Billy Hardee

{{Short description|American football player (1954–2011)}} {{Use American English|date=June 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Billy Hardee | image = billy hardee.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | number = 23, 37 | position = [[Defensive back]] | birth_date = {{birth date|1954|08|12}} | birth_place = [[Lakeland, Florida]], U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2011|07|04|1954|08|12}} | death_place = [[Phoenix, Arizona]], U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 0 | weight_lbs = 184 | high_school = [[Mulberry High School (Florida)|Mulberry]] | college = [[Virginia Tech Hokies football|Virginia Tech]] | undraftedyear = 1976 | pastteams = * [[Denver Broncos]] ({{NFL Year|1976}}) * [[New York Jets]] ({{NFL Year|1977}}) * [[Calgary Stampeders]] (1978) * [[Toronto Argonauts]] ({{CFL Year|1978|1981}}) * [[Ottawa Rough Riders]] (1981-{{CFL Year|1982}}) * [[Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars]] (1984-1985) | highlights = }} '''William Abraham Hardee Jr''' (August 12, 1954, – July 4, 2011) was an American professional [[gridiron football|football]] player who was a [[defensive back]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL), [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL) and [[United States Football League]] (USFL) during the 1970s and 1980s. He played [[college football]] for the [[Virginia Tech Hokies football|Virginia Tech Hokies]].

==College career== Hardee played at [[Virginia Tech]] from 1972 to 1975. Hardee started his collegiate career as a [[wide receiver]], transitioning to defensive back in 1974. Hardee finished in the Top 10 nationally in 1975, with seven [[interception]]s. This, along with his work as a [[kickoff returner]], earned him Honorable Mention as an [[Associated Press|AP]] [[College Football All-America Team|All American]] and a spot on the National Independent All-Star Football squad. Hardee was elected into the [[List of Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame inductees|Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame]] in 2005.

==Professional career== Following graduation from Virginia Tech, Hardee went on to play in the [[National Football League]], the [[Canadian Football League]] and the [[United States Football League]]. Hardee retired from professional football in 1985.

==After retirement== He worked in the administration department at [[Lake Region High School (Florida)|Lake Region High School]] in [[Eagle Lake, Florida]]. He and his wife Deborah had three children. A son, Billy III, followed in his father's footsteps and played football for the Hokies from 1999 to 2001.

==Death== Hardee died from injuries sustained from a motorcycle accident near [[Phoenix, AZ]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20110704/news/110709802|title=Article 404 - the Ledger - Lakeland, FL|access-date=December 22, 2012|archive-date=October 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004032539/http://www.theledger.com/article/20110704/NEWS/110709802|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was in a coma for two days and died shortly thereafter July 4, 2011.

==External links== {{reflist}} * [http://www.hokiesports.com/wrestling/recaps/20050821aaa.html Virginia Tech Hall of Fame]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hardee, Billy}} [[Category:1954 births]] [[Category:2011 deaths]] [[Category:American football cornerbacks]] [[Category:Calgary Stampeders players]] [[Category:Canadian football defensive backs]] [[Category:Denver Broncos players]] [[Category:New York Jets players]] [[Category:Ottawa Rough Riders players]] [[Category:Toronto Argonauts players]] [[Category:Virginia Tech Hokies football players]] [[Category:Players of Canadian football from Florida]] [[Category:Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars players]] [[Category:Road incident deaths in Arizona]] [[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]