Skeets Quinlan

Who was Skeets Quinlan?

Volney Ralph "Skeet" Quinlan was an American football halfback in the National Football League. He played five seasons for the Los Angeles Rams and the Cleveland Browns. Quinlan was one of the first star running backs to emerge from Texas as football began to expand through the southern United States. He was a college star at San Diego State, though these teams did not experience much success, often overshadowed by the more prestigious larger programs at USC and UCLA. However, these teams were known for having some of the early forbears of the spread passing attack frequently seen today, using a variety of medium- to long-range passes that would create running lanes for Quinlan. He was regarded as a "speed" back, frequently jukeing between defenders in a distinctive motion known as "skeeting." This term has since gone into disuse. Quinlan's professional career was much less heralded, as he was only able to amass 1514 yards in the NFL before deteriorating joints drove him from the league. In his post-football life, Quinlan became a fixture in northern California's music landscape, releasing several soft jazz albums under the name "Skeeter Q."