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Bobby Watkins goes for a TD in the 1955 Rose Bowl
Bobby Watkins (running back)
Date of birth: March 30, 1932 (1932-03-30) (age 78)
Place of birth: New Bedford, Massachusetts
Career information
Position(s): Halfback
College: Ohio State
NFL Draft: 1955 / Round: 2 / Pick: 23
Organizations
As player:
1955-1957
1958 Chicago Bears
Chicago Cardinals
Robert Archbald Watkins Jr. (born March 30, 1932 in New Bedford, Massachusetts) is a former American football running back who played collegiately for the Ohio State Buckeyes and later in the National Football League.
Ohio State
Watkins was one of the first African American running backs at the Ohio State University. He lettered from 1952 through 1954 and was one of the first recruits of legendary Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes. Hayes shrugged off criticism by some bigoted alumni, insisting he would not consider recruits based on skin color. Watkins was Ohio State's leading rusher in 1953 and leading scorer during the 1954 national championship season.
NFL
Watkins was the 23rd selection in the 1955 NFL Draft. He played three years with the Bears before ending his career with the crosstown Chicago Cardinals.
Professional life
Watkins formerly served as a vice president of Seagrams and Sons and is an expert on the American Civil War. He has been a guest speaker on many occasions including as the keynote speaker at the Plymouth Teaching American History Grant's culminating celebration.
Currently he is serving on the Board of Directors of the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Watkins_(running_back)
JOHN SLADEWSKI/The Standard-Times
Bobby Watkins talks about his experiences playing ball during a photo shoot in his Dartmouth home. When he was at Ohio State, Watkins' mother had him mail home the local Ohio papers; she then saved his clippings and made scrapbooks that he still has.
JOHN SLADEWSKI/The Standard-Times
Bobby Watkins former Ohio State football player, talks about his experiences playing ball. Watkins holds a signed Ohio State game ball, and has one behind glass, as well as a ball from his time with the Chicago Bears
Rosy memories
Bobby Watkins' road to collegiate glory and the NFL wasn't smooth, but it was a great ride
By Buddy Thomas
[email protected]
January 21, 2011
The spotlight that once shone on Bobby Watkins has slowly dimmed with the passage of time.
But 56 years ago this month, that spotlight was at its brightest, as the kid from New Bedford basked in what may have been the greatest moment of his storied athletic career.
"It's a day I'll never forget," said Watkins.
Jan. 1, 1955 remains as crystal clear to him now as that day in Pasadena, Calif. more than a half century ago.
The Rose Bowl.
It was a day the speedy running back had dreamt about since snapping the chin strap on his football helmet for the very first time.
"I think, back then, every kid who played football dreamed of someday playing in the Rose Bowl, and I was no different," Watkins said. But Watkins didn't just play in the big game ? he excelled in it, scoring a touchdown to help Ohio State to a 20-7 victory over the University of Southern California that gave the Buckeyes a split of the national championship.
Bobby's dream came into focus during his junior year at New Bedford High School when he capped a brilliant season by scoring three touchdowns in a 40-6 victory over Thanksgiving Day rival Durfee. The three touchdowns brought his season total to 19, second best in the Bristol County League and good enough to earn the running back All-State honors.
A solid senior season in 1950 would cap a productive scholastic career and help set the stage for a storybook future.
His success on the gridiron had caught the attention of a handful of small colleges, but Watkins had his mind set on going to Yale. "They were receptive, but they also wanted me to go to prep school for a year," he said.
That wasn't part of Bobby's dream. He wanted to play college football right away. Big-time football. So the kid from New Bedford took pen in hand and made his pitch.
"I decided to write to some of the big colleges and try to sell myself to them," he said. "At the time, there was no bigger or more prestigious conference in the country than The Big 10, so I sent a letter to every school except Ohio State. I didn't send one to them because they were the only team that didn't run the 'T' formation, which is the formation I had always run out of."
Cont...
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110121/SPORTS/101210345
