By Darin Celebrate the birth of a Dartmouth legend! Discover how linebacker Murry Bowden anchored the defense of the undefeated 1970 Dartmouth team, the last Ivy League squad to crack the national top 20 rankings. Dive into the incredible defensive stats that defined his career and led to his eventual induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Football Bio
December 11, 1949 – Colorado City, Texas – Dartmouth’s outstanding linebacker, Murry Bowden, celebrated his birth. The National Football Foundation fondly recalls that Dartmouth’s undefeated 1970 team was the last Ivy League team ranked among the nation’s top 20, placing 13th and 14th in the two polls.
That season, the Dartmouth defense ranked in the nation’s top ten in seven statistical categories, including first in scoring defense and second in total defense. Murry was a big part of those stats as he was consistently found in the offensive backfield making plays.
The College Football Hall of Fame swung their doors open wide to welcome Murray Bowden in 2003’s induction class.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Birth: Born December 11, 1949, in Colorado City, Texas.
- Ivy League History (Dartmouth 1970): Star linebacker for the undefeated 1970 Dartmouth team, which was the last Ivy League team to be ranked in the nation’s top 20 polls (finishing 13th and 14th).
- Defensive Dominance: Key player on the 1970 Dartmouth defense, which ranked in the nation’s top ten in seven statistical categories, including:
- 1st in Scoring Defense.
- 2nd in Total Defense.
- Playing Style: Recognized for his aggressive style, consistently making plays in the offensive backfield.
- Hall of Fame: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
Conclusion
Murry Bowden’s career stands as a historic marker, symbolizing the last great defensive stand of the Ivy League in major college football. As the cornerstone of the dominant 1970 Dartmouth defense, his consistent impact, often found disrupting plays in the offensive backfield, solidified the team’s place in the national rankings. This legacy of excellence earned him a well-deserved spot among the game’s greats in the College Football Hall of Fame.
