Pinder, former Illini and Bears running back, dies at 74
He was not on the list.
Cyril Pinder, whose career as an Illinois running back prematurely ended as a result of the athletic department's 1960s slush fund scandal, has died at age 74. The Illini football Twitter account announced Pinder's death Saturday.
Pinder played for Illinois during its 1966 and 1967 seasons, amassing 92 carries for 434 yards and five touchdowns. Pinder also won the 55-meter race in the 1966 Big Ten indoor championships, clocking 6.2 seconds.
In March 1967, Pinder and four other Illini athletes were ruled permanently ineligible by the Big Ten for their role in the slush fund scandal. Pinder was discovered to be receiving $500 annually for travel.
Pinder went on to be selected 39th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1968 NFL Draft. He spent three years with that team, two with the Chicago Bears and one with the Dallas Cowboys, posting 1,709 rushing yards and seven touchdowns across those seasons.
Chicago Fire (WFL)
In June, 1974, he was signed by the Chicago Fire of the World Football League. He was named the team's starter at running back and registered 925 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns.
Chicago Winds (WFL)
In 1975, the Chicago Winds replaced the Fire in the World Football League. Pinder was signed on June 24, though the new team was evicted from the league after just five games.
Some of his notable teammates include: Bob Brown, Mike Ditka, Norm Snead, Irv Cross, Mark Moseley, Dick Butkus, Doug Buffone, Bobby Douglass, Gale Sayers, Roger Staubach, Bob Lilly Harvey Martin, Chuck Howley, Drew Pearson, Robert Newhouse, Ralph Neely, Le Roy Jordan, Rayfield Wright, Bob Hayes, and Jim Seymour.
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