Gridiron.

Firebrands · week 7 · 1980

Trent Beetlestone is 35 and still doing it

Ruth Fairbanks, features

Trent Beetlestone QB
Firebrands

There is a version of this where Trent Beetlestone retired two years ago. Instead he is 35 and averaging 19.6. He reads Normal, which makes the mileage harder to explain, not easier.

Across four seasons: 8,630 yards from scrimmage, 121 touchdowns, sixty games. He got to 2,335 once. Not this time. For two clubs.

He is from Memphis, Tennessee. He has never been described as easy to coach. The route here: a first-round pick out of Fort Ridley, and everybody saw it coming.

Firebrands are 4-3 through seven weeks. Crash Cavanaugh is in year three of it. He is out of contract after this.

Beetlestone reads on the team plane, actual books, which his teammates find hilarious.

This feature ran in the paper in week 7 of 1980. The rest of the season is there too.

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