Jack Clancy

In 1963, Clancy appeared in nine games as a halfback and also returned punts and kickoffs. He generated 520 yards of total offense: 228 yards on kickoff returns, 109 yards rushing, 105 yards on punt returns, and 78 yard receiving.[5] Against Minnesota in 1963, he fumbled a punt at Michigan's 35-yard line; the ball rolled toward the Michigan goal line and was recovered by Michigan at its own 16-yard line. Michigan punted from deep in its own territory on second down, and Minnesota cashed in on the field position with the game's only touchdown in a 6–0 Minnesota victory.[6]

Clancy was named the starting halfback before the start of the 1964 season.[7][8] However, he suffered a back injury in September 1964 and spent more than two weeks in the University Hospital before being released on September 17, 1964.[7][9][10] As a result of the injury, Clancy missed Michigan's Big Ten championship season in 1964, as Jim Detwiler took over his halfback spot. Clancy was given an extra year of eligibility for missing the 1964 season.[11] Quarterback Dick Vidmer also missed the 1964 season with a broken leg;[12] Vidmer and Clancy would return from their injuries as a powerful passing and receiving combination in 1966.

In 1965, Clancy switched to end and became the first Michigan Wolverine with 50 receptions in a season, and set Michigan single-season records with 52 receptions and 762 yards.[5][11] In his first game at the end position, Clancy made what was described as "a circus catch" in the endzone on a pass from quarterback Dick Vidmer.[13] Clancy set the Big Ten receiving record in against Wisconsin, catching a 52-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Wally Gabler on Michigan's first offensive play.[14] At the time, the Associated Press reported: "What makes Clancy's record so much more impressive is the fact that he came to Michigan as a quarterback, switched to halfback and won a spot there two years ago and then turned to end this season. And with Michigan's reputation for always having talented ends—Benny Oosterbaan, Lowell Perry, Ron Kramer and John Henderson among them—Clancy's feat takes on even more brilliance."[15] At the end of the season, Clancy's teammates chose him as captain for the 1966 season.[3][16] He was also named a second-team All-Big Ten player by the United Press International (UPI).[17]

Before the 1966 season, Clancy spent the summer in Ann Arbor, Michigan practicing with Michigan's quarterback Dick Vidmer, cornerback Mike Bass and safety Rick Volk. Clancy and Vidmer worked as a unit through the summer, trying to outmaneuver Bass and Volk. Clancy noted, "If I could catch three or four passes against those guys I'd be doing good."[11] The summer sessions paid off, as both Clancy and Volk were named All-Americans in 1966.[18] Michigan opened the season with a 41–0 win over Oregon State. In that game, Vidmer threw 10 passes to Clancy for 197 yards. Vidmer's first completion to Clancy went for 49 yards and set up Michigan's first touchdown. After the game, the UPI wrote that Clancy and Vidmer were "almost too good for each other."[11] Clancy also led the attack in a 49–0 win over Minnesota on October 22, 1966, catching 10 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns, including a 56-yard touchdown pass.[19] In 1966, Clancy had three games in which he caught at least 10 catches and broke his own school records with 76 receptions for 1,079 yards.[20] His 50 receptions and 698 yards in conference play were also new Big Ten Conference records.[21] He was named an All-American in 1966 and also received the team's Most Valuable Player award.[22]

After the 1966 season, Clancy held most major school receiving records at Michigan, as well as many Big Ten Conference records. His accomplishments included:

• Single season receptions in Big Ten Conference play. Clancy was the first player with 50 receptions in Big Ten Conference play (in only seven conference games).[8] His record was broken in 1980 when Keith Chappelle (Iowa) and Dave Young (Purdue) each recorded 51 receptions in eight conference games. The record was not broken on a per game rate until 1983 when Ricky Edwards (Northwestern) recorded 68 receptions in nine games.[23]
• Career receptions and receiving yards. Clancy set Michigan career records with 132 receptions and 1,919 receiving yards.[8] Anthony Carter broke Clancy's career receiving yards record in 1981 and his receptions record in 1982. Clancy now ranks eleventh in receptions and thirteenth in yardage.[24]
• Single game receiving yards. Clancy's 197 yards receiving was unsurpassed as the Michigan single-game record until Roy Roundtree posted 246 on November 6, 2010.[24][25] He is also the only receiver with two of the top seven and three of the top sixteen yardage games. In addition to the 197-yard effort, Clancy had 10 receptions for 166 yards against Minnesota and 11 receptions for 179 yards against the Illinois.[26][27]
• Single season receptions. Clancy also set the single-season receptions record with 76 catches in 1966 (playing a 10-game schedule). Marquise Walker broke Clancy's record with 86 receptions in 2001 (playing a 13-game schedule). Clancy now ranks fifth in single-season receptions, but only Braylon Edwards has matched him on a comparable games basis with 76 receptions in his first 10 games of 2004.[24]
• Single season yardage. Clancy also held the single-season yardage record of 1077 until 1994 when Amani Toomer recorded 1096 in 12 games. He currently ranks seventh on the single-season receptions list. No receiver has surpassed his single-season yardage total in the first 10 games of the season.[24] Braylon Edwards (76 receptions for 1049 yards in 2004) and Mario Manningham (62 receptions for 1062 yards in 2007) are the only other Michigan receivers to reach 1000 yards in their 10th game of a season.

Note: the database used here includes statistics since 1949.[24]

Clancy was drafted in the third round of the 1966 AFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins and the ninth pick of the fifth round of the 1966 NFL Draft (73rd overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals.[28][29] However, he opted to redshirt for an extra season at Michigan where he played the 1966 NCAA Division I-A football season. He joined the Dolphins for the 1967 AFL season. In 1967, the Dolphins' rookie quarterback Bob Griese combined with rookie receiver Clancy for 67 receptions—an American Football League rookie record for pass receptions.[30] That year, Clancy led the Dolphins in receiving yardage and receptions,[31] and finished eighth in the AFL in reception yards and third in receptions.[32] He compiled three 100-yard receiving games,[33] and he was named to the AFL All-Star Game.[34][35]

In their second season together, Griese and Clancy were roommates in the pre-season and appeared ready to have a big year. The young "Griese-Clancy combine" was expected to be "a major drawing card" for the young AFL franchise in 1968.[36] In the first three pre-season games in 1968, they connected for 19 receptions and 284 yards.[37] However, Clancy suffered a ruptured ligament in his left knee shortly after catching a pass against the Baltimore Colts in the final pre-season game on August 31, 1968. Clancy underwent surgery and missed the 1968 season.[30] Clancy watched the Dolphins from the sidelines with his leg in a cast, as Karl Noonan took over at split end and led the AFL in touchdown catches in 1968.[36]

In April 1969, Clancy got married and went on a honeymoon trip around the world, swimming, surfing and "getting some sun."[36] He said, however, marriage had not reduced his desire to play football. "Just the opposite", he said. "I'm more hungry than ever. I want to make that money."[36] After a season on crutches, the UPI reported: "The former rookie wonder wants to get back under quarterback Bob Griese's passes, to reclaim his billing as the Miami Dolphins' top receiver.[36] Despite a scar on his knee, Clancy was dashing, cutting and jumping for passes during summer workouts. However, even Clancy acknowledged the injury had slowed him down: "I'm still a couple of steps slower than before the operation. But I'm optimistic. It doesn't pain me. I figure I have a month to work the way I want to, I'll be all right."[36] Clancy's comeback appeared to be on track in early November, as he was a close second among Miami receivers with 21 catches for 289 yards.[38] However, the comeback was cut short on November 2, 1969, when he suffered torn ligaments, this time to his right knee in a loss to the New York Jets.[39][40] Clancy missed the final six games of the 1969 season due to the injury.[41]

In May 1970, Clancy was traded by the Dolphins to the Green Bay Packers for tight end Marv Fleming.[41] Clancy had begun a business selling real estate in Miami during the offseason, but he also had ties to Green Bay. He had attended St. Matthew's Grade School there in the 1950s. Clancy expressed mixed emotions about the trade: "I don't like to leave Miami. You hate to have to pick up and move and I definitely plan to come back (to Miami) in the offseason. But most of my dad's family are still up in Green Bay. He's always wanted me to play for the Packers."[41] Clancy was greeted as the first Green Bay native to play for the Packers since Wayland Becker in 1938.[42] Wisconsin columnist Lee Remmel said Clancy "surveys the football scene with a pair of cool, calculating blue eyes and a computer-type mind."[43][44]

In an August 1970 exhibition game against the New York Giants, Clancy caught four passes for 110 yards. Packers coach Phil Bengtson said after the game, "He has a knack of knowing where the ball will be. Clancy doesn't have great speed, but he has the ability to recognize defenses and take advantage of them."[45] While Clancy played in all 14 games for the Packers in 1970, he caught only 16 passes, leading one Green Bay writer to conclude that Clancy's "anemic production" resulted in double-teaming of flanker Carroll Dale and an unbalanced passing offense.[46] Clancy finished fifth in receptions on the 1970 Packers, behind Dale, tight end John Hilton, running back Donny Anderson, and even fullback Jim Grabowski.[47]

Clancy tried out for the Packers again in 1971, but he was cut in August before the season started.[42] While attempting to make a comeback with the Dolphins in July 1972, Clancy suffered another injury, this time to his back, resulting in Clancy being placed in traction for ten days in a Miami hospital.[48][49] In all, Clancy played in 36  games for the Dolphins and Packers, compiling professional career totals of 104  receptions for 1,301 yards.[50][51] Rick Norton was Clancy's teammate both in Miami and Green Bay.[52]

Note: all games were road losses.