Jimmy Hitchcock

Bio

Jim Hitchcock became Auburn's first All-America player following a brilliant senior season in 1932. A triple-threat halfback, Hitchcock led the Southern Conference in scoring that year, handled the Tiger punting and tacked baseball All-America laurels onto his credits. In three varsity seasons, Jim compiled an incredible record as a punter, kicking 232 times without having a single punt blocked. During a 1932 game against Tulane, Hitchcock flashed his ball-carrying brilliance with a 60-yard touchdown return of an intercepted pass, followed quickly by a 63-yard TD run out of his punting formation. Tulane was demoralized and Hitchcock was racing toward one of the finest seasons the South had ever witnessed. That same season, after Auburn had defeated coach Wallace Wade's Duke eleven, Wade commented: "I have never seen a finer all-around back play against one of my teams." The 5-11, 172-pound native of Inverness, Alabama, turned to a professional baseball career for seven seasons after his graduation, coaching the Tiger backfield during the off-season. Hitchcock spent 39 months as an athletic instructor in the Naval Aviation Physical Training Programs during World War II and was elected to the Alabama Public Service Commission for several terms after the war.

Career Highlights

• 1932 Consensus All-America