KNOXVILLE -- Bernard Dafney, a two-year member of Tennessee’s offensive line and a starter for the 1991 squad, died Wednesday morning from a reported heart attack in Conyers, Ga. He was 37.
Dafney served the Salem High School community in Conyers as a resource officer and assistant football coach since September 2000. Before that, he coached at Heritage High School, also in Conyers.
A Los Angeles native, Dafney played seven years in the NFL after graduating from Tennessee. He was drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1992 and played one season before moving to a three-year stint with the Minnesota Vikings. He followed that with tenures in Arizona (1995), Pittsburgh (1996-97) and Carolina (1998).
At Tennessee, the junior-college transfer appeared in 23 games during his two seasons. He started nine games at left tackle for the 1991 Vols, who finished 9-3 and played in the Fiesta Bowl. One of his collegiate highlights came during his junior season when he scored a key touchdown at Mississippi State on a 32-yard “fumble-rooskie” play. Dafney was selected for the 1992 Senior Bowl before beginning his professional career.
Visitation is Sunday from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Horis A. Ward Funeral Home in Conyers. Services are Monday at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Conyers.
(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)