Professional Football Player. For eight seasons (1967 to 1974), he played at the offensive-guard and center positions in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns. Born Wyatte James Copeland, Jr., he attended Lane High School in Charlottesville, Virginia and played collegiate football at the University of Virginia, while earning a bachelor's degree in Government. Selected by Cleveland during the 10th round of the 1967 NFL Draft, he appeared in 81 career regular season games, and was a member of the Browns' squads that reached two consecutive NFL Championship Games (1968 loss to the Baltimore Colts 30 to 0 and 1969 loss to the Minnesota Vikings 27 to 7). Following his football career, he returned to the University of Virginia where he received a master's degree in Guidance and Counseling, before serving as athletics director at the University of Utah, Southern Methodist University (SMU), William & Mary, and later the University of Virginia. He was inducted into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Hall of Fame in 2009. He died following a lengthy battle with cancer at age 65.
Professional Football Player. For eight seasons (1967 to 1974), he played at the offensive-guard and center positions in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns. Born Wyatte James Copeland, Jr., he attended Lane High School in Charlottesville, Virginia and played collegiate football at the University of Virginia, while earning a bachelor's degree in Government. Selected by Cleveland during the 10th round of the 1967 NFL Draft, he appeared in 81 career regular season games, and was a member of the Browns' squads that reached two consecutive NFL Championship Games (1968 loss to the Baltimore Colts 30 to 0 and 1969 loss to the Minnesota Vikings 27 to 7). Following his football career, he returned to the University of Virginia where he received a master's degree in Guidance and Counseling, before serving as athletics director at the University of Utah, Southern Methodist University (SMU), William & Mary, and later the University of Virginia. He was inducted into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Hall of Fame in 2009. He died following a lengthy battle with cancer at age 65.
Bio by: C.S.
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