-time jobs in high school to help support the family. He wore very thick glasses,'' he said. After surgery, Plunkett resumed playing too quickly and performed so poorly on the freshman team that then-Stanford coach John Ralston asked him to switch to defensive end. Submit your film TODAY!! A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. Plunkett was the only quarterback who led his team to two Super Bowl victories, and he is the only starter to lead his team to two Super Bowl victories but is not eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Plunkett guided Oakland to nine victories in eleven games and a playoff berth as a wild card. He retired as the only NFL quarterback to win two Super Bowls with the same franchise in different cities, winning his first while the Raiders were in Oakland and his second while they were in Los Angeles. He grew up in Santa Clara before the family sought less-expensive housing in San Jose. The star running back was the 2012 National Championship winner with Stanford and was the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. He then capped his collegiate career by leading Stanford to a 27-17 upset of unbeaten Ohio State in the 1971 Rose Bowl, completing 20-of-30 passes for 265 yards and one touchdown. His career began as a backup to Plunkett but he was never able to establish himself as a starter. He's a good guy.". A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. [8] Plunkett's parents were both born in New Mexico, both Mexican Americans; his mother, whose maiden name was Carmen Blea, was born in Santa Fe and his father, William Gutierrez Plunkett, was born in Albuquerque. Tara VanDerveer took the Cardinal from doormat to dynamo and helped boost womens athletics. ''I know my mother didn't make the trip to New Orleans for the Super Bowl because she doesn't fly anymore,'' he said. Plunkett was born to Mexican American parents with an Irish-German great-grandfather on his paternal side. He received several accolades during his career, including the only Heisman Trophy (1970) in school history. A Heisman Trophy winner and future College Football Hall of Fame inductee at Stanford,[2] Plunkett was selected first overall by the New England Patriots in the 1971 NFL Draft. But there always seems to be something Stanford-oriented on his schedule, such as a dinner he hosted in September at his home for every quarterback on the Stanford roster. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. 3 quarterback, Plunkett didn't play in 1978. With all the obstacles he went through, Jim never quit. Teammates never doubted who was in command if they didn't do their jobs. Three years later, Plunkett helped Oakland to another Super Bowl triumph, this one over Washington. Life, it seems, has been a struggle for Plunkett. "We came so close to making an unbelievably catastrophic decision. Carmen was born blind as a result of typhoid fever, which occurred when she was 19 years old. "Our daughter was very upset; she didn't want to feel she was letting Jimmy down," says Plunkett. The once-reticent Plunkett does Raiders postgame radio interviews and a weekly TV highlights show and gives corporate speeches. After Jimmy's death, Meghan chose to keep the dog with her in part to honor what she believed would have been her brother's wish. In 1968, he threw for 14 touchdowns and set a Pac-8 record with 2,156 yards passing. BSK 80. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. He could have graduated the previous June, skipped his remaining year of Despite this, Hart has largely been overlooked, despite his role in the Raiders organization. As a result, he is revered not only for his achievements at Stanford, but also for his humility and loyalty from the start. His father William died of a heart attack in 1969. Wins over Oregon State and Washington nailed down the Pac-8 title and a January 1 Rose Bowl berth. His father was a police officer and his mother was a homemaker. Plunkett went on to an NFL career that included two Super Bowl victories while quarterbacking the Raiders, but also included years of physical trauma that left him hobbled and in near constant pain. Plunkett made his athletic debut when he was 14 years old, winning a throwing contest with a distance of over 60 yards and demonstrating his potential. Playing for the Oakland Raiders, Pastorini broke his shinbone and cartilage in his knee. Perhaps the most profound expression of the men's continuing devotion occurred during the anguish that overwhelmed them when the Plunketts' 25-year-old son Jimmy died two years ago. Plunkett completed 16 of 25 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown in the game. (Photo: Bettmann/Corbis), THE HOME TEAM: Gerry and Meghan with Jim at their Atherton residence. While at Stanford he joined Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity. But Plunkett was the face of the team's success, that strong chin like a pointer for his powerful arm. Her dad was afraid she'd stay in New York. We provide safe, convenient and unique travel experience using intel, modern technology and quality resources, after considering all threats to ensure clients arrive safely at their destinations. These days, Plunkett and wife Gerry still live in the Bay Area, in Atherton, about a five-minute drive from Stanford. An outstanding high school wrestler, Plunkett struck Ralston and his staff as someone they might convert to a defensive end. 326 Galvez Street Its a stark contrast to 1980, when Plunkett longed to leave Oakland in hopes of reinvigorating a fading career. ''I want to make the most of my situation,'' Jim Plunkett was saying now, alluding to his potential income from motion pictures, books, commercials, endorsements and corporate sponsors, ''but without compromising my integrity and dignity. Harbaugh, who has a reverence for football tradition, is emphatic about Plunkett's identity now. In 1983, Marc Wilson was the Raiders starter who went down hurt, and Plunkett again came off the bench, and again spurred the team to a Super Bowl championship, a 38-9 trouncing of the Washington Redskins. Jim Plunkett wanted out, but Al Davis balked. His parents in San Jose were both blind, and his father died his junior year, so Plunkett and his sisters worked to support their mother. '', Jim Plunkett works for the Peninsula Center for the Blind in the San Jose area. Released from the 49ers after suffering further injuries, Plunkett signed with the Oakland Raiders for 1978. He sat out all of 1987 with a shoulder injury and his NFL career ended in the 1988 preseason when, at 40, the Raiders released him. He became the second multiple recipient of the W.J. His father William died of a heart attack in 1969. Prior to the 1976 NFL Draft, Plunkett was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for quarterback Tom Owen, two first-round picks in 1976, and a first and second-round pick in 1977. "I really thought I was going to be the savior," Plunkett said, "but all I did was put more pressure on myself.". New England also influenced the AFC East championship race, as Plunkett's 88-yard fourth-quarter touchdown pass to former Stanford teammate Randy Vataha on the final day of the season dropped the Baltimore Colts to a 1040 record and into second place in the division behind the 1031 Miami Dolphins. He also owns a beer distributorship. He became the second multiple recipient of the W.J. We took a lot of walks because neither of my parents could drive. Plunkett, who had assumed the starting quarterback job as a sophomore, piled up three seasons of record-breaking numbers, all long ago eclipsed by other Stanford players. Back-to-back winning seasons had been blemished by key losses, and they were down to their last chance to win a championship. With eighteen passing and three rushing touchdowns added to his 2,715 passing yards on the year (which broke his own conference record), Plunkett was awarded the 1970 Heisman Trophy. Plunkett received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Roger Staubach in 1981. RUN 80. "After 10 years and struggling with New England and San Francisco," he said, "that first one meant a lot to me.". Finally, after Pastorini suffered a broken leg in early October, Plunkett was pressed into service. With a career total offense of 7,887 yards, including passing for 7,544, Plunkett set an NCAA record.