dickey began playing football at richard g. lockett jr. high school and went on to play at booker t. washington high school, both in his hometown of houston, texas. a supremely intelligent man, dickey had an iq in the high 130s. in college at tennessee state (tsu), he became a three-time hbcu all-american with 6,523 passing yards and 67 touchdowns. dickey was considered a gifted athlete with his strongest positions being quarterback and punter. he was also able to throw precision passes with both his left and right arm. with dickey at the lead, tsu played in the grantland rice bowl in 1965 and 1966; dickey was named the mvp of the 1966 game. also in 1966, tsu earned their first undefeated, untied season and their first national black college football championship. the 1966 team averaged 41 points per game, allowing an average of only 4.