Gordon Bell

Bell played tailback for Michigan teams that had a combined record of 28-3-3 from 1973 to 1975.

Gordon Granville Bell (born December 25, 1953) is a former American football running back, kickoff returner and punt returner who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1973 to 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 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 touchdowns 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, he lost the Ohio AAA high school back of the year award to Archie Griffin.

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.

Bell was recruited to the University of Michigan by assistant coach Gary Moeller.

He was a relatively small player, standing 5ft 9in tall, and weighing 178 lb.

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."

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.

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 touchdowns.

His best NFL season was 1976, when he had 784 all-purpose yards.

A native of Troy, Ohio, 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.