Bobby Blizzard

Bobby Blizzard (born March 22, 1980 in Hampton, Virginia) is a former American football Tight End and currently the Wide receivers coach at Hampton University. He originally signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a college free agent out of North Carolina in 2004. Blizzard has also been a member of the Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Early years

He play at Hampton high school in Hampton Va. Blizzard was a two sport Star playing both Football and Basketball. He was a two time All American in football. As a senior, Blizzard was rated the #1 Tight End in the nation. Also, he was rated #3 player in the state of Virginia, and 14th player overall in the Top 100 players in the country in High School. Blizzard helped his team win 3 state championships and National Championships, only losing 2 games in high school. Blizzard played with Superstar players such as the #1 player in the state and the National Gatorade Player of the year Ronald Curry (NFL), Marques Hagans (NFL), Almondo Curry (CFL) and many other Division 1 athletes that came out of that school in that era. Blizzard was coached by the Legendary Hampton high school Head Coach Mike Smith. Blizzard was a two time All-state basketball player. Blizzard averaged 18.8 PPG, 10.3 rebounds per game, and 3 assist. He was one of Virginia's top basketball player in the state his junior and senior year. Blizzard won a basketball state championship at Hampton High School in 1997. He played with the #1 player in the state of Virginia and McDonald's All-American Ronald Curry. Blizzard Left High school as a 4-time State Champion (3-time State Champion & 2-time National Champion in football, 1 State Champion in basketball).

College Career

With Division I interest in both football and basketball, Blizzard decided to go to college to play football. He played two years of college football at the University of Kentucky and played in the 1999 Music City Bowl vs Syracuse. Due to coaching changes at Kentucky after the 2000 season, He transferred to the University of North Carolina. In Blizzard's first season with the Tarheels, he led the team in touchdowns. Going into his senior year, he was rated as one of the top tight ends in the country. He was a candidate for the John Mackey award which is for the best tight end in College Football. Due to an illness, Blizzard missed half the season. Blizzard was invited to two Division I FBS All star Games. He was also invited to participate in the NFL Combine.

Professional Career

After being released by the Steelers before the start of the regular season, he was signed to the Arizona Cardinals' where he spent the entire 2004 season. In the summer of 2005, Blizzard played for the Hamburg Sea Devils in the NFL Europe League. Blizzard led the tight ends in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown. He was voted to the All NFL Europa All-star Team. In 2005, Blizzard was injured in the during a preseason game while playing with the Arizona Cardinals, which sidelined him for majority of the football season. After recovering from his injury, he was picked up off waivers by the Baltimore Raven. He spent the last three games of 2005 season on the Baltimore Ravens roster. In the 2006 NFL Season, Blizzard was later released after week 3. He played for the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europa in 2007. In 10 games, Blizzard led him team in receptions (38), receiving yardage (494) and touchdowns (six), also leading all tight ends in the league in every statistical category. He was voted to the All Europa All-star Team. He was picked up by the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent in 2007, after the end of the 2007 NFL Europa season. On August 24, 2007, Blizzard had a season ending back injury which ended his playing career.^[1]

Coaching

Coach Bobby Blizzard has finished his fourth season as the Offensive Coordinator / WRs Coach, also coaching QBs this season, at Belhaven University under Head Coach Hal Mumme, noted by ESPN as the Godfather of the college football modern era. A quick study in 2014, in his first year as Offensive Coordinator Blizzard’s offense finished the season as #10 in the nation in total offense. That same season, his passing offense achieved #2 in the nation, finishing the season with 3,712 yards & averaging 337.5 yards per game. In the 2016 season, Blizzard’s offense averaged nearly 500 yards per game, with his passing offense earning the #1 spot in the country for DIII football. His wide receivers also amassed 4,214 total yards, 370 receptions and 34 TDs during this season. At the close of the 2017 season, Coach Blizzard’s passing offense finished #4 in Division III football nationally, with his total offense achieving 445.3 yards per game, 38 touchdowns and 4,453 total yards. His offense also broke the school record for yards in a single game: 681 yards.

AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR AT BELHAVEN: Four Years & 40 Games as OC / WRs at Belhaven  -Total Offense 17,917 yards. Averaging 4,479 yards per season;  -Top Ten Passing Offense 3 of 4 Yrs  -18 school records set by Offense alone  -WRs had 1,246 Total Receptions, 120 for TDs

Prior to his appointment at Belhaven, he served as an Assistant Coach at McMurry University from 2012-2013, in what was his first collegiate appointment. In two seasons as the Wide Receivers Coach at McMurry University, the wide receivers as a group recorded 575 receptions, 6,620 receiving yards, and 66 touchdowns, making them one of the top wide receiver corps in the country both seasons and helping the team at McMurry get invited to the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl in 2012. Coach Blizzard has coached numerous All Conference players and developed at least one All American every season he coached at the collegiate level. This included Greg Livingston, a 1st Team All American who finished his career with over 300 receptions, over 3,000 receiving yards and scoring over 35 touchdowns, and Jaret Smith, 1st Team All-American & McMurry’s all-time leader in receiving yards, who later picked up by the Seattle Seahawks and the Kansas City Chiefs.

COACHING HONORS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS  2012-’17: Coached at least one All-American every season coached at the collegiate level; 2014-’17: Set 18 school records as OC at Belhaven; 2017: #4 Passing Offense in country for DIII with 3,876 passing yards this season; 2017: Five Offensive Players invited to participate in the College All-Star Game;  2017: Coach Blizzard selected to participate in the NFL / NCAA Coaching Academy;  2016: #1 passing offense & passing yards in DIII;  2016: WR Darien Thomas only D3 player in the country to play in FBS All Star Game; finished career #2 All-Time in career receiving touchdowns (25);  2016: Four Offensive Players invited to participate in College All-Star Game;  2016: Belhaven QB Hunter McEachern finished #2 in DIII for total offense;  2016: Belhaven Wide Receivers completed 370 receptions, 4,214 passing yards and 34 touchdowns, averaging 11.3 yards per catch; 2015: Belhaven WR group completed 296 receptions for 3,138 yards and 24 TD;  2014: Belhaven offense ranked #10 in the Nation for total offense & #2 passing offense in the Nation;  2014: Four offensive players achieved All-Conference honors & one achieved 1st Team All-American;  2014: Coached Greg Livingston to achieve 1st Team All-American and led the nation in receptions with 117 receptions for the receivers;  2012-‘13: McMurry WRs ranked nationally, completed 6,620 receiving yards and 66 TDs;  2012-13: Coached 1st Team All American Jaret Smith to become McMurry’s all-time leader in receiving yards, with 2,729 and averaging 15.1 yards per reception. He played with the KC Chiefs.

Personal Life

Blizzard was raised in Hampton, Va by David Blizzard SR and Laverne Aikins. Blizzard's father, who was a college basketball player at Winston Salem State. He was also a Successful High School Basketball coach at Hampton High School and Phoebus High School in Hampton, Va. Blizzard has two brother David Blizzard Jr and Barrett Blizzard. Also, He has two Children.

References