#ThrowbackThursday SWAC Legend Parnell Dickinson

Itta Bena, Miss. – In 1976, an expansion team from Tampa Bay took a chance on a black college athlete by the name of Parnell Dickinson. A two-time Black College All-American who led the Southwestern Athletic Conference in total offense during his first three seasons.
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Dickinson led the Buccaneers to their first touchdown as a franchise in a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. On October 24, 1976, Dickinson became the team's first African American starting quarterback in a contest against the Miami Dolphins. He completed every pass he attempted that game including leading the team on a 71-yard touchdown drive. In that game he suffered injuries that would carry over into the offseason and into the next season.

In 1978, Dickinson would sign with the New England Patriots as a wide receiver but was released a month later.

He would go on to finish his playing career in the Canadian Football League for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

In 1992, Dickinson became an inaugural member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame, and in 2017, the Black College Football Hall of Fame saw fit to add him to another collection of standout athletes.

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