We are 78 days away from college football kickoff. Happy football Friday and the countdown keeps on moving. Today we haveBobby Bell, a Minnesota Golden Gopher and Bruce Smith a Virginia Tech Hokie. Enjoy learning about these two powerhouse players. Be sure to check back tomorrow for #78 in our countdown to kickoff. Enjoy.
Bobby Bell Days Away From College Football Kickoff
Outland Trophy Winner
Bobby Bell was recruited by Minnesota to play quarterback, but he ended up becoming a two-time All-American tackle.
Bell won the Outland Award as the nation’s top interior lineman. He was also named Big Ten MVP and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting. In two seasons, Bell led the Gophers to a 22-6-1 record, a national championship, and a Rose Bowl win. Bell was a versatile athlete. He was recruited to join the Gopher basketball team as a walk-on and became the program’s first African-American player.
After graduating, Bell was drafted in the second round by the Minnesota Vikings. He chose to play for the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFL instead. In 1970, he helped the Chiefs beat the Vikings to win Super Bowl IV. As a pro, Bell, played for 13 seasons and earned All-Pro honors eight years in a row. In 1983, he became the first Chiefs player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was named to the AFL’s all-time team in 1969 and was later elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Bell’s name and his well-known number 78 were honored on the upper deck façade at TCF Bank Stadium in October 2010, alongside Bronko Nagurski (72), Bruce Smith (54), Paul Giel (10), and Sandy Stephens (15).
Bell graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2015, keeping a promise he made to his father at age 18.
Another Great #78: Bruce Smith, Virginia Tech
Bruce Smith stood out as a pass-rushing defensive lineman thanks to his speed, strength, intelligence, and determination. When he joined Virginia Tech, the football team was not very successful. His performance helped raise the team’s profile and set the stage for future achievements. In high school, he was an All-America football player and also played on a state-champion basketball team. Smith missed much of his freshman year and did not start until his sophomore season, when he recorded eight sacks. As a junior, he earned first-team All-America honors and added 22 more sacks. That year, Virginia Tech finished 9-2, which was the most wins in a season for the school at that time. In his senior year, Smith led the Hokies to the Independence Bowl and collected 16 more sacks.
Bruce earned consensus All-America honors and won the Outland Trophy. During his college career, he made 46 sacks and 71 tackles for loss, causing opponents to lose a total of 504 yards. In the 1985 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills picked him first overall. He was named Defensive Rookie of the Year. After a 19-year professional career, he held the NFL record for most career sacks with 200. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl 11 times. After retiring, he spent much of his time working with community and charity organizations.
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: University of Minnesota Athletics
