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14 Facts About Ralph Ortega

facts about ralph ortega.html1.

Ralph Ortega was born on July 6,1953 and is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for six seasons in the National Football League during the 1970s and early 1980s.

2.

Ralph Ortega was born in Havana, Cuba in 1953, but moved to Miami, Florida with his family when he was a child.

3.

Ralph Ortega played high school football for legendary coach Nick Kotys at Coral Gables Senior High School in Coral Gables, Florida, and was a shot-put specialist on the track and field team.

4.

Ralph Ortega accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played linebacker for head coach Doug Dickey's Florida Gators football team from 1971 to 1974.

5.

Ralph Ortega's big play was a crushing tackle that caused a fumble by Auburn tailback Chris Linderman inside the Gators' five yard-line shortly before halftime.

6.

Ralph Ortega finished his four-season college career with 357 tackles, twelve forced fumbles, and five interceptions.

7.

Ralph Ortega was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection in 1973 and 1974, a first-team All-American in 1974, an Academic All-American, and the team captain during his senior year.

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8.

Ralph Ortega graduated from Florida with a bachelor's degree in management in 1976, and was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1978.

9.

Ralph Ortega enjoyed a six-year professional football career in the NFL.

10.

Ralph Ortega was chosen in the second round of the 1975 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

11.

Ralph Ortega was a starting linebacker in 1977, and a key component of the renowned "Grits Blitz" Falcons defense, before being relegated to special teams in 1978.

12.

Ralph Ortega was traded to the Miami Dolphins for a future third-round draft pick in 1979.

13.

Ralph Ortega finished his NFL career with the Dolphins in 1980.

14.

Ralph Ortega served as an assistant coach for his son's Gulliver Prep team, and had a close mentor relationship with future NFL star defensive back Sean Taylor, one of his son's Gulliver Prep teammates and close friends.