JIM MASSEY
Linfield
Class of 1972
Came
to Linfield from Neah-Kah-Nie
High School, Rockaway, Ore., via the University of Oregon and Clatsop Community
College, Astoria, Ore.
5-11 and 200
AFTER
HIGH SCHOOL, BEFORE LINFIELD
I
attended the University of Oregon after high school. I had a full-ride
scholarship and was a starter on the UO Duck Frosh football team. But, I changed
to Linfield because Linfield’s enrollment was smaller than the UO. I graduated from Neah-Kah-Nie High (Rockaway,
Ore.) and the school enrollment there was 230 students. I felt that the UO was
too large of school for me. Linfield was smaller, plus I was comfortable with
Linfield’s location as I had relatives in the McMinnville area.
IN
ADDITION TO FOOTBALL
In
addition to his football skills, Jim
Massey was an outstanding track & field athlete, competing in the 1970-1971.
He ran the 100, 220 and the short relay.
EXPERIENCE
WITH PRO SCOUTS
While I was playing for Linfield, I had from scouts
for the Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys and the British Columbia Lions of the
Canadian Football League watching me. I signed a contract with the Rams about a
month after the draft. (1972 NFL draft, 10th round (251st
pick).
WITH THE NFL LOS ANGELES RAMS
I was with the Rams all through pre-season (six
games) and then I was put on the taxi squad. But, I couple of weeks later I was
cut from the taxi squad so they could add another player. So, I went to the
B.C. Lions, signed a contract and played the 1973 season.
WITH THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
In 1974 I signed a free agent contract with the
New England Patriots. I played the opening game of the 1974 season, missed the
next two with an ankle injury and was put on injured reserve the rest of the
season. I played for the Patriots in the 1975 and 1976 seasons. In 1977, I
retired from the NFL and came back to Linfield to finish my master’s degree and
help Rutsch coach football.
PRO TRAINING CAMP
It was very stressful. It wasn’t the workouts
because we had harder workouts at Linfield. But, but in the NFL every week they
would cut the roster. You didn’t know from week to week if you were still going
to be on the team.
I recall with New England that we had 50
practices straight without a day off. We’d be up at 6 in the morning for
breakfast and practice started at 8. There was lunch at noon and the practice
again at 2:30. After dinner at 6 we’d have meetings until 10 in the evening and
then it was bed time at 10:30.
Mentally and physically, I was prepared for the
NFL. A disadvantage for me was transitioning from being an offensive running
back in college to a corner back in the NFL going against receivers like Bob
Hayes, Lynn Swann and Fred Biletnikoff.
WAS LINFIELD KNOWN?
Did those I train with in the NFL know Linfield?
No. It wasn’t on their map at all.
LOOKING BACK
Looking back on things, if I’d stayed and played
one more season in the NFL I would have qualified for the NFL pension. But, at
the time I was 26-years-old and thought I was getting too old to play. Funny to
think now that I thought 26 was old. When I retired from the Patriots my
position coach told me I could play in the NFL another two or three years. But,
for me, it was time to move on.
WATCHING NFL TODAY
I don’t watch the NFL on TV or in person. The
game has changed so much from the 1970s. There are too many prima donnas and not enough old school hard-nosed football
players in the NFL. Today I enjoy watching college football, but not the pros.
JIM MASSEY PHOTO INFORMATION:
JIM MASSEY PHOTO INFORMATION:
-Jim Massey, Wildcat ball carrier, in Sept, 20,
1969, opening season game at Multnomah Stadium in Portland versus Portland
State in 1970 Oak Leaves
-Jim Massey carries ball for Linfield on Maxwell
Field versus L&C in a Nov. 7, 1970 Northwest Conference football game.
Photo from Nov. 8, 1970, Oregonian
-Jim Massey in a Linfield New Student
Directory (a.k.a. “Look Book”)
-Linfield Sports Info publicity photo
-Linfield Sports Info publicity photo
