We are 72 days away from college football kickoff. Happy Friday Eve. Today we have Bronko Nagurski, Bob Lilly, and Dan Dierdorf. Three outstanding players. One so outstanding they named an award after him. We hope you enjoy learning more about Nagurski, Lilly, and Dierdorf. Be sure to check back tomorrow for #72 in our countdown to kickoff.
Bronko Nagurski Days Away From College Football Kickoff
Bronko Nagurski grew up in International Falls, Minnesota, as the son of Ukrainian immigrants. He started at the University of Minnesota in 1927 and played a wide range of positions, including tackle, fullback, defensive end, offensive end, linebacker, and even quarterback.
Nagurski played the 1927 season at tackle. In 1928 and 1929, he started six games at tackle and 10 as fullback. Playing fullback in 1928 against Wisconsin, he scored a touchdown with six tacklers trying to hold him. In 1929, against Iowa, he was in the lineup at five positions – end, tackle, guard, halfback, and fullback. Minnesota had a record of 18- 4-2 in his time.
Nagurski stood out on the field, becoming the only player in college football history to be named a first-team consensus All-American at two different positions in the same season.
At 6-2, 217 pounds, he became the Chicago Bears’ fullback from 1930 to 1937. Nagurski led the team to three NFL Championships over eight years. He was a six-time All-Pro with 242 points and 4,301 rushing yards. The Bears honored him by retiring his No. 3 jersey.
He was a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. In 1995, college football renamed its Defensive Player of the Year award as the Nagurski Trophy.
Another Great # 72, Bob Lilly, TCU
People often debate whether Bob Lilly’s college or professional career was more impressive, since both were outstanding Hall of Fame achievements. As a member of the all-time SWC Dream Team, Lilly, who came from Throckmorton, played a key role on the 1958, 1959, and 1960 Horned Frog teams. Those teams won two Southwest Conference titles and played in the 1959 Cotton Bowl and the Bluebonnet Bowl the next year. Lilly was a consensus All-America pick in 1960.
In the Spring of 1961, he became the Dallas Cowboys’ first draft pick. He later earned the nickname “Mr. Cowboy.” Over 14 seasons, Lilly was named All-Pro nine times and was a dominant defensive tackle in the NFL. He became the first player in the “Cowboy Ring of Honor” and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980. In 1994, Lilly was named to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Lilly’s durability was impressive—he missed only one game in his 14-year NFL career, even though he played two of the toughest positions in football. After retiring, he started a successful career as a photographer. Lilly was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.
One More Great # 72, Dan Dierdorf, Michigan
Dan Dierdorf grew up in Canton, Ohio, and played three years as an offensive tackle for Michigan under coach Bo Schembechler. At six feet four inches and 250 pounds, he was known for his strength, speed, and powerful blocking. Thanks to his efforts, the Wolverines had one of the best running games in the country. During his time, the team went 18-3 in Big Ten games and 25-6 overall, and they shared the Big Ten title in 1969. Dierdorf was named to the all-conference team twice and was a consensus All-American in 1970. In 1969, he earned second-team All-America honors.
Dierdorf also played in the East-West Shrine Game, the Hula Bowl, and the 1971 College All-Star Game. Dierdorf then spent 13 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals in the NFL from 1971 to 1983. He was selected as an All-Pro five times and was named the league’s top offensive lineman in 1976, 1977, and 1978. In 1996, Dan was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After his playing career, he joined CBS TV and became a well-known broadcaster.
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 Dept.
