Bruce Smith (American football)

Bruce Smith (American football)

NFL player
Name=Bruce Smith


DateOfBirth=February 8, 1920
Birthplace= Faribault, Minnesota
DateOfDeath=death date and age|1967|08|28|1920|02|8
College=Minnesota
Position=Halfback
DraftedYear=1942
DraftedRound=13
DraftedPick=119
Career Highlights=Y
Awards=1941 Heisman Trophy
years=1945-1948
1948
teams=Green Bay Packers
Los Angeles Rams
DatabaseFootball=SMITHBRU01
CollegeHOF=40080

Bruce P. Smith (February 8, 1920 – August 28, 1967), nicknamed "Boo", was an American football player best known for winning the Heisman Trophy in 1941.

Smith was born in Faribault, Minnesota where he excelled in high school football under the legendary football coach Win Brockmeyer, and then he attended the University of Minnesota. He played halfback for the back-to-back national champion Gophers in 1940 and 1941. He received the Heisman two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

During World War II he served as a U.S. Navy fighter pilot. After the war he briefly played in the National Football League with the Green Bay Packers (1945–1948) and the Los Angeles Rams (1948). The movie, "Smith of Minnesota", was released in 1942. The premiere occurred in Faribault, Minnesota, to the amazement of the locals due to this novelty. However, laughter was heard in the movie house when certain advanced technologies, for that time (direct-dial phones, streetlights, etc) were seen as part of the scenery - courtesy of being filmed in Hollywood Calif.

He was diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 1967, and he spent the next several months visiting young cancer patients with the Rev. William Cantwell. Smith lost over half his body weight before succumbing to the disease. Cantwell, who was unfamiliar with Smith's sports achievements, nominated Smith for sainthood.

In 1972, Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. His number 54 was the first to be officially retired by the Minnesota Gophers, in 1977.

External links

* Gophersports.com: [http://www.gophersports.com/history/mfball/54BruceSmith.asp Bruce Smith biography]
* College Football Hall of Fame: [http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=40080 Bruce "Boo" Smith biography]
* Heisman.com: [http://www.heisman.com/years/1941.html 1941 Heisman Trophy winner]
* Win Brockmeyer: [http://webpages.charter.net/winbrockmeyer/Bruce%20Smith.htm Brockmeyer's letter to the College Football Hall of Fame about Bruce Smith]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Neil Smith (American football) — Neil Smith Position(s) Defensive end Jersey #(s) 90, 91 Born April 10, 1966 (1966 04 10) (age 45) New Orleans, Louisiana Career information …   Wikipedia

  • Bruce Smith (disambiguation) — Bruce Smith could refer to:* Bruce P. Smith (1920 1967), American football player, nicknamed Boo, winner of the 1941 Heisman Trophy * Bruce Smith (b. 1963), American football player, lately with the Washington Redskins * Bruce W. Smith, African… …   Wikipedia

  • Bruce Smith — Smith beim Pro Bowl 2009 Position(en): Defensive End Trikotnummer(n): 78 geb …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bruce Smith — NFLretired name=Bruce Smith position=Defensive end number=78 birthdate=birth date and age|1963|6|18 Norfolk, Virginia debutyear=1985 finalyear=2003 draftyear=1985 draftround=1 draftpick=1 college=Virginia Tech teams= * Buffalo Bills (1985 1999) * …   Wikipedia

  • American football — Profi Football aus der NFL American Football (englisch für Amerikanischer Fußball), oder kurz Football, ist eine aus den Vereinigten Staaten stammende Ballsportart. Es versuchen zwei Mannschaften aus je elf Spielern, den …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Charles White (American football) — For other people named Charles White, see Charles White (disambiguation). Charles White Position(s) Running back Jersey #(s) 33 Born January 22, 1958 (1958 01 22) (age 53) Los Angeles, California …   Wikipedia

  • Darrell Russell (American football) — Darrell Russell Darrell Russell while with the Oakland Raiders. Position(s) Defensive tackle Jersey #(s) 96 Born May 27, 1976( …   Wikipedia

  • Don Fleming (American football) — For the musician, see Don Fleming (musician). Don Fleming No. 46      Safety Personal information Date of birth: June 11, 1937(1937 06 11) Place of birth …   Wikipedia

  • Michael Bates (American football) — Michael Bates Position(s) Return specialist Wide receiver Special teamer Jersey #(s) 81, 83, 82, 24, 20, 29 Born December 19, 1969 (1969 12 19) (age 41) Victoria, Texas …   Wikipedia

  • Chris Miller (American football) — For others of the same name, see Chris Miller (disambiguation). Chris Miller No. 12, 13      Quarterback Personal information Date of birth: August 9, 1965 (1965 08 09) (age 46) …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/342984 Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”