We are 67 days away from college football kickoff. Today we have Les Richter from Cal. Did you know he not only played three positions but he excelled at all of them? We also feature Russell Maryland a Miami Hurricane of legendary status. Be sure to check back tomorrow for #66 in our countdown to kickoff. Enjoy!
Les Richter Days Away From College Football Kickoff
Three Position Player
Leslie “Les” Richter played guard, linebacker, and kicker for the University of California from 1949 to 1951, standing out in each position. At 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, he was a strong presence on offense and a tough defender. His skills brought him many honors, including team captain, the Andy Smith Award for most time played, a place on the All-Time All-Pacific Coast Team, appearances in the East-West Shrine and College All-Star games, a Most Valuable Player award, induction into the Helms Hall of Fame, and All-America honors from United Press, Associated Press, International News Service, and other respected groups.
While at Cal, Richter played under head coach Pappy Waldorf. His first team finished 10-1 and reached as high as third in the national rankings, with their only loss coming in a close 17-14 game against No. 6 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. The next year, the Bears went undefeated in the regular season at 9-0-1, but as the fifth-ranked team, they lost to No. 9 Michigan, 14-6, in the Rose Bowl. In his senior year in 1951, Richter was a team co-captain. That season, Cal finished 8-2 and ranked 19th, but did not make it to a bowl game.
Richter played as an offensive lineman, linebacker, and kicker for the Bears. He was named a consensus All-American at guard in both 1950 and 1951, and was also voted first-team all-conference those years. In 1951, he set a Pacific Coast Conference record by kicking 40 extra points. While at Berkeley, Richter also played on the Cal rugby team. He graduated with a degree in business administration and was the valedictorian of his class. After college, Richter served for two years as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry.
Richter was selected as the second overall pick in the NFL Draft and was traded by the Dallas Texans to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for 11 players. He played for the Rams from 1954 to 1962 and was chosen for the Pro Bowl eight times.
After he retired from football, Richter became a co-owner of Riverside International Raceway and helped make it one of the top tracks in the world. He also co-founded the International Race of Champions, served as a vice president of NASCAR, and played a key role in developing California Speedway. In 2009, he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
Another Great # 67, Russell Maryland, Miami
Russell Maryland did not receive much attention from college recruiters in Chicago, but he became one of the best defensive linemen in Miami Hurricanes history. After redshirting his first year, he lost 50 pounds to reach a playing weight of 267. His breakout came as a sophomore in 1988 against Michigan, where he faced All-American John Vitale. After that game, Maryland told himself, “You know what, I have arrived. I can hang with the big boys if I hang with John Vitale.” He proved himself right, finishing his college career with 279 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, and 20.5 sacks. Maryland helped Miami win two national championships, four bowl games, and maintain a perfect home record, with the team going 44-4 during his four years in Coral Gables. In his senior year, he was named Defensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl and became the first Miami Hurricane to win the Outland Trophy.
Maryland was the first overall pick in the 1991 NFL Draft, selected by the Dallas Cowboys. Maryland helped the Cowboys win three Super Bowls, played in the 1993 Pro Bowl, and started 140 of 154 games in his ten-year career. He recorded 375 tackles, 24.5 sacks, and forced nine fumbles as a professional. In 1993, he started the Russell Maryland Foundation and now serves on the board of the Cowboys of Color Museum. Maryland also takes part in the “Digging for Dragons” fundraising effort to support educational programs in the Southlake Independent School District.
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: Cal Athletics
