Don Bosseler, ex-Hurricane, NFL back, passes away at 88
CORAL GABLES, Fla.– Don Bosseler, an All-American fullback who led Miami to the No. 6 ranking in The Associated Press survey in 1956 and was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, has actually died, his household and the National Football Foundation revealed Thursday. He was 88.
Bosseler, who played eight years in the NFL, died Wednesday in Atlanta.
“Don Bosseler’s talents helped the Miami football program achieve national prominence in the 1950s,” National Football Foundation chairman Archie Manning stated in a release. “An All-American, he characterized durability, making the label ‘Bull,’ and you can still find his name in the records books at the ‘U’ nearly 70 years later on.”
Bosseler was a first-round selection by Washington in 1957, drafted ninth that year, and hurried for 3,112 yards and 22 touchdowns in 8 NFL seasons. He made the Pro Bowl in 1959.
Amongst those taken ahead of Bosseler in that 1957 draft: No. 1 choice Paul Hornung and No. 6 pick Jim Brown. Bosseler called them both after the draft to ask what they signed for, then protected a $10,000 agreement with a $500 finalizing reward from Washington.
Don Bosseler, star fullback at the University of Miami and member of the College Football Hall of Popularity, signed a two-year NFL contract with Washington on Feb. 8, 1957. AP Image
“And in normal Don Bosseler fashion, he got home with that $500 and invested all of it with his University of Miami colleague pals in one night,” his child, Greg Bosseler, said Thursday. “I think they havinged fun.”
Don Bosseler played his high school football in Batavia, New York City, near Buffalo, and was heavily hired. He picked Miami, however almost left after a couple weeks since he was homesick. He loaded his bags and headed to the train station.His roomie
, fellow running back Don Dorshimer, called Miami coach Andy Gustafson with a message. “Bosseler’s on the loose,” Dorshimer said. Gustafson raced out of his home, got to the train station, found Bosseler and pleaded with him to come back for simply one more day.
“And the rest is history,” Greg Bosseler said.The bags got unpacked. Bosseler led the team in hurrying as a junior and senior, was a first-team AP All-American in 1956, chose as the outstanding player in Florida and was MVP of the Senior Bowl. One of his finest games protested the Florida Gators in 1956, when he led Miami to a 20-7 win.
“The Batavia, N.Y. bulldozer raced up 148 backyards on the ground – 23 lawns more than the entire Gator group – scored 2 touchdowns, obstructed one pass, recovered one fumble, was impregnable on defense and quick kicked when for 47 backyards,” Fort Lauderdale News sports editor Joe Kolb composed that day. “Is that All-America, or isn’t it?”
Greg Bosseler ended up going to Florida and playing football for the Gators. Don Bosseler appreciated the choice, and father and son shared some laughs about it over the years.
“I was not anywhere near as skilled as my dad,” Greg Bosseler said.After football,
Don Bosseler kept Miami as his home till the final years of his life when he moved to Atlanta. He was a successful stockbroker, went into the Miami Sports Hall of Popularity in 1970 and the College Football Hall of Popularity in 1990. His name is also part of the Hurricanes ‘ring of honor.”After all this time, that people still recognize
the name is definitely a valued present for all of us at this point,”Greg Bosseler stated.”My daddy was my hero.”