Charles Alexander, Former Player

Charles Alexander: LSU Photograph Collection, RG #A5000,
Louisiana State University Archives, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, LA.

Charles Alexander

Charles Alexander was born July 27, 1957, in Galveston, Texas. Alexander played running back, or tailback, at LSU where he received All-American honors in 1977 and 1978. He was selected as a first-team All-American and All-SEC in 1977 and 1978. In 1977, he was selected the SEC Most Valuable Player. He set nine SEC records and twenty seven LSU records during his college career. He still holds the LSU records for most rushes in a game (43), most yards in a season (1,686) and most yards gained per game in a season (153.3).

Alexander set two Sun Bowl rushing records, carrying 31 times for 197 yards, as he won Offensive Player of the Game honors in the 1977 Sun Bowl. In 1989, Alexander was inducted into the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame. He was also a first round draft pick in 1979 by the Cincinnati Bengals where he played for seven seasons; his team won the AFC Championship in 1981, and played in Super Bowl XVI in Pontiac, Michigan. Alexander finished his pro career with 2,645 rushing yards, 165 receptions for 1,130 yards, and 15 touchdowns. Charles was ultimately inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.

Alexander’s interview is housed in the T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History at LSU Libraries Special Collections. Alexander, Charles, interview by Scott Purdy, audio recording, 1993, 4700.0313, Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.