Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame
Richard F. Doyne*
- Induction:
- 1998
- Class:
- 1951
In order to complete a perfect season, a team needs the intangibles. In addition to good coaching, good players, and a little luck, a team has to have players who step forward when it's crunch time, whether it's for a single game or entire season. In 1950, Lehigh’s football team accomplished something that no other has, and hasn't since: a perfect season.
That 9-0 effort would not have been possible if it weren't for a senior running back named Dick Doyne. Doyne rushed for 994 yards (110.4 per game) that year and was named a College Division All-American.
“None of us ever spoke about going undefeated,” Doyne commented. “Even after we beat a great Dartmouth team (16-14), we just kept going one game at a time and it wasn't really until the Lafayette game that going unbeaten was mentioned.”
Doyne teamed with Dick Gabriel to form one of the most potent backfield combinations in school history. Gabriel was a 1,000-yard rusher from the previous season but injuries plagued him the entire year. Doyne met the challenge of picking up the backfield and gained 994 yards on the ground that year.
Doyne’s averaged 110.4 yards rushing per game in 1950 and finished his career with with 1,807 yards. Through the 2016 season, he still ranked third in program history with 7.07 yards per carry (1948) and yards per carry for a career (5.70).
The ultimate team player, his induction into the Hall of Fame is, not surprisingly, an honor to more than just himself.
“I’m more than honored, but I’m also honored at the outpouring from my friends and family,” Doyne said. “I’ve gotten calls and notes from people across the country that I haven't heard from in years. It seems to mean as much to them as it does to me.”
“A versatile performer, Doyne was a dangerous receiver and the team's punter as he was named to the 1950 East-West Shrine Game and was the first running back taken by the Chicago Cardinals in the 1951 NFL Draft.
Doyne credits much of his success in the business world to his Lehigh education.
“A chemical engineering degree from Lehigh was so well-respected in the business world,” Doyne said. “I was able to start out with such a good job just from the interviews on campus. Heck, in the beginning, I was thrilled that school like Lehigh would let me in.”
Doyne graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1951 and, after working for Owens Corning and Atlas Thermaflo Chemical, her went on to work with William Raveis Real Estate and serve as President of Envirocure Co. in Connecticut. Dwayne and his wife, Angeline had six children Beth, Steven, Andrew, Kathryn, Nina and William.
That 9-0 effort would not have been possible if it weren't for a senior running back named Dick Doyne. Doyne rushed for 994 yards (110.4 per game) that year and was named a College Division All-American.
“None of us ever spoke about going undefeated,” Doyne commented. “Even after we beat a great Dartmouth team (16-14), we just kept going one game at a time and it wasn't really until the Lafayette game that going unbeaten was mentioned.”
Doyne teamed with Dick Gabriel to form one of the most potent backfield combinations in school history. Gabriel was a 1,000-yard rusher from the previous season but injuries plagued him the entire year. Doyne met the challenge of picking up the backfield and gained 994 yards on the ground that year.
Doyne’s averaged 110.4 yards rushing per game in 1950 and finished his career with with 1,807 yards. Through the 2016 season, he still ranked third in program history with 7.07 yards per carry (1948) and yards per carry for a career (5.70).
The ultimate team player, his induction into the Hall of Fame is, not surprisingly, an honor to more than just himself.
“I’m more than honored, but I’m also honored at the outpouring from my friends and family,” Doyne said. “I’ve gotten calls and notes from people across the country that I haven't heard from in years. It seems to mean as much to them as it does to me.”
“A versatile performer, Doyne was a dangerous receiver and the team's punter as he was named to the 1950 East-West Shrine Game and was the first running back taken by the Chicago Cardinals in the 1951 NFL Draft.
Doyne credits much of his success in the business world to his Lehigh education.
“A chemical engineering degree from Lehigh was so well-respected in the business world,” Doyne said. “I was able to start out with such a good job just from the interviews on campus. Heck, in the beginning, I was thrilled that school like Lehigh would let me in.”
Doyne graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1951 and, after working for Owens Corning and Atlas Thermaflo Chemical, her went on to work with William Raveis Real Estate and serve as President of Envirocure Co. in Connecticut. Dwayne and his wife, Angeline had six children Beth, Steven, Andrew, Kathryn, Nina and William.
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