.gif)
Gordon Bell (American football)
Encyclopedia
Gordon Granville Bell is a former American football
running back
, kickoff returner and punt returner
who played for the University of Michigan
Wolverines
from 1973–1975, and professionally for the New York Giants
(1976
-1977
) and St. Louis Cardinals (1978
) of the National Football League
(NFL).
Bell was a two-time All-Ohio running back
in high school and led Ohio's Troy High School
to undefeated seasons in 1970 and 1971. As a 16-year-old junior, he rushed for 324 yards in a single game; for the year he had 1,593 yards rushing and scored 146 points. As a senior in 1971, he lost the Ohio AAA high school back of the year award to Archie Griffin
.
Bell played tailback
for Michigan teams that had a combined record of 28-3-3 from 1973–1975. As a junior in 1974, Bell was a part-time player who started only three of Michigan's eleven games, but he still managed to become only the third player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. In 1975, he set several single-season school records, including most all-purpose yards (1,714 yards), most 100-yard rushing
games (eight), and most rushing attempts (273). At the time of his graduation from Michigan, Bell also ranked second in school history in career rushing yards and third in all-purpose yards. Though Bell's records have been surpassed in more recent years, he remains one of the all-time rushing leaders in Michigan history. Despite his accomplishments, Bell played in the shadow of Big Ten Conference
rival, Archie Griffin
, who won back-to-back Heisman Trophies
. In some respects, Bell exceeded even Griffin's accomplishments, as Bell won the 1975 Big Ten rushing
championship.
Bell played three years of professional football, but never made it into the starting lineup for an NFL team. In three NFL seasons, he had 1,444 all-purpose yards. His best NFL season was 1976, when he had 784 all-purpose yards.
, Bell had attended Ohio State Buckeyes
games with his father from the age of six. In high school, he was one of the top football prospects in Ohio. As a junior at Troy High School
in 1970, Bell gained over 1,593 yards, scored 146 points, led Troy High to its first unbeaten season (10-0) since 1957, and was named to the Associated Press
1970 All-Ohio Class AAA high school first team. In the 1970 season opener, 16-year-old Bell rushed for 324 yards and scored four touchdowns in a 54–6 win over Piqua High School
. Afterward, Bell said, "All I can say is that my line was tremendous." Piqua's coach said, "Our kids were on Bell from the start, but they just couldn't bring him down." In October 1970, Bell put on "one of the greatest one-man shows ever seen at Beavercreek
," scoring three touchdown
s and rushing for 233 yards in 30 carries. The Beavercreek coach said afterward that the game's turning point came the moment Bell walked onto the field.
As a senior in 1971, Bell led Troy High to a 10–0 record. In the season opener, Bell broke off tackle and rushed 70 yards for a touchdown the first time he got the ball. He scored touchdowns in three of his first four carries, though one was nullified by a penalty. Bell rushed for 190 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener. The opposing coach said, "It was the same old story. We knew we had to stop Bell and yet we still couldn't do it. That boy is a great football player." Bell again won first-team All-Ohio honors, but he lost the Associated Press
1971 Ohio AAA high school back of the year award. The award instead went to a high school senior from Columbus
, Archie Griffin
. Bell and Griffin would continue their rivalry in college.
In 1971, Bell also won the Piqua YMCA high school weight-lifting contest in the 165-pound class.
. He was a relatively small player, standing tall, and weighing 178 lb (80.7 kg; 12.7 st). He was sometimes referred to as Michigan's "mighty mite tailback." In addition to his speed, what set him apart from other backs was his ability to cut and find the smallest of holes. Bo Schembechler
called Bell "the greatest cutback runner I've ever coached." In 1975, the Associated Press
noted: "Bell is noted for his ability to cut on a dime, spurt through miniscule [sic] holes and hurdle tacklers. He's got fine speed and he's durable. Bell seems to get -- pardon the expression -- his bell rung on many tackles, only to bounce up as if nothing happened." Noted Michigan radio broadcaster Bob Ufer
often referred to Bell as "little Gordie Bell." Ufer once humorously said, referring to Bell's ability to shift directions quickly, that Bell "could run fifteen minutes in a phone booth
and never touch the sides."
In his career at Michigan, Bell gained 2,902 rushing yards in 535 carries, and scored 28 rushing touchdown
s. In addition to running from scrimmage, Bell ran back 12 kickoffs
for an average of 26.4 yards.
. He was given five carries and gained 50 yards (including a 24-yard gain) for a ten-yard per carry average. Bell did not start any games in 1973, but his playing time increased later in the season, including 19 carries against Minnesota
for 73 yards and 15 carries against Indiana
for 89 yards. For the season, Bell rushed for 464 yards in 88 carries. The 1973 team finished with a record of 10–0–1, with the only imperfection coming at the end of the season with a 10–10 tie with Ohio State. Despite tying for the Big Ten Conference championship, Big Ten athletic directors decided to send Ohio State to the Rose Bowl, and conference rules did not permit Michigan to play in another bowl game. Michigan ended up ranked number 6 in the final Associated Press
poll.
as the only players in Michigan history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Bell accomplished the feat despite being a part-time player, sharing the starting tailback job with sophomore Rob Lytle
. In the 1974 campaign, Lytle started eight games to Bell's three, although Bell outrushed Lytle 1048 yards to 802. Bell had lost about 10 lb (4.5 kg; 0.714285714285714 st) in the summer before the 1974 season, dropping to 175 lb (79.4 kg; 12.5 st). He said, "I did it on my own to help me run, to make me quicker."
Asked in 1974 about his alternating Lytle and Bell at the tailback position, Bo Schembechler said: "They're both good. They have equal ability and they both deserve to play.", Bell said at the time that he did not mind sharing playing time with Lytle because "we're both pretty fair backs. It's only fair that we share it." In an October 1974 win over Minnesota
(by a score of 49–0), Bell and Lytle combined for 292 rushing yards—158 for Lytle and 134 for Bell.
In Michigan's 51–0 victory over Purdue
in November 1974, Bell rushed for 166 yards in 22 carries for a 7.2 yards per carry average. He also set up a field goal
and another touchdown with runs of 32 and 39 yards. Bell was named the UPI's Midwest offensive player of the week for the effort. When a reporter asked Bell for a comment, he said, "Coach doesn't want us to say anything this week. We've got to get ready for Ohio State."
After Bell and Lytle combined for 1,850 rushing yards in 1974, Schembechler said: "Bell and Lytle are the greatest combination in the country. Bell is the best cut runner I've ever had. Lytle is a great power runner. The tailback position is healthy to say the least."
duties with Rob Lytle
. Bell was a senior in 1975 on a Michigan team that went 8–2–2 and finished the season ranked #8 in the final Associated Press
poll. Bell rushed for 1,390 yards, added 314 yards on kickoff returns, and was voted the team's Most Valuable Player.
Michigan started the 1975 season ranked #3 in the country, and moved into the #2 spot with a 23–6 win over Wisconsin
in the season opener. Despite being hampered by a muscle pull, Bell still rushed for 210 yards in 28 carries against Wisconsin. After the game, Bell noted that he "couldn't cut as well as (he) would have liked," but he played through the injury realizing that, as a senior, "the coaches expect us to show the way." On being named the UPI's Midwest Back of the Week, Bell noted, "It's really an honor to be recognized like that, but you have to have a lot of help out there. I thought Rick Leach was just super in the game. He sure didn't look like a freshman. And our offensive line did the job despite having so many sophomores in there." Bell's 210-yard performance against Wisconsin stood as the school record in a season opener for 28 years until Chris Perry rushed for 232 yards in the 2003 season opener against Central Michigan
.
After the opener against Wisconsin, Bell and the Wolverines tied games against Stanford
(19–19) and Baylor
(14–14). Despite being favored by 18 points over Baylor, the Wolverines nearly lost and fell out of the top 10 in national ranking for the first time since September 1972. After the Baylor game, Schembechler said the team lacked leadership. Bell may have been the one player to whom Bo's criticism did not aply, as he had a career-long 64-yard kickoff return against Baylor, scored both of Michigan's touchdowns, and rushed for 89 yards in 26 carries. Bell's second touchdown against Baylor came with 6:50 remaining in the fourth quarter and saved the Wolverines from a defeat.
The Wolverines rebounded into the top 10 with a 31–7 victory over Missouri
in the fourth game of the season and strung together seven straight wins before facing Ohio State
. Bell rushed for 119 yards against Missouri and had 150 all-purpose yards. In a 16–6 win over Michigan State
in week five, Bell scored Michigan's only touchdown on an 19-yard run in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines beat Northwestern Wildcats
, 69–0, in week six. For the first time in Michigan history, the Wolverines had three backs who each rushed for at least 100 yards. As the starting back, Bell rushed for 100 yards and scored two touchdowns in the first quarter alone. With the game turning into a blowout, Schembechler pulled Bell after the first quarter, and Rob Lytle
gained another 105 yards, before being replaced by Harlan Huckleby
who gained 157 yards. Michigan tied the modern Big Ten record of 573 rushing yards in the game.
In a 28–21 win against Minnesota
, Bell rushed for 174 yards on 31 carries for his fifth consecutive 100-yard game. He also scored two touchdowns, including a 23-yard run midway through the fourth quarter. The UPI noted: "Bell's clinching run came with 8:04 gone in the final quarter and saved Michigan from the embarrassment of a tie." Bell's performance in the Minnesota game gave him 2,488 career rushing yards, second in school history to Billy Taylor
's record of 3,072 yards. In a close 21–15 win over Illinois
, Bell scored two first quarter touchdowns and carried the ball a career-high 35 times. Going into the Ohio State game, Bell was in a three-person contest for the Big Ten Conference
rushing championship. Bell led with an average of 134.1 yards per conference game to 125.1 for Billy Marek of Wisconsin, and 123.7 for Archie Griffin
.
Michigan ended the season with a 21–14 loss to Ohio State. Despite the loss, Bell won the battle of the backs, rushing for 124 yards on 21 carries and throwing for a touchdown pass
, while Griffin was limited to 46 yards on 19 carries. Bell had 166 all-purpose yards against the Buckeyes, his last regular season game for Michigan. In his only bowl game appearance, Bell played in a 14–6 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners
in Orange Bowl after the 1975 season. He gained 53 yards rushing and 90 all-purpose yards.
in the same years in which Archie Griffin
won consecutive Heisman Trophies for Ohio State. In head-to-head meetings in 1974 and 1975, Bell played as well or better than Griffin. In 1974, each carried the ball 25 times, and Bell ended up with 108 yards compared with 111 yards for Griffin although Ohio State won the game 12–10. In 1975, Bell outgained Griffin 124 yards to 46 yards. Bell averaged 132.9 yards per game in 1975 to lead Griffin and the Big Ten Conference in conference game rushing. Even so, Griffin won the Heisman Trophy, and Bell finished eighth in the 1975 Heisman Trophy
voting.
During the 1975 season, Bell was asked how he felt about all the publicity being received by Griffin. He replied: "All of the publicity in the world doesn't help you win. I don't feel slighted because Archie is in our conference. I feel I'm just as good as he is." Bell later recalled: "Those two games against Ohio State were my biggest, and I consider the second game a personal victory. I outrushed Archie, but he had a great public relations guy in Woody Hayes
. . . . He wasn't the best player in the conference so how can he be the best player in the country?"
Lee Larkins, who played for Purdue
and was one of the top defensive back
s in the Big Ten, said in 1976 that Bell was the best running back he ever played against. As a senior, Larkins played against Gordon Bell, Archie Griffin
, and Ricky Bell
of USC. Larkins said: "Gordon Bell was the best of the three. He was a super tough runner and a tough guy to make a solid tackle on. Gordon has a lot more speed and more moves than Archie does, and I thought he was a better all around player."
. Near the end of Bell's freshman year, Bell told Schembechler he was taking an incomplete in a course. Schembechler talked to Bell's father, Trenton Bell, about the incomplete. Schembechler recalled, "Trenton told me (Gordon)'d be back to finish that course. And he was." Schembechler added, "Gordie listens to Trenton. What he says gets done."
Schembechler described Gordon Bell as "a very, very durable guy." Bo noted: "He isn't exactly frail. He's put together well. He's a confident guy. Exciting and good as he is, he's also one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet."
As Archie Griffin
garnered the lion's share of the media attention in 1975, Schembechler spoke out for Bell: "I think Bell's as good as any back there is anywhere. I haven't seen any who looks better. . . . He is certainly the most underpublicized great back in the country."
All-Big Ten team, was chosen as Michigan's Most Valuable Player, and finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy
voting. In a year with an abundance of strong running backs, Bell and Earl Campbell
were relegated to the AP's third-team All-American
, as Archie Griffin
and Ricky Bell
took first-team honors, and Tony Dorsett
and Jimmy DuBose took second-team honors.
Bell's career at Michigan was among the best in school history to that point. His school records included:
in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft
. Bell did not get much playing time early in the 1976 season with the Giants. In late November, columnist David Bushnell wrote an article, "Are Giants missing the boat on Gordon Bell?," questioning the team's lack of utilization of Bell. Bushnell noted that Bell had "spent most of the season standing on the sideline waiting to be inserted into the lineup for a few plays." The Giants' starting running back in 1976 was Doug Kotar
, though Bushnell opined that Bell was the superior back: "Bell is quick, with speed to break any play for a long gain, and he can catch the ball. . . . If the Giants are trying to break Bell in gradually, they might just miss the boat totally, breaking Bell instead." Bell noted at the time that the lack of playing time held him back: "It takes me about a quarter or so to get going, break a sweat and get the legs loosened up. I really don't like being shuffled in and out so much, but as a rookie I can't do much about it." Bell also added, "Sure it's been hard for me to be a spot player, especially because my body isn't ideal for that type job. I think it's better for me to play a lot, but then again I'm not the coach."
The 1976 Giants, who started 0–7 under Bill Arnsparger
before going 3–4 under John McVay
, had a diversified offense in which Bell was second on the team with 25 receptions for 198 yards. When Kotar was injured, Bell got his first start of the 1976 season on November 27, 1976. Bell rushed for two touchdowns in a 28-16 victory over the Seattle Seahawks
. He posted the best day of his professional career, with touchdown runs of two and 21 yards, gaining 56 yards on the ground and 41 more on pass receptions. After the game, Bell said, "I needed a game like that." The backfield was led by Doug Kotar
and Larry Csonka
with Bell being the third leading rusher.
Having seen little playing time as a rookie in 1976, Bell played even less in 1977, as the Giants worked Bob Hammond and Willie Spencer into the rushing rotation. Bell rushed for 63 yards in 16 carries for the entire 1977 season. His main contribution to the 1977 Giants was as a kickoff returner, as he returned 12 kickoffs for 235 yards, second best on the Giants after Hammond.
roster during training camp
, and he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in November. In 1978, Bell had more kickoff returns (eight) than rushes (seven) with St. Louis.
. He later sold radio advertising in Detroit, Michigan
and Chicago, Illinois.
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...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, kickoff returner and punt returner
Punt returner
Punt returner is a position on special teams in American football.-Description:The role of a punt returner is to catch the ball after it is punted and to give his team good field position by returning it. Before catching the punted ball, the returner must assess the situation on the field while...
who played 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...
Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
from 1973–1975, and professionally 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...
(1976
1976 NFL season
The 1976 NFL season was the 57th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 28 teams with the addition of the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
-1977
1977 NFL season
The 1977 NFL season was the 58th regular season of the National Football League. The Seattle Seahawks were placed in the AFC West while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were slotted in the NFC Central....
) and St. Louis Cardinals (1978
1978 NFL season
The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference...
) of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL).
Bell was a two-time All-Ohio running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in high school and led Ohio's Troy High School
Troy High School (Troy, Ohio)
Troy High School is a public high school located in Troy, Ohio and is part of the Troy City School District. The current location was built in 1958, it is with enrollment of 1,504 students. The school's mascot is the Trojan.-1969-1971 Trojans football:...
to undefeated seasons in 1970 and 1971. As a 16-year-old junior, he rushed for 324 yards in a single game; for the year he had 1,593 yards rushing and scored 146 points. As a senior in 1971, he lost the Ohio AAA high school back of the year award to Archie Griffin
Archie Griffin
Archie Mason Griffin is a former American football running back. Griffin played seven seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner...
.
Bell played tailback
Tailback
Tailback can mean:* Halfback * A line of motor vehicles caught up in traffic congestion; a traffic jam...
for Michigan teams that had a combined record of 28-3-3 from 1973–1975. As a junior in 1974, Bell was a part-time player who started only three of Michigan's eleven games, but he still managed to become only the third player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. In 1975, he set several single-season school records, including most all-purpose yards (1,714 yards), most 100-yard rushing
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
games (eight), and most rushing attempts (273). At the time of his graduation from Michigan, Bell also ranked second in school history in career rushing yards and third in all-purpose yards. Though Bell's records have been surpassed in more recent years, he remains one of the all-time rushing leaders in Michigan history. Despite his accomplishments, Bell played in the shadow of 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...
rival, Archie Griffin
Archie Griffin
Archie Mason Griffin is a former American football running back. Griffin played seven seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner...
, who won back-to-back Heisman Trophies
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
. In some respects, Bell exceeded even Griffin's accomplishments, as Bell won the 1975 Big Ten rushing
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
championship.
Bell played three years of professional football, but never made it into the starting lineup for an NFL team. In three NFL seasons, he had 1,444 all-purpose yards. His best NFL season was 1976, when he had 784 all-purpose yards.
Youth
A native of Troy, OhioTroy, Ohio
* - Sports :In addition to Troy High School athletics, Troy is home to the Miami Valley Silverbacks indoor football team of the Continental Indoor Football League....
, Bell had attended Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of The Ohio State University, named after the state tree, the Buckeye. The Buckeyes participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports...
games with his father from the age of six. In high school, he was one of the top football prospects in Ohio. As a junior at Troy High School
Troy High School (Troy, Ohio)
Troy High School is a public high school located in Troy, Ohio and is part of the Troy City School District. The current location was built in 1958, it is with enrollment of 1,504 students. The school's mascot is the Trojan.-1969-1971 Trojans football:...
in 1970, Bell gained over 1,593 yards, scored 146 points, led Troy High to its first unbeaten season (10-0) since 1957, and was named to 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...
1970 All-Ohio Class AAA high school first team. In the 1970 season opener, 16-year-old Bell rushed for 324 yards and scored four touchdowns in a 54–6 win over Piqua High School
Piqua High School
Piqua High School is a public high school in Piqua, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Piqua City Schools district. Their nickname is the Indians. Their colors are Red and Blue. Their main rival is the Troy Trojans, but their other rivalry is Sidney Yellow Jackets. Grades range from 9th to...
. Afterward, Bell said, "All I can say is that my line was tremendous." Piqua's coach said, "Our kids were on Bell from the start, but they just couldn't bring him down." In October 1970, Bell put on "one of the greatest one-man shows ever seen at Beavercreek
Beavercreek, Ohio
Beavercreek is the largest city in Greene County, Ohio, United States, and is the second largest suburb of Dayton behind Kettering. The population was 45,193 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area...
," scoring three touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s and rushing for 233 yards in 30 carries. The Beavercreek coach said afterward that the game's turning point came the moment Bell walked onto the field.
As a senior in 1971, Bell led Troy High to a 10–0 record. In the season opener, Bell broke off tackle and rushed 70 yards for a touchdown the first time he got the ball. He scored touchdowns in three of his first four carries, though one was nullified by a penalty. Bell rushed for 190 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener. The opposing coach said, "It was the same old story. We knew we had to stop Bell and yet we still couldn't do it. That boy is a great football player." Bell again won first-team All-Ohio honors, but he lost 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...
1971 Ohio AAA high school back of the year award. The award instead went to a high school senior from Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, Archie Griffin
Archie Griffin
Archie Mason Griffin is a former American football running back. Griffin played seven seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner...
. Bell and Griffin would continue their rivalry in college.
In 1971, Bell also won the Piqua YMCA high school weight-lifting contest in the 165-pound class.
Overview
Bell was recruited to the University of Michigan by assistant coach Gary MoellerGary Moeller
Gary O. Moeller is an American football coach best known for being head coach at the University of Michigan from 1990 to 1994. During his five seasons at Michigan, he won 44 games, lost 13 and tied 3 for a winning percentage of .758...
. He was a relatively small player, standing tall, and weighing 178 lb (80.7 kg; 12.7 st). He was sometimes referred to as Michigan's "mighty mite tailback." In addition to his speed, what set him apart from other backs was his ability to cut and find the smallest of holes. Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
called Bell "the greatest cutback runner I've ever coached." In 1975, 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...
noted: "Bell is noted for his ability to cut on a dime, spurt through miniscule [sic] holes and hurdle tacklers. He's got fine speed and he's durable. Bell seems to get -- pardon the expression -- his bell rung on many tackles, only to bounce up as if nothing happened." Noted Michigan radio broadcaster Bob Ufer
Bob Ufer
Bob Ufer was the lead broadcaster for the Michigan Wolverines football team for 37 years, starting in 1944. He has been inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor.-Early years:...
often referred to Bell as "little Gordie Bell." Ufer once humorously said, referring to Bell's ability to shift directions quickly, that Bell "could run fifteen minutes in a phone booth
Telephone booth
A telephone booth, telephone kiosk, telephone call box or telephone box is a small structure furnished with a payphone and designed for a telephone user's convenience. In the USA, Canada and Australia, "telephone booth" is used, while in the UK and the rest of the Commonwealth it is a "telephone...
and never touch the sides."
In his career at Michigan, Bell gained 2,902 rushing yards in 535 carries, and scored 28 rushing touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. In addition to running from scrimmage, Bell ran back 12 kickoffs
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
for an average of 26.4 yards.
1973 season
As a sophomore in 1973, Bell saw his first action against IowaIowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
. He was given five carries and gained 50 yards (including a 24-yard gain) for a ten-yard per carry average. Bell did not start any games in 1973, but his playing time increased later in the season, including 19 carries against Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the college sports team for the University of Minnesota. The university fields both men's and women's teams in basketball, cross country, gymnastics, golf, ice hockey, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Men's-specific sports include baseball, football, and...
for 73 yards and 15 carries against Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers football
The Indiana Hoosiers football program represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and in the Big Ten Conference.-Bowl games:...
for 89 yards. For the season, Bell rushed for 464 yards in 88 carries. The 1973 team finished with a record of 10–0–1, with the only imperfection coming at the end of the season with a 10–10 tie with Ohio State. Despite tying for the Big Ten Conference championship, Big Ten athletic directors decided to send Ohio State to the Rose Bowl, and conference rules did not permit Michigan to play in another bowl game. Michigan ended up ranked number 6 in the final 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...
poll.
1974 season
For the 1974 season, Bell rushed for 1048 yards which was, at that time, the third highest single-season total in school history. He joined Ron Johnson and Billy TaylorBilly Taylor (American football)
William "Billy" Taylor, Ed. D. is a former professional American and Canadian football running back who played for Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League after starring for the University of Michigan Wolverines...
as the only players in Michigan history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Bell accomplished the feat despite being a part-time player, sharing the starting tailback job with sophomore Rob Lytle
Rob Lytle
Rob Lytle was an American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of NFL. He attended the University of Michigan . Lytle was drafted in the second round of the 1977 NFL Draft by Denver with the 45th overall pick.Lytle was born in Fremont, Ohio...
. In the 1974 campaign, Lytle started eight games to Bell's three, although Bell outrushed Lytle 1048 yards to 802. Bell had lost about 10 lb (4.5 kg; 0.714285714285714 st) in the summer before the 1974 season, dropping to 175 lb (79.4 kg; 12.5 st). He said, "I did it on my own to help me run, to make me quicker."
Asked in 1974 about his alternating Lytle and Bell at the tailback position, Bo Schembechler said: "They're both good. They have equal ability and they both deserve to play.", Bell said at the time that he did not mind sharing playing time with Lytle because "we're both pretty fair backs. It's only fair that we share it." In an October 1974 win over Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the college sports team for the University of Minnesota. The university fields both men's and women's teams in basketball, cross country, gymnastics, golf, ice hockey, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Men's-specific sports include baseball, football, and...
(by a score of 49–0), Bell and Lytle combined for 292 rushing yards—158 for Lytle and 134 for Bell.
In Michigan's 51–0 victory over Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
in November 1974, Bell rushed for 166 yards in 22 carries for a 7.2 yards per carry average. He also set up a field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
and another touchdown with runs of 32 and 39 yards. Bell was named the UPI's Midwest offensive player of the week for the effort. When a reporter asked Bell for a comment, he said, "Coach doesn't want us to say anything this week. We've got to get ready for Ohio State."
After Bell and Lytle combined for 1,850 rushing yards in 1974, Schembechler said: "Bell and Lytle are the greatest combination in the country. Bell is the best cut runner I've ever had. Lytle is a great power runner. The tailback position is healthy to say the least."
1975 season
In both 1975, Bell again shared the Michigan backfieldBackfield
The backfield is the area of an American football field behind the line of scrimmage. The backfield or offensive backfield can also refer to members of offense who begin plays behind the line, typically including any backs on the field, such as the quarterback, running back, and/or fullback.-Play...
duties with Rob Lytle
Rob Lytle
Rob Lytle was an American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of NFL. He attended the University of Michigan . Lytle was drafted in the second round of the 1977 NFL Draft by Denver with the 45th overall pick.Lytle was born in Fremont, Ohio...
. Bell was a senior in 1975 on a Michigan team that went 8–2–2 and finished the season ranked #8 in the final 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...
poll. Bell rushed for 1,390 yards, added 314 yards on kickoff returns, and was voted the team's Most Valuable Player.
Michigan started the 1975 season ranked #3 in the country, and moved into the #2 spot with a 23–6 win over Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
in the season opener. Despite being hampered by a muscle pull, Bell still rushed for 210 yards in 28 carries against Wisconsin. After the game, Bell noted that he "couldn't cut as well as (he) would have liked," but he played through the injury realizing that, as a senior, "the coaches expect us to show the way." On being named the UPI's Midwest Back of the Week, Bell noted, "It's really an honor to be recognized like that, but you have to have a lot of help out there. I thought Rick Leach was just super in the game. He sure didn't look like a freshman. And our offensive line did the job despite having so many sophomores in there." Bell's 210-yard performance against Wisconsin stood as the school record in a season opener for 28 years until Chris Perry rushed for 232 yards in the 2003 season opener against Central Michigan
Central Michigan Chippewas football
The Central Michigan Chippewas football team is a college football program in Division I FBS, representing Central Michigan University. They are a top 25 program in terms of all-time winning percentage and top five amongst all teams from non-BCS automatic qualifying conferences...
.
After the opener against Wisconsin, Bell and the Wolverines tied games against Stanford
Stanford Cardinal football
The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The...
(19–19) and Baylor
Baylor Bears
Baylor Bears refers to the sports teams of Baylor University. Baylor's men's sports teams are nicknamed the Bears, and some women's teams are nicknamed the Lady Bears. Student athletes participate in the NCAA's Division I, and Baylor is the only private school in the Big 12 Conference...
(14–14). Despite being favored by 18 points over Baylor, the Wolverines nearly lost and fell out of the top 10 in national ranking for the first time since September 1972. After the Baylor game, Schembechler said the team lacked leadership. Bell may have been the one player to whom Bo's criticism did not aply, as he had a career-long 64-yard kickoff return against Baylor, scored both of Michigan's touchdowns, and rushed for 89 yards in 26 carries. Bell's second touchdown against Baylor came with 6:50 remaining in the fourth quarter and saved the Wolverines from a defeat.
The Wolverines rebounded into the top 10 with a 31–7 victory over Missouri
Missouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of the University of Missouri, located in Columbia, Missouri, United States...
in the fourth game of the season and strung together seven straight wins before facing Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
. Bell rushed for 119 yards against Missouri and had 150 all-purpose yards. In a 16–6 win over Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
in week five, Bell scored Michigan's only touchdown on an 19-yard run in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines beat Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
, 69–0, in week six. For the first time in Michigan history, the Wolverines had three backs who each rushed for at least 100 yards. As the starting back, Bell rushed for 100 yards and scored two touchdowns in the first quarter alone. With the game turning into a blowout, Schembechler pulled Bell after the first quarter, and Rob Lytle
Rob Lytle
Rob Lytle was an American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of NFL. He attended the University of Michigan . Lytle was drafted in the second round of the 1977 NFL Draft by Denver with the 45th overall pick.Lytle was born in Fremont, Ohio...
gained another 105 yards, before being replaced by Harlan Huckleby
Harlan Huckleby
Harlan Charles Huckleby is a former professional American football running back and kick returner who was drafted by the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League . Over the course of his NFL career he accumulated nearly 2500 all-purpose yards, with over half of that being return...
who gained 157 yards. Michigan tied the modern Big Ten record of 573 rushing yards in the game.
In a 28–21 win against Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the college sports team for the University of Minnesota. The university fields both men's and women's teams in basketball, cross country, gymnastics, golf, ice hockey, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Men's-specific sports include baseball, football, and...
, Bell rushed for 174 yards on 31 carries for his fifth consecutive 100-yard game. He also scored two touchdowns, including a 23-yard run midway through the fourth quarter. The UPI noted: "Bell's clinching run came with 8:04 gone in the final quarter and saved Michigan from the embarrassment of a tie." Bell's performance in the Minnesota game gave him 2,488 career rushing yards, second in school history to Billy Taylor
Billy Taylor (American football)
William "Billy" Taylor, Ed. D. is a former professional American and Canadian football running back who played for Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League after starring for the University of Michigan Wolverines...
's record of 3,072 yards. In a close 21–15 win over Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
, Bell scored two first quarter touchdowns and carried the ball a career-high 35 times. Going into the Ohio State game, Bell was in a three-person contest for the 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...
rushing championship. Bell led with an average of 134.1 yards per conference game to 125.1 for Billy Marek of Wisconsin, and 123.7 for Archie Griffin
Archie Griffin
Archie Mason Griffin is a former American football running back. Griffin played seven seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner...
.
Forward pass
In several forms of football a forward pass is when the ball is thrown in the direction that the offensive team is trying to move, towards the defensive team's goal line...
, while Griffin was limited to 46 yards on 19 carries. Bell had 166 all-purpose yards against the Buckeyes, his last regular season game for Michigan. In his only bowl game appearance, Bell played in a 14–6 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
in Orange Bowl after the 1975 season. He gained 53 yards rushing and 90 all-purpose yards.
Comparisons to Archie Griffin
Bell was Michigan's starting running backRunning back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in the same years in which Archie Griffin
Archie Griffin
Archie Mason Griffin is a former American football running back. Griffin played seven seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner...
won consecutive Heisman Trophies for Ohio State. In head-to-head meetings in 1974 and 1975, Bell played as well or better than Griffin. In 1974, each carried the ball 25 times, and Bell ended up with 108 yards compared with 111 yards for Griffin although Ohio State won the game 12–10. In 1975, Bell outgained Griffin 124 yards to 46 yards. Bell averaged 132.9 yards per game in 1975 to lead Griffin and the Big Ten Conference in conference game rushing. Even so, Griffin won the Heisman Trophy, and Bell finished eighth in the 1975 Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
voting.
During the 1975 season, Bell was asked how he felt about all the publicity being received by Griffin. He replied: "All of the publicity in the world doesn't help you win. I don't feel slighted because Archie is in our conference. I feel I'm just as good as he is." Bell later recalled: "Those two games against Ohio State were my biggest, and I consider the second game a personal victory. I outrushed Archie, but he had a great public relations guy in Woody Hayes
Woody Hayes
Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio...
. . . . He wasn't the best player in the conference so how can he be the best player in the country?"
Lee Larkins, who played for Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
and was one of the top defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
s in the Big Ten, said in 1976 that Bell was the best running back he ever played against. As a senior, Larkins played against Gordon Bell, Archie Griffin
Archie Griffin
Archie Mason Griffin is a former American football running back. Griffin played seven seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner...
, and Ricky Bell
Ricky Bell (running back)
Ricky Lynn Bell younger brother of recording artist Archie Bell, was an American professional football player who played running back in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Diego Chargers from 1977 to 1982...
of USC. Larkins said: "Gordon Bell was the best of the three. He was a super tough runner and a tough guy to make a solid tackle on. Gordon has a lot more speed and more moves than Archie does, and I thought he was a better all around player."
Relationship with Bo Schembechler
During Bell's years at Michigan, he played for the Wolverines' legendary coach, Bo SchembechlerBo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
. Near the end of Bell's freshman year, Bell told Schembechler he was taking an incomplete in a course. Schembechler talked to Bell's father, Trenton Bell, about the incomplete. Schembechler recalled, "Trenton told me (Gordon)'d be back to finish that course. And he was." Schembechler added, "Gordie listens to Trenton. What he says gets done."
Schembechler described Gordon Bell as "a very, very durable guy." Bo noted: "He isn't exactly frail. He's put together well. He's a confident guy. Exciting and good as he is, he's also one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet."
As Archie Griffin
Archie Griffin
Archie Mason Griffin is a former American football running back. Griffin played seven seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner...
garnered the lion's share of the media attention in 1975, Schembechler spoke out for Bell: "I think Bell's as good as any back there is anywhere. I haven't seen any who looks better. . . . He is certainly the most underpublicized great back in the country."
Records and honors
Bell finished the 1975 season as the Big Ten's leading rusher, was selected to the Associated PressAssociated 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...
All-Big Ten team, was chosen as Michigan's Most Valuable Player, and finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
voting. In a year with an abundance of strong running backs, Bell and Earl Campbell
Earl Campbell
Earl Christian Campbell , nicknamed The Tyler Rose, is a former professional American Football running back. He, Paul Hornung and O.J Simpson are the only people to have won the Heisman Trophy , were first overall National Football League draft picks and are in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
were relegated to the AP's third-team All-American
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
, as Archie Griffin
Archie Griffin
Archie Mason Griffin is a former American football running back. Griffin played seven seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner...
and Ricky Bell
Ricky Bell (running back)
Ricky Lynn Bell younger brother of recording artist Archie Bell, was an American professional football player who played running back in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Diego Chargers from 1977 to 1982...
took first-team honors, and Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett
Anthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-Early years:...
and Jimmy DuBose took second-team honors.
Bell's career at Michigan was among the best in school history to that point. His school records included:
- Bell set the single-season all-purpose yards record in 1975 with 1,714 yards. Bell's record stood until 1987 when it was broken by Jamie MorrisJamie MorrisJames Walter "Jamie" Morris is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverines...
. Bell's total ranked eighth on Michigan's all-time list at the end of 2006. - Bell's 273 carries in 1975 broke Ron Johnson's record of 255 carries set in 1968. Bell's total remained the school record until 1987 when Jamie Morris carried the ball 282 times. Bell's 1975 performance now ranks eighth on the all-time Michigan list.
- In 1975, Bell set the Michigan record with eight 100-yard rushing games. That record stood for 12 years until Jamie Morris compiled ten in 1987.
- Bell's 1,390 yards rushing in 1975 was the second best single-season total in school history, just one yard short of the record set by Ron Johnson in 1967. Bell's 1975 total now ranks 11th best in school history.
- At the end of the 1975 season, Bell had rushed for a career total of 2,902 yards, second best in school history behind Billy TaylorBilly Taylor (American football)William "Billy" Taylor, Ed. D. is a former professional American and Canadian football running back who played for Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League after starring for the University of Michigan Wolverines...
's record of 3,072 yards. Bell's career total still ranks ninth best in school history. - Bell's 210-yard rushing game in the season opener against Wisconsin was the fourth best in school history at the time, behind Ron Johnson's 347-yard game against the Badgers in 1968. Bell is one of twelve backs in Michigan history to rush for 200 yards in a game.
- Bell's 13 rushing touchdowns in 1975 was the second best in school history, behind Ron Johnson's 19 touchdowns in 1968. His total is now tied for 11th best in school history.
- Bell's 28 career rushing touchdowns ranked third in school history, behind Billy Taylor and Tom HarmonTom HarmonThomas Dudley Harmon was a star player in American college football, a sports broadcaster, and patriarch of a family of American actors...
. - Bell finished his career at Michigan ranked second behind Bob NussbaumerBob NussbaumerRobert John Nussbaumer was an American football halfback and end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, and the Chicago Cardinals. He played college football at the University of Michigan as a left halfback from 1943 to 1945 and served in the United States...
in career yards per carry and now ranks ninth. - Bell's 35 carries against Illinois in 1975 was the second most in school history at the time, behind Ron Johnson's 42-carry performance in 1967. He is now tied for twelfth in school history.
- Bell's 535 career carries was second to Billy Taylor at the time of Bell's graduation. It now ranks tenth.
- Bell ranked third in career all-purpose yards (behind Ron Johnson and Billy Taylor).
New York Giants
Bell 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 fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft
1976 NFL Draft
The 1976 National Football League Draft was an annual player selection meeting held on April 8–April 9, 1976. It lasted 17 rounds, with the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks making the first two selections. The expansion teams were also given a pair of extra picks at the end of...
. Bell did not get much playing time early in the 1976 season with the Giants. In late November, columnist David Bushnell wrote an article, "Are Giants missing the boat on Gordon Bell?," questioning the team's lack of utilization of Bell. Bushnell noted that Bell had "spent most of the season standing on the sideline waiting to be inserted into the lineup for a few plays." The Giants' starting running back in 1976 was Doug Kotar
Doug Kotar
Douglas Alan Kotar was an American football running back for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was signed as a undrafted free agent out of University of Kentucky by the Giants in 1974. His Jersey number was 44. He rushed for 3,600 yards and is fifth in rushing in New York...
, though Bushnell opined that Bell was the superior back: "Bell is quick, with speed to break any play for a long gain, and he can catch the ball. . . . If the Giants are trying to break Bell in gradually, they might just miss the boat totally, breaking Bell instead." Bell noted at the time that the lack of playing time held him back: "It takes me about a quarter or so to get going, break a sweat and get the legs loosened up. I really don't like being shuffled in and out so much, but as a rookie I can't do much about it." Bell also added, "Sure it's been hard for me to be a spot player, especially because my body isn't ideal for that type job. I think it's better for me to play a lot, but then again I'm not the coach."
The 1976 Giants, who started 0–7 under Bill Arnsparger
Bill Arnsparger
William Stephen "Bill" Arnsparger is a former American college and professional football coach.- Early years :Arnsparger was born in Paris, Kentucky in 1926. He attended Paris High School, and became connected with the school's longtime football and basketball coach, Blanton Collier...
before going 3–4 under John McVay
John McVay
John McVay is a former American football coach who rose through the coaching ranks from high school, through the college level, and to the NFL...
, had a diversified offense in which Bell was second on the team with 25 receptions for 198 yards. When Kotar was injured, Bell got his first start of the 1976 season on November 27, 1976. Bell rushed for two touchdowns in a 28-16 victory over the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. He posted the best day of his professional career, with touchdown runs of two and 21 yards, gaining 56 yards on the ground and 41 more on pass receptions. After the game, Bell said, "I needed a game like that." The backfield was led by Doug Kotar
Doug Kotar
Douglas Alan Kotar was an American football running back for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was signed as a undrafted free agent out of University of Kentucky by the Giants in 1974. His Jersey number was 44. He rushed for 3,600 yards and is fifth in rushing in New York...
and Larry Csonka
Larry Csonka
Larry Richard Csonka is a former collegiate and professional American football fullback.-Childhood:One of six children, Csonka was born in Stow, Ohio where he was raised on a farm by his Hungarian family...
with Bell being the third leading rusher.
Having seen little playing time as a rookie in 1976, Bell played even less in 1977, as the Giants worked Bob Hammond and Willie Spencer into the rushing rotation. Bell rushed for 63 yards in 16 carries for the entire 1977 season. His main contribution to the 1977 Giants was as a kickoff returner, as he returned 12 kickoffs for 235 yards, second best on the Giants after Hammond.
St. Louis Cardinals
During 1978, he was briefly on the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
roster during training camp
Training camp
A training camp is a place, usually with an army-camp-type environment, where people go to learn skills, usually skills involving physical action rather than book subjects, usually for an armed force or an action sport...
, and he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in November. In 1978, Bell had more kickoff returns (eight) than rushes (seven) with St. Louis.
Later years
After retiring from football, Bell ran a barbecue restaurant in Dayton, OhioDayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. He later sold radio advertising in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and Chicago, Illinois.
Career statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Rushes | Yards | Avg. | TDs Touchdown A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:... |
Rec. Reception (American football) In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving... |
Yards | Avg. | TDs Touchdown A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:... |
Kickoffs | Yards | Avg. | TDs Touchdown A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:... |
Punts | Yards | Avg. | TDs Touchdown A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:... |
| 1973 | Michigan Michigan Wolverines football The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history... |
10 | 88 | 464 | 5.3 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 47 | 23.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | Michigan | 11 | 174 | 1048 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1975 | Michigan | 12 | 273 | 1390 | 5.1 | 13 | 7 | 84 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 227 | 25.2 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 4.5 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 33 | 535 | 2902 | 5.4 | 28 | 10 | 103 | 10.3 | 1 | 12 | 314 | 26.2 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 4.5 | 0 |
| Year | Team | Games | Rushes | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Rec. | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Kickoffs | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Punts | Yards | Avg. | TDs Touchdown A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:... |
| 1976 | NYG 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... |
14 | 67 | 233 | 3.5 | 2 | 25 | 198 | 7.9 | 0 | 18 | 352 | 19.6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | NYG | 10 | 16 | 63 | 3.9 | 0 | 4 | 33 | 8.3 | 0 | 12 | 235 | 19.6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | St. Louis | 6 | 7 | 23 | 3.3 | 0 | 3 | 28 | 9.3 | 0 | 8 | 177 | 22.1 | 0 | 14 | 101 | 7.2 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 30 | 90 | 319 | 3.5 | 2 | 30 | 259 | 8.1 | 0 | 38 | 764 | 20.1 | 0 | 16 | 102 | 6.4 | 0 |