Santa Clara Athletics Hall of Fame
Al Dowd was not just known as a football player at Santa Clara; he was an all-around athlete. In high school, Dowd was already on the radar of many college athletics programs to play basketball, baseball, and track, yet ultimately chose to play football in college. At Santa Clara, he was a menace on whatever side of the ball the coaches placed him. On defense, Dowd was a ball hawk known to come down with interceptions out of nowhere. On offense, the great play didn’t stop, as Dowd excelled in snaps during his junior year. His coach credited him with being steady and brilliant while directing the offensive line. After his collegiate career, Dowd continued his play for the Olympic Club.
