Don Bosseler, an AP All-American at Miami and 8-year NFL back, dies at 88

CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Don Bosseler, an All-American fullback who led Miami to nan No. 6 ranking successful The Associated Press canvass successful 1956 and was enshrined successful nan College Football Hall of Fame, has died, his family and nan National Football Foundation announced Thursday. He was 88.

Bosseler, who played 8 years successful nan NFL, died Wednesday successful Atlanta.

“Don Bosseler’s talents helped nan Miami shot programme execute nationalist prominence successful nan 1950s,” National Football Foundation Chairman Archie Manning said successful a release. “An All-American, he epitomized toughness, earning nan nickname ‘Bull,’ and you tin still find his sanction successful nan records books astatine nan ‘U’ astir 70 years later.”

Bosseler was a first-round action by Washington successful 1957, drafted ninth wide that year, and rushed for 3,112 yards and 22 touchdowns successful 8 NFL seasons. He made nan 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 nan draught to inquire what they signed for, past secured a $10,000 statement pinch a $500 signing prize from Washington.

“And successful emblematic Don Bosseler fashion, he came location pinch that $500 and spent it each pinch 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 because he was homesick. He packed his bags and headed to nan train station.

His roommate, chap moving backmost Don Dorshimer, called Miami coach Andy Gustafson pinch a message. “Bosseler's connected nan loose,” Dorshimer said. Gustafson raced retired of his house, sewage to nan train station, recovered Bosseler and pleaded pinch him to travel backmost for conscionable 1 much day.

“And nan remainder is history,” Greg Bosseler said.

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

“The Batavia, N.Y. bulldozer raced up 148 yards connected nan crushed — 23 yards much than nan full Gator squad — scored 2 touchdowns, intercepted 1 pass, recovered 1 fumble, was impregnable connected defense and speedy kicked erstwhile for 47 yards,” Fort Lauderdale News sports editor Joe Kolb wrote that day. “Is that All-America, aliases isn’t it?”

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

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

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

“After each this time, that group still admit nan sanction is surely a treasured gift for each of america astatine this point,” Greg Bosseler said. "My dada was my hero.”

___

Get canvass alerts and updates connected nan AP Top 25 passim nan season. Sign up here. AP assemblage football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football