The man responsible for reversing a UVA football losing streak died Monday, May 15.
George Blackburn, an Ohio native, served as UVA’s head football coach for six seasons, from 1965 to 1970. In 1968 he led the Cavaliers to their first winning season in 16 years with a record of 7-3. The NCAA pegs UVA’s total win-loss record from his tenure at 28-33.
For his work, the Atlantic Coast Conference dubbed Blackburn 1968’s Football Coach of the Year. His winning ways also rubbed off on his players. During Blackburn’s time as coach, two Virginia players won the ACC’s coveted Football Player of the Year title: Bob Davis in 1966, and Frank Quayle in 1968.
UVA also led the ACC in total offense, scoring offense and rushing offense twice during Blackburn’s years as coach. The team also topped the conference in passing defense twice, and total defense, rushing defense and passing offense once. Before coming to UVA, Blackburn coached at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and at Cincinnati. —David T. Roison
