We are 68 days away from college football kickoff. Another Monday, another number on the countdown. Today, we have Arizona Wildcat Tedi Bruschi and a Boston College Eagle, Mike Ruth. Be sure to check back tomorrow for #67 in our countdown to kickoff. Enjoy!
68 Days Away From College Football Kickoff
Record Breaking Wildcat
Tedy Bruschi was known as one of the top edge rushers in college football. He played for the famous “Desert Swarm” defense. Bruschi finished his college career tied for the NCAA record with 52 sacks. As well as 74 tackles for loss, ranking sixth in FBS history. In total, his tackles for loss and sacks cost opponents 454 yards, which is more than a full game’s worth of offense. Bruschi received all-conference honors three times and helped lead the Wildcats to three bowl games under coach Dick Tomey.
Bruschi was named a consensus All-American in 1994 and earned unanimous All-American honors in 1995, becoming just the second Wildcat to do so. He was also a Lombardi Award finalist in both 1994 and 1995. Also, as a senior, Bruschi was named All-Pac-10 for the third straight year, won Pac-10 Player of the Year, and received the Morris
Trophy as the top lineman.
Bruschi was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played 13 seasons with the team and won three Super Bowls. After having a stroke, Bruschi was named the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year in 2005.
Bruschi is a strong supporter of stroke survivors. He started Tedy’s Team with the American Stroke Association and has helped raise over $1.5 million. Bruschi wrote the book “Never Give Up: My Stroke, My Recovery, and My Return to the NFL,” where he shares his story of returning to football after his 2005 stroke. Bruschi also works with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, helping grant wishes for many children. Today, he is an NFL analyst on ESPN.
Another Great # 68, Mike Ruth, Boston College
Mike Ruth won the 1985 Outland Trophy as the nation’s top interior lineman, using his strength and quickness to dominate opponents. He is the seventh Boston College player to join the College Football Hall of Fame.
Ruth served as team captain his senior year and finished his career with 344 tackles, 29 sacks, seven forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. In 1986, he earned Boston College’s top athletic honor, Eagle of the Year. He played alongside Hall of Famer Doug Flutie, is a member of the Varsity Club Hall of Fame, and had his No. 68 jersey retired by the school.
As a senior, Ruth was a consensus First Team All-American and helped lead the Eagles to three bowl games, including a victory over Houston in the 1985 Cotton Bowl. Boston College finished the 1984 season ranked No. 5 in the country. Ruth was also a three-time All-East and All-ECAC pick, and he helped the team win the Lambert Trophy as the top FBS team in the East in both 1983 and 1984.
Ruth was selected in the second round of the 1986 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots and played two seasons with them. He also spent two seasons with the Barcelona Dragons in the World League of American Football.
After his football career, Ruth spent over ten years working in insurance and earned a master’s degree in education from Harvard University. Since 2003, he has been president of Mike Ruth Consulting, and he now teaches and coaches at Everett High School in Massachusetts.
Editor’s Note: The countdown to college football kickoff has been a series on the Last Word on College Football social media platforms for the past 9 years. They consisted of a photo and a small blurb for each player, with the jersey corresponding to the number of days until kickoff. The rank of the players is sourced from articles by Bleacher Report, Fox Sports, and The Athletic. There are also some favorite players of the Last Word on College Football writers. Their bios are sourced from multiple online sources, including but not limited to the College Football Hall of Fame, their Heisman profiles, and school websites.
Main Photo: USA TODAY Sports
