Rob Vanstone: From Taylor Field to North Dallas Forty to Charlie’s Angels — Tommy Reamon’s unique story
The photographic memories are becoming old hat.
The other day, I graced this space with reflections on the classic “Fuddle Duddle” photo from 1972.
As a follow-up, we bring you Tommy (The Hat) Reamon, with thanks once again to Arielle Zerr.
Arielle, the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Director of Communications, pored over our photo archives and found random images from decades ago. The photos were then forwarded to me, with the question: What is the story behind this?
The accompanying picture of Reamon dates back 46½ years. It was almost certainly taken on Oct. 2, 1977, when the Roughriders defeated the Calgary Stampeders 19-17 at Taylor Field.
Reamon actually made his home debut with the Roughriders on Sept. 18, 1977, when he carried the ball 14 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns, one of which was a 61-yard burst.
One week earlier, Reamon had gained 105 yards on 16 rushes against the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
With two 100-yard performances in two appearances as a Roughrider, Reamon quickly became a hit with the fan base.
He was also somewhat of a curiosity because, unlike most players at the time, he donned a cap on the sideline.
Hence the nickname: Tommy (The Hat) Reamon.
The monicker was applied by Regina Leader-Post legend Bob Hughes, who asked Reamon about the headwear.
“I have had a lot of people asking me about that cap since I’ve been here,” Reamon is quoted as saying in the L-P on Sept. 20, 1977. “I’ve just worn caps all my life. But I didn’t start wearing it in football games until I went to the World Football League.”
Reamon was the WFL’s rushing leader in the short-lived loop’s only full season.
In 1974, he gained 1,576 yards along the ground for the Florida Blazers. As well, he made 38 receptions for 336 yards and — get this — completed three of four passes for 152 yards and two TDs.
A multi-dimensional player ended up being part of a multi-dimensional awards presentation.
After the 1974 season, the WFL honoured three co-MVPs — Reamon, running back J.J. Jennings (Memphis Southmen) and future Toronto Argonauts quarterback Tony Adams (Southern California Sun).
The following year, Reamon played in nine games with the Jacksonville Express before the WFL folded.
Next stop: Pittsburgh, where he began the 1976 NFL pre-season schedule with the Steelers before being traded to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In 11 games with the 1976 Chiefs, he rushed for 314 yards, caught 10 passes for another 136 yards, and averaged 22.3 yards on 19 kickoff returns.
Reamon was on the move again on May 2, 1977, when he was traded to the Chicago Bears for a sixth-round draft choice.
Reamon’s pre-season stint with the Bears was highlighted by a 92-yard kickoff-return touchdown. Despite setting off those fireworks, he was among the final cuts on Sept. 5, 1977.
The very same day, a promising Roughriders running back named Fred Williams suffered a season-ending ankle injury in a 26-18 home-field victory over Winnipeg.
Reamon was quickly flown into Regina, whereupon he turned on the jets during back-to-back 100-yard rushing games.
“Reamon is like no running back who has been here for years,” Hughes wrote. “He does not have great speed, but he does have a great nose for the open area and he finds it fast.
“He has what they call quick feet and great acceleration and he has given the Roughriders a running game that other people in the Canadian Football League must respect.”
At that point, it was hoped that he would record a hat trick — a third consecutive 100-yard game.
He came within 19 yards of accomplishing that feat, but it was a disappointing day in general as the Roughriders lost 11-1 in Calgary on Sept. 25, 1977.
When the Stampeders visited Taylor Field a week later, Reamon rushed for a team-high 56 yards on 19 carries.
The Roughriders were largely reliant on an aerial attack that produced two touchdowns — Ron Lancaster’s scoring strikes to Brian O’Hara and Joey Walters.
Reamon rushed 14 times for 39 yards and one touchdown the following weekend in Montreal against the Alouettes.
In the Roughriders’ next game — an Oct. 16 home date with Edmonton — Reamon carried the ball just once, for five yards. He was released the following day.
Now, the aforementioned photo could have been taken on Oct. 16, but Oct. 2 is the likeliest date due to the fact that he was used more frequently during the earlier game.
This much is certain: The photo was not taken on Sept. 18, during his stellar showing against Hamilton.
How do I know that? Because the L-P story, cited earlier, was accompanied by photos that showed Reamon wearing a cap that included a Roughriders logo.
The picture that sparked today’s reminiscence shows a cap that bears his surname. Therefore, “The Hat” must be from a later game, in October.
His career, all things considered, is as unique as the cap.
In late December of 1977, he signed an NFL contract and attended camp with Washington the following year.
On Aug. 11, he rushed 20 times for 73 yards and caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from ex-Argonaut Joe Theismann to help Washington post a 20-12 pre-season victory over the visiting Green Bay Packers.
“I’m happy to introduce myself to Washington,” he told Bucky Fox of the Carlisle (Pa.) Sentinel after the game. “Tonight, I hope I proved what kind of running back I can be.”
He did, actually, but Washington nonetheless released him in late August, even though he had led the team in rushing during the pre-season.
“I’m a very disappointed and hurt young man,” he told United Press International, adding: “I don’t know what I am going to do.”
Football was merely one option for the versatile running back, whose talents extended far beyond the gridiron.
“If nothing happens,” he told UPI, “I’ll go back to California and pursue my acting career.”
Good idea!
He went on to appear in three television series — Charlie’s Angels, The Fall Guy and Quincy M.E.
As well, Reamon played the role of Delma Huddle in a 1979 hit movie, North Dallas Forty.
Subsequently, Reamon became a successful high school football coach in his hometown of Newport News, Va.
Along the way, he played a key role in developing future NFL quarterbacks Michael Vick and Aaron Brooks.
Even now, barely a week away from turning 71, Reamon is still dedicated to helping young players.
He spent last season — his 35th as a high school coach — with the Newport News-based Denbigh Patriots.
Reamon was steered toward the head-coaching position by a notable Denbigh alumnus, Steelers field boss Mike Tomlin.
“The two had a conversation when Reamon travelled to Pittsburgh for the wake of the late Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris,” Brian Smith wrote in a story that appeared on 13newsnow.com — the website of WVEC-TV in Norfolk, Va. — last August.
“Tomlin was very persuasive about him taking the job because of how much Reamon meant to him growing up in Newport News.”
In the 13newsnow.com article, Tomlin paid tribute to Reamon and his enduring influence.
“When I was a teenager, I went to his camps,” the Steelers’ head coach said. “We didn’t have the money to go to anybody else’s camp and Coach Reamon had the camp and for $5, he’d feed you lunch and give you a T-shirt.”
Who knows? Maybe a few hats were distributed, too.
