We are 98 days away from college football kickoff. Let’s continue our countdown to college football kickoff. Today, we have an outstanding all-around college football player. The first Heisman Trophy winner for Michigan was also a World War II fighter pilot. He then became a world-class sports broadcaster.
Tom Harmon Days Away From College Football Kickoff
First Wolverine Heisman Winner
Tom Harmon was the first Michigan Wolverine to win the Heisman Trophy in 1940. His college nickname was Old Ninety- Eight. Harmon scored 33 touchdowns, had 3,438 yards passing and rushing. He kicked two field goals and 33 points after touchdowns, totaling 237 career points. Harmon also threw 16 touchdown passes. He played almost every minute of his three-year career at Michigan.
According to his Heisman profile, I quote “In his final football game, against Ohio State, Harmon led the Wolverines to a 40–0 victory, scoring three rushing touchdowns, two passing touchdowns, four extra points, intercepting three passes, and punting three times for an average of 50 yards. In an unprecedented display of sportsmanship and appreciation, the Buckeye fans in Columbus gave Harmon a standing ovation at the game’s end. No other Wolverine player has been so honored, before or since.”
Harmon was named All-American in 1939 and 1940. He won the Heisman Trophy and The Maxwell Award in 1940. In 1941, he was selected as the first pick in the NFL Draft.
During World War II, Harmon served as a pilot, earning the Purple Heart and a Silver Star. Harmon survived for 10 days in the jungle after his plane crashed. When he returned home, he played for the Los Angeles Rams for two seasons, 1947 and 1948.
He went on to become a successful broadcaster. After stints in Detroit and Glendale, he became the Sports Director for Columbia Pacific Network, where he managed daily television and radio broadcasts. Harmon was a fixture in sports broadcasting, with 10,000 broadcasts covering everything from the Rose Bowl to the Olympics and the Los Angeles Raiders. He broadcast on the three major networks, ABC, CBS, and NBC. Harmon continued broadcasting until he died in 1990.
Another Great #98, Lawrence Taylor, North Carolina
Lawrence Taylor played outside linebacker for the Tar Heels from 1977 to 1980. In 1979, Taylor had 95 tackles and caused seven fumbles. In 1980, his senior year, he set a Tar Heels record with 16 quarterback sacks for a loss of 127 yards. Taylor had 22 tackles for losses and led North Carolina to an 11-1 record and an ACC championship. He was named the unanimous First Team All-America and ACC Player of the Year.
Taylor was the second pick in the 1981 NFL Draft. He played his entire 13-year career for the Giants. He had 142 quarterback sacks in his career and was second all-time when he retired. Taylor was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
One More #98 Brian Orakpo, Texas
Brian Orakpo finished his career as a Longhorn with 132 tackles, 22 sacks, and 38 tackles for loss. He was a dominant defensive player while in Austin, earning him many accolades. Orakpo was a unanimous All-American and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2008. He won the Ted Hendricks Award, which is given to the top defensive end. The Bronko Nagurski Award, which is awarded to the top Defensive player. As well as the Lombardi Award, which is given to the top college football lineman. Orakpo helped lead Texas to a 45-7 record and four bowl victories in his career. He was drafted in 2009 as the 13th overall pick. He had a 10-year career with Washington and Tennessee.
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: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
