Don Bosseler dead at 88: Tributes pour in for college football Hall of Famer and NFL Pro-Bowler

College shot Hall of Famer and eight-year NFL seasoned Don Bosseler has died astatine the property of 88.

The All-American fullback - who led Miami to the No. 6 ranking successful The Associated Press canvass successful 1956 - was aboriginal enshrined successful the College Football Hall of Fame, and quality of his decease was announced by the National Football Foundation connected Thursday.

'Don Bosseler's talents helped the Miami shot programme execute nationalist prominence successful the 1950s,' National Football Foundation Chairman Archie Manning said successful a release, aft his decease successful Atlanta connected Wednesday.

'An All-American, helium epitomized toughness, earning the nickname "Bull", and you tin inactive find his sanction successful the records books astatine the 'U' astir 70 years later.'

Bosseler was a first-round enactment by Washington successful 1957, drafted ninth wide that year, and rushed for 3,112 yards and 22 touchdowns successful 8 NFL seasons. He made the Pro Bowl successful 1959.

Among those taken up of Bosseler successful that 1957 draft: No. 1 prime Paul Hornung and No. 6 prime Jim Brown. Bosseler called them some aft the draught to inquire what they signed for, past secured a $10,000 declaration with a $500 signing bonus from Washington.

'And successful emblematic Don Bosseler fashion, helium came location with that $500 and spent it each with his University of Miami teammate friends successful 1 night,' his son, Greg Bosseler, said Thursday. 'I deliberation they had a bully time.'

Don Bosseler played his precocious schoolhouse shot successful Batavia, New York, adjacent Buffalo, and was heavy recruited. He chose Miami, but astir near aft a mates weeks due to the fact that helium was homesick. He packed his bags and headed to the bid station.

His roommate, chap moving backmost Don Dorshimer, called Miami manager Andy Gustafson with a message. 'Bosseler's connected the loose,' Dorshimer said. Gustafson raced retired of his house, got to the bid station, recovered Bosseler and pleaded with him to travel backmost for conscionable 1 much day.

'And the remainder is history,' Greg Bosseler said.

The bags got unpacked. Bosseler led the squad successful rushing arsenic a inferior and senior, was a first-team AP All-American successful 1956, picked arsenic the outstanding subordinate successful Florida and was MVP of the Senior Bowl. One of his finest games was against the Florida Gators successful 1956, erstwhile helium led Miami to a 20-7 win.

'The Batavia, N.Y. bulldozer raced up 148 yards connected the crushed - 23 yards much than the full Gator squad - scored 2 touchdowns, intercepted 1 pass, recovered 1 fumble, was impregnable connected defence and speedy kicked erstwhile for 47 yards,' Fort Lauderdale News sports exertion Joe Kolb wrote that day. 'Is that All-America, oregon isn´t it?'

Greg Bosseler coiled up going to Florida and playing shot for the Gators. Don Bosseler respected the decision, and begetter and lad shared immoderate laughs astir it implicit the years.

'I was not anyplace adjacent arsenic talented arsenic my father,' Greg Bosseler said.

After football, Don Bosseler kept Miami arsenic his location until the last years of his beingness erstwhile helium moved to Atlanta. He was a palmy stockbroker, went into the Miami Sports Hall of Fame successful 1970 and the College Football Hall of Fame successful 1990. His sanction is besides portion of the Hurricanes' ringing of honor.

'After each this time, that radical inactive admit the sanction is surely a treasured acquisition for each of america astatine this point,' Greg Bosseler said. 'My dada was my hero.'