Scott Appleton

Gordon Scott Appleton (February 20, 1942 - March 2, 1992) was an American football defensive lineman in the American Football League. He played college football at the University of Texas, which won the national championship in 1963. Appleton was a consensus 1963 All-American who won the Outland Trophy that year as well.

He was selected in the first round by the Houston Oilers, for whom he played from 1964 through 1966. He played for the San Diego Chargers in 1967 and 1968. After Scott's career in football ended, he became a manager of a Dairy Queen in Westfield, TX (20 miles north of Houston).

He died of heart failure in 1992. He was 50 years old.

In 1963, the Pittsburgh Steelers sent Buddy Dial, a very capable wide receiver, to the Dallas Cowboys to obtain the right to draft Scott Appleton. However, Appleton signed with Houston of the AFL. The shenanigans both teams used in the attempt to sign Appleton was one of Myron Cope's favorite stories. It became known as the "Buddy Dial for Nothing" trade.