Football legend Bobby Bell, 74, graduates from Minnesota University… 52 YEARS after he dropped out to play professional sport,
Football Hall of Fame legend, Bobby Bell, has graduated from Minnesota University a full 52 years after he dropped out to go pro.
Bell, 74, was awarded his diploma at the Mariucci arena alongside other students from the University’s College of Education and Human Development.
The two time All-America choice and Outland Trophy winner was 13 credits short of graduating when he left Minnesota University in 1963 to join the Kansas City Chiefs.
He returned last year to complete his degree in recreation, park and leisure studies.
‘All I wanted out of life was to have the same opportunities as everybody else and I owe that to university,’ Bell said.
‘I thank them everyday that I had that opportunity,’ he was quoted by the StarTribune as saying.
Bell said that among his career highlights were being introduced to five different presidents, travelling the world and being able to count celbrtiies such as Bob Hope, Johnny Carson and Ed Sullivan among his friends
At the ceremony Bell wore the gold watch he had been gifted by his father before he first boarded his flight to Minnesota in 1959.
‘I know he’s looking down with my mom and he’s saying “I told you, you could do it,” Bell said.Bell was chosen to speak at the graduation ceremony because of the remarkable adversity he had to overcome to reach the heights of professional football. He grew up in the deeply segregated Shelby, N.C., during the 1940s and 50s.
University President Eric Kaler said that Bobby Bell’s ‘grit and persistence’ was a guide adding that students could learn from Bell’s life that they should never lose sight of their lifelong goals.
Bobby Bell credits the chance he was given by Minnesota University as starting him on the path to the Football Hall of Fame.
His coach at Minnnesota where Bell was the most Highly Honored College lineman of the 1962 season called him ‘the greatest lineman I have ever seen'.
The Pro Football hall of fame says Bobby had a ‘fearsome appearance on the field’ and ‘the physique to withstand as well as deal out punishment’.
He retained a joy for playing the game throughout his professional career and one of his great abilities was his willingness to play anywhere on the field, even when injured.
Football Hall of Fame legend, Bobby Bell, has graduated from Minnesota University a full 52 years after he dropped out to go pro.
Bell, 74, was awarded his diploma at the Mariucci arena alongside other students from the University’s College of Education and Human Development.
The two time All-America choice and Outland Trophy winner was 13 credits short of graduating when he left Minnesota University in 1963 to join the Kansas City Chiefs.
He returned last year to complete his degree in recreation, park and leisure studies.
‘All I wanted out of life was to have the same opportunities as everybody else and I owe that to university,’ Bell said.
‘I thank them everyday that I had that opportunity,’ he was quoted by the StarTribune as saying.
Bell said that among his career highlights were being introduced to five different presidents, travelling the world and being able to count celbrtiies such as Bob Hope, Johnny Carson and Ed Sullivan among his friends
At the ceremony Bell wore the gold watch he had been gifted by his father before he first boarded his flight to Minnesota in 1959.
‘I know he’s looking down with my mom and he’s saying “I told you, you could do it,” Bell said.Bell was chosen to speak at the graduation ceremony because of the remarkable adversity he had to overcome to reach the heights of professional football. He grew up in the deeply segregated Shelby, N.C., during the 1940s and 50s.
University President Eric Kaler said that Bobby Bell’s ‘grit and persistence’ was a guide adding that students could learn from Bell’s life that they should never lose sight of their lifelong goals.
Bobby Bell credits the chance he was given by Minnesota University as starting him on the path to the Football Hall of Fame.
His coach at Minnnesota where Bell was the most Highly Honored College lineman of the 1962 season called him ‘the greatest lineman I have ever seen'.
The Pro Football hall of fame says Bobby had a ‘fearsome appearance on the field’ and ‘the physique to withstand as well as deal out punishment’.
He retained a joy for playing the game throughout his professional career and one of his great abilities was his willingness to play anywhere on the field, even when injured.
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