Nolan Cromwell
1980 N.F.L. Defensive Player of the Year
One of the greatest all-around athletes in Kansas history, Cromwell was a national AAU junior champion in the decathlon, a three-time state champion in track and earned consensus all-state honors in both football and basketball. Cromwell played football and competed in track and field at Kansas University. He started four years in football, the first two as a defensive back and the final two at quarterback. He rushed for an NCAA quarterback-record 294 yards against Oregon State on Sept. 27, 1975. Six games later, Cromwell engineered a 23-3 upset of Oklahoma to snap the Sooners' 28-game win streak. He was named the Big-8 Offensive Player of the Year in 1975, Big-Eight Athlete of the Year in 1977 and a track All-American in 1975, setting KU records in the 400-meter hurdles, 600-yard dash and decathlon. Cromwell played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams and was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Year in 1980 while leading the Rams to Super Bowl XIV.
| EVENT |
PLACE |
POINTS |
MONEY |
EVENT WINS |
| 1980 Superteams Football Preliminary |
1 |
$6,600 |
||
| 1981 Preliminary 4 |
6 |
15 |
$1,500 |
None |
| 1982 Preliminary 4 |
4 |
30 |
$3,000 |
Rowing |
| 1982 Final |
10 |
6 |
$1,800 |
None |
| 1982 Monday Night Football Superstars |
4 |
30 |
$8,000 |
Obstacle Course |
| TOTALS |
81 |
$20,900 |
2 |