Bob Topp
Encyclopedia
Eugene Robert Topp is a former American football
player. He played college football
for the University of Michigan
from 1952 to 1953 under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan
. In 1953, he was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference
end by both the Associated Press
and the United Press. He played professional football for the New York Giants
in 1954 and 1956.
. He was a star basketball player for Kalamazoo Central High School
teams that won two state championships.
where he played freshman and junior varsity football. As a junior, he qualified for the varsity and played a total of 56 minutes during the nine-game season for the 1952 team
. In those games, he caught five passes for 59 yards and a touchdown. Topp did not start any games for the 1952 team.
As a senior, he impressed the coaching staff in spring practice and won the starting spot at left end. Topp was a starter at the end position for the 1953 season
, starting eight games at left end and one at right end. He blocked punts that led to Michigan touchdowns in the first two games of the 1953 season against Washington and Tulane. His longest gain was a 66-yard touchdown catch against Penn on October 31, 1953. Against Iowa on October 10, 1953, he caught 7 passes for 111 yards. He was only the second Michigan receiver to accumulate 100 receiving yards in a single game; Lowell Perry first accomplished the feat in 1951.
At the end of the 1953 season, Topp was selected by both the Associated Press
and the United Press as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference player.
In two seasons with the Wolverines' varsity, Topp caught 28 passes for 390 yards (13.9 yards per catch) and three touchdowns.
in the 13th round (148th overall pick) of the 1954 NFL Draft
. He signed with the Giants in February 1954, and played in six games for the team during the 1954 NFL season
. He had six receptions for 90 yards and three touchdowns in 1954.
After the 1954 season, Topp was inducted into the United States Air Force
and missed the 1955 season. In March 1956, the Giants signed Topp to a contract for the 1956 season. In October 1956, the Giants upset the Cleveland Browns
, 21-9, after intercepting the radio signals being used by the Browns to relay plays from the bench to a small receiver inside the quarterback's helmet. There was no rule prohibiting the practice at the time, and Giants' general manager Ray Walsh boasted to the press about their success. Walsh told the press that Topp was on the bench with a receiving set listening to the signals coming from the Browns' bench. Topp was able to hear the signals more clearly than the Browns' quarterback and relayed them to assistant coach Tom Landry
, who then relayed them to the defensive unit on the field.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1952 to 1953 under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan
Bennie Oosterbaan
Benjamin Gaylord "Bennie" Oosterbaan was a three-time first team All-American football end for the Michigan Wolverines football team, two-time All-American basketball player for the basketball team and an All-Big Ten Conference baseball player for the baseball team...
. In 1953, he was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
end by both the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and the United Press. He played professional football for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1954 and 1956.
Early years
Topp was born in Kalamazoo, MichiganKalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
. He was a star basketball player for Kalamazoo Central High School
Kalamazoo Central High School
Kalamazoo Central High School is a public high school in Kalamazoo, Michigan serving students from ninth through twelfth grades. It was the first public high school in Michigan. It began operating in 1858 and graduated its first class of five men and three women in 1859. It moved to its current...
teams that won two state championships.
University of Michigan
Topp enrolled at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
where he played freshman and junior varsity football. As a junior, he qualified for the varsity and played a total of 56 minutes during the nine-game season for the 1952 team
1952 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1952 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1952 college football season. The team's head coach was Bennie Oosterbaan...
. In those games, he caught five passes for 59 yards and a touchdown. Topp did not start any games for the 1952 team.
As a senior, he impressed the coaching staff in spring practice and won the starting spot at left end. Topp was a starter at the end position for the 1953 season
1953 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1953 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1953 college football season. The team's head coach was Bennie Oosterbaan...
, starting eight games at left end and one at right end. He blocked punts that led to Michigan touchdowns in the first two games of the 1953 season against Washington and Tulane. His longest gain was a 66-yard touchdown catch against Penn on October 31, 1953. Against Iowa on October 10, 1953, he caught 7 passes for 111 yards. He was only the second Michigan receiver to accumulate 100 receiving yards in a single game; Lowell Perry first accomplished the feat in 1951.
At the end of the 1953 season, Topp was selected by both the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and the United Press as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference player.
In two seasons with the Wolverines' varsity, Topp caught 28 passes for 390 yards (13.9 yards per catch) and three touchdowns.
Professional football
Topp was drafted by the New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 13th round (148th overall pick) of the 1954 NFL Draft
1954 NFL Draft
The 1954 National Football League Draft was held on January 28, 1954.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:-Round eleven:...
. He signed with the Giants in February 1954, and played in six games for the team during the 1954 NFL season
1954 NFL season
The 1954 NFL season was the 35th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended when the Cleveland Browns defeated the Detroit Lions in the NFL Championship Game.-Major rule changes:...
. He had six receptions for 90 yards and three touchdowns in 1954.
After the 1954 season, Topp was inducted into the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
and missed the 1955 season. In March 1956, the Giants signed Topp to a contract for the 1956 season. In October 1956, the Giants upset the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 21-9, after intercepting the radio signals being used by the Browns to relay plays from the bench to a small receiver inside the quarterback's helmet. There was no rule prohibiting the practice at the time, and Giants' general manager Ray Walsh boasted to the press about their success. Walsh told the press that Topp was on the bench with a receiving set listening to the signals coming from the Browns' bench. Topp was able to hear the signals more clearly than the Browns' quarterback and relayed them to assistant coach Tom Landry
Tom Landry
Thomas Wade "Tom" Landry was an American football player and coach. He is ranked as one of the greatest and most innovative coaches in National Football League history, creating many new formations and methods...
, who then relayed them to the defensive unit on the field.