Ronnie Lee South

Ronnie Lee South
No. 11
Position: Quarterback/Punter
Personal information
Date of birth: (1945-05-08) May 8, 1945
Place of birth: Wynne, Arkansas
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight: 195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school: Russellville (AR)
College: Arkansas
NFL draft: 1968 / Round: 5 / Pick: 115
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Ronnie Lee South (born May 8, 1945) is a former American football quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). South played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks where he was a member of their 1965, 1966 and 1967 teams.

South was taken in the fifth round of the 1968 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints.[1] On April 16, 1968, he signed his initial contract with the Saints to play as part of their 1968 season.[2] Smith played with the team through their summer training camp, but was later released in August as part of the teams' final roster cuts.[3] After the final cuts, Smith was signed to the Saints' practice squad.

During their November 3 game against Dallas, Saints starting quarterback Billy Kilmer injured his ankle.[4] As such, South was elevated to the active roster to serve as backup to Karl Sweetan.[4][5] As South was also a punter, then punter Tom McNeill was released from the team to make room for South on the active roster.[5] In their game against Cleveland, Sweetan injured his ankle and South entered the game in the first quarter for his first series before Sweetan returned later.[6] Sweetan was unable to complete the game, and in the fourth quarter South threw what was his only NFL touchdown pass to Jim Hester from seven-yards out in the fourth quarter.[6]

With both Kilmer and Sweetan injured, it was speculated South would start for the Saints in their game against the Packers at Milwaukee County Stadium.[7] Sweetan did start the game, but was taken out and replaced with South in the first quarter due to the lingering effects of his injured ankle.[8] South finished the game only 7 of 23 passing and with an average of 23 yards for his seven punts.[8] South finished the season as a backup. South was later cut by New Orleans on July 29, 1969.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "How pro teams fared in college draft". Sarasota Journal (Google News Archives). Associated Press. February 1, 1968. p. 34. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Saints sign QB". The News-Dispatch (Google News Archives). UPI. April 17, 1968. p. 20. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  3. ↑ Bryson, Mike (August 27, 1968). "These Saints won't march". The Tuscaloosa News (Google News Archives). Associated Press. p. 6. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Ankle injury idles Kilmer". The Windsor Star (Google News Archives). UPI. November 4, 1968. p. 20. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Saints cut punter". Youngstown Vindicator (Google News Archives). Associated Press. November 9, 1968. p. 9. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Browns tip Saints and take lead". The Milwaukee Journal (Google News Archives). Associated Press. November 11, 1968. p. 2. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  7. ↑ Bledsoe, Terry (November 14, 1968). "Rookie quarterback to start for Saints". The Milwaukee Journal (Google News Archives). p. 2. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  8. 1 2 Lea, Bud (November 18, 1968). "Packers bounce Saints, 29–7". The Milwaukee Sentinel (Google News Archives). p. 2. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Quarterback sneak surprising to coach". The Dispatch (Google News Archives). UPI. July 30, 1969. p. 13. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
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