Donald Bitterlich (born January 5, 1954) is a former professional American football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Seattle Seahawks. Bitterlich kicked the first field goal in the expansion Seahawks history, also the first points ever scored by a Seahawks player.
A graduate of William Tennent High School,[1] Bitterlich was scouted by Temple Owls football head coach Wayne Hardin during his junior year. During his first tryout with the team, Bitterlich left early as he was scheduled to play accordion in a musical performance at Vitale's Restaurant in Bustleton, Philadelphia.[2] He attended the school with a soccer scholarship, and wanted to major in music, but as athletes were prohibited from doing so, he majored in civil engineering. With the Owls, Bitterlich set six NCAA records.[3] In 1974, Bitterlich was second in the nation for points scored on kicks.[4] The next year, Bitterlich set the record for the longest field goal in Temple history, with a 56-yard field goal.[5] During the year, against Drake, he also broke the NCAA record for the most consecutive conversions with 82, along with tying the NCAA record of for total kicking points with 84.[6] He was inducted into the Temple Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.[3]
Professional careeredit
Bitterlich was selected with in the third round of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Seahawks with the 92nd overall pick, the final selection of the round.[7] In the team's first game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Bitterlich scored the first points in Seahawks history with a 27-yard field goal.[8] However, he would miss three kicks later in the season against the San Francisco 49ers,[9] and was released after three games.[3] After being released by the Seahawks, Bitterlich tried out with the Philadelphia Eagles and two other teams, but was not signed.[3]
Personal lifeedit
Bitterlich has a German ancestry.[1] Bitterlich is currently a project manager for the Daniel J. Keating Company.[3] Bitterlich is also an accordionist, an instrument he had been playing since he was 7.[2] A Christian, Bitterlich was a Sunday school teacher for 27 years.[3] He and his wife, Ellen,[2] have two daughters: Lisa, a Fellowship of Christian Athletes missionary, and Elizabeth, a J.Crew Boston store manager.[3]
Referencesedit
^ ab"Bitterlich Kicks His Way Into Record Books". Suburban One Sports. June 13, 2010. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
^ abcFleischman, Bill (October 5, 1995). "Owls Football Accordion To Ex-kicker Bitterlich". Philadelphia Media Network. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
^ abcdefg"Getting a Kick Out of Construction Project Management". Temple University. September 16, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
^"19Th Hole: The Readers Take Over". Sports Illustrated. November 10, 1975. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
^Gelston, Dan (September 3, 2010). "Temple beats Villanova 31-24 on late 43-yard FG". Boston.com. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
^Wieskopf, Herman (December 1, 1975). "Football's Week". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
^"1976 NFL Draft Pick List and Results – Round 3". ESPN. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference ·
January 01, 1970
bitterlich, donald, bitterlich, born, january, 1954, former, professional, american, football, player, played, national, football, league, seattle, seahawks, bitterlich, kicked, first, field, goal, expansion, seahawks, history, also, first, points, ever, score. Donald Bitterlich born January 5 1954 is a former professional American football player who played in the National Football League NFL for the Seattle Seahawks Bitterlich kicked the first field goal in the expansion Seahawks history also the first points ever scored by a Seahawks player Don BitterlichNo 4Position PlacekickerPersonal informationBorn 1954 01 05 January 5 1954 age 70 Warminster Pennsylvania U S Height 5 ft 7 in 1 70 m Weight 166 lb 75 kg Career informationHigh school William TennentCollege TempleNFL draft 1976 Round 3 Pick 92Career historySeattle Seahawks 1976 Career NFL statisticsField goals 1Field goal attempts 4Field goal 0 25Longest field goal 27Player stats at NFL com Contents 1 College career 2 Professional career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksCollege career editA graduate of William Tennent High School 1 Bitterlich was scouted by Temple Owls football head coach Wayne Hardin during his junior year During his first tryout with the team Bitterlich left early as he was scheduled to play accordion in a musical performance at Vitale s Restaurant in Bustleton Philadelphia 2 He attended the school with a soccer scholarship and wanted to major in music but as athletes were prohibited from doing so he majored in civil engineering With the Owls Bitterlich set six NCAA records 3 In 1974 Bitterlich was second in the nation for points scored on kicks 4 The next year Bitterlich set the record for the longest field goal in Temple history with a 56 yard field goal 5 During the year against Drake he also broke the NCAA record for the most consecutive conversions with 82 along with tying the NCAA record of for total kicking points with 84 6 He was inducted into the Temple Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 3 Professional career editBitterlich was selected with in the third round of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Seahawks with the 92nd overall pick the final selection of the round 7 In the team s first game against the St Louis Cardinals Bitterlich scored the first points in Seahawks history with a 27 yard field goal 8 However he would miss three kicks later in the season against the San Francisco 49ers 9 and was released after three games 3 After being released by the Seahawks Bitterlich tried out with the Philadelphia Eagles and two other teams but was not signed 3 Personal life editBitterlich has a German ancestry 1 Bitterlich is currently a project manager for the Daniel J Keating Company 3 Bitterlich is also an accordionist an instrument he had been playing since he was 7 2 A Christian Bitterlich was a Sunday school teacher for 27 years 3 He and his wife Ellen 2 have two daughters Lisa a Fellowship of Christian Athletes missionary and Elizabeth a J Crew Boston store manager 3 References edit a b Bitterlich Kicks His Way Into Record Books Suburban One Sports June 13 2010 Retrieved September 10 2014 a b c Fleischman Bill October 5 1995 Owls Football Accordion To Ex kicker Bitterlich Philadelphia Media Network Retrieved September 10 2014 a b c d e f g Getting a Kick Out of Construction Project Management Temple University September 16 2013 Retrieved September 10 2014 19Th Hole The Readers Take Over Sports Illustrated November 10 1975 Retrieved September 10 2014 Gelston Dan September 3 2010 Temple beats Villanova 31 24 on late 43 yard FG Boston com Retrieved September 10 2014 Wieskopf Herman December 1 1975 Football s Week Sports Illustrated Retrieved September 10 2014 1976 NFL Draft Pick List and Results Round 3 ESPN Retrieved September 10 2014 St Louis Cardinals 30 at Seattle Seahawks 24 Pro Football Reference com Retrieved September 10 2014 San Francisco 49ers 37 at Seattle Seahawks 21 Pro Football Reference com Retrieved September 10 2014 External links editCareer statistics and player information from NFL com Pro Football Reference Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Don Bitterlich amp oldid 1162653131, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
