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Abilene Christian to honor ex-Bulldog
Published October 13, 2006
SWEENY — For only the third time in the school’s history, Abilene Christian University will retire a jersey in a ceremony.
Tonight’s event marks a significant accomplishment for former Sweeny High School standout Jim Lindsey.
Lindsey, who died in 1988 at the age of 49, was quarterback for Abilene Christian from 1967-70, wearing the No. 10.
Some of Lindsey’s accomplishment still stand as records at
the school.
“He was very confident, optimistic and overall was just a winner,” former Abilene coach Wally Bullington said. “If I had to have a quarterback in the last two minutes, I’d go with Lindsey all the time.”
Bullington coached the Wildcats from 1968 to 1976 and then was athletics director at the school from 1976 to 1988.
In high school, Lindsey led Sweeny to the Class 2A state title in 1966, helping the Bulldogs knock off Granbury 29-7 in the state final. He went on to lead Abilene Christian to a 21-9-1 record in his starts and closed out his collegiate career with five NCAA career records, including 8,521 passing yards.
In 1970, he was chosen to play in the North-South all-star game and also was named All-American by the Associated Press and American Football Coaches Association.
“He was a freshman when I arrived at Abilene, and after I saw him I knew we had to throw the ball,” Bullington said. “Good players make good coaches and that is what Jim did. He was ideal to be a college quarterback, and even today he would have a great time with these spread formations.”
Lindsey led the nation in passing in 1968 and in total offense in 1970. He’s still the Wildcats all-time leader in career passing yards, attempts (1,237), completions (642) and total offense, with 8,359 yards. He still ranks No. 1 in attempts and completions in the Southland Conference, and is second in yards and third in touchdown passes with 61 in the conference.
Lindsey was inducted into the Abilene Christian University Hall of Fame in 1987.
“Jim had those intangibles of being a great leader, friend and a winner,” former Abilene Christian wide receiver Ronnie Vinson said, “but he had something else that one cannot put into words.
“He just made everyone else around him rise to another level of play, including myself. He never thought that he could not win a ball game, and made everyone else around him believe that as well. To this day, he is the smartest quarterback that I have been associated with.”
Vinson caught 153 passes and scored 19 touchdowns during his stay at Abilene Christian, many from the arm of Lindsey.
Undrafted by a National Football League team, Lindsey headed north to play with the Calgary Stampeders of the Candian Football League. He helped lead the Stampeders to the 1971 Grey Cup.
The only other jerseys to be retired at Abilene Christian are the No. 28 of Wilbert Montgomery, who went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL, and the No. 25 jersey of former basketball standout Jennifer Clarkson.
Susan Lindsey will be presented with a replica of Jim Lindsey’s No. 10 jersey at tonight’s ceremony. Jim died of an apparent heart attack.
Joel Luna is a sports writer for The Facts. He can be reached at (979) 237-0161.
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