Hinton, Hartshorn signed by Dallas of NFL

Hinton, Hartshorn signed by Dallas of NFL

Athletics Football

This article describes three Rams football player who signed contracts for the NFL-- Mel Hinton, Bob Hartshorn, and Gus VanAlstine.

Steve Piloni

Quad Angles

Special Collections, Francis Harvey Green Library, West Chester University

2-4-1975

Randall Cream

Digital images in Library Services' Digital Collections are issued by Special Collections, Francis Harvey Green Library, West Chester University. Images are provided for non-commercial, educational, and personal use only, and are not intended for reproduction or redistribution. For the above purposes the user may reproduce these materials (by download, printing, etc.) without further permission, on the condition that proper attribution of the source for all copies is provided by clearly acknowledging the name of the Library, the title of the web page or resource and the URL at which it was located, please credit as follows: Special Collections, Francis Harvey Green Library, West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania. For questions regarding use of digital materials contact Special Collections (libspeccol@wcupa.edu or 610-436-3456).

https://digital.klnpa.org/digital/collection/wcnp01/id/15295

It's certainly been a great year for West Chester State football. In addition to winning the Pennsylvania State Conference East title, the Ram gridders have had two players sign pro contrails and a third is on the verge of signing. Mel Hinton and Bob Hartshorn have already inked pacts with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. Guy VanAlst ine is ready to become a New York Giant, also of the NFL. All three are free agents. Hinton, a defensive end, and Hartshorn, a tight end on the Rams squad agreed to become property of the Cowboys on Thursday, the day after the NFL collegiate player draft was completed. Neither was taken in the draft, but both were probably high on the free agent list for Dallas to act so quickly. VanAlst ine, a running back, was also approached on Thursday by the Giants. "It's almost definite that I'm going to play up there (New York) unless they offer me some ridiculously low sum of money," VanAlsline said Saturday from his home in Tiappe, Pa. "Right now it's just a matter of agreeing on a contract." Both Hinton and Hartshorn signed similar contracts. The agreement is for three vears plus a bonus for signing and performance bonuses for all three years. However, they must make the Dallas team this year or the contract is void, with the exception of the bonus for signing. If they make the team the first year, all three years of the contract will be honored. Hint on declined to comment on the monetary figures saying only that he is happy with the agreement. Hartshorn could not be reached for comment. Hartshorn, who had a fine career for West Chester as a tight end, will be tried as a running back by the Cowboys while Hinton will be tested as an outside linebacker. Hinton, at 6'4" and 215 pounds, doesn't foresee any difficulties in converting to linebacker. "The defensive end posit ion on our team (West Chester's) is similar to the linebacker position in the pros. We play a 5-2 defense which means three linemen are down and the ends stay up. I've already had to cover backs coming out of backrield on pass plays." As a good athlete capable of playing many positions, Hartshorn, who goes 6'2", 210, should not have a great deal of trouble adjusting to the running back spot. Both players will fly to Dallas in March for a three day session to meet the coaching staff. They will return in May to attend classes and learn the Dallas football system, and then fly to California for training camp in July. "This is all due to coach John Bove (defensive line coach) and coach John Furlow, and you can quote me on that," said Hinton. "If it wasn't for them none of this would have happened." Hinton, a senior, made the Pennsylvania State Conference second team at defensive end this past season. No career defensive statistics were available. Hartshorn, also a senior, finished- his career as a Ram with 76 catches for 1012 yards and 4 touchdowns. His average per catch was 13.3 yards. Hartshorn made second team all-star at tight end in the PSC in 1973 and was second in receiving in the Eastern division that same year. This past season, Hartshorn was chosen as an ECAC first team all-star and a PSC first team all-star. He led the PSC in receptions with 45. Hartshorn also shares a West Chester record for most receptions in one game with 12. Hinton, Hartshorn and very soon VanAlstine will join Carl Gershhach, Tom Pierantozzi, Doug Olsen, and Merritt Kersey as West Chester graduates to sign pro football contracts. Bob Hartshorn Mel Hinton