Bruce Bennett (Canadian football)
| No. 30 | |
Safety | |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| College | Florida |
| High school | Valdosta (GA) |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1966–1972 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| CFL All-Star | 1969 |
| CFL West All-Star | 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 |
| Career stats | |
| Games played | 112 |
| Interceptions | 35 |
| INT return yards | 606 |
Lamar Bruce Bennett Jr. (December 13, 1943 – January 12, 2021)
Early life
Bennett was born in Valdosta, Georgia, in 1943.[2] He attended Valdosta High School, and played quarterback for the Valdosta Wildcats high school football team. As a junior in 1960, he led the Wildcats to a 20–14 victory over Avondale High School in the Georgia state championship game. Bennett ran for a touchdown, threw for another, and ran for a third with twenty-nine seconds remaining to win the game. As a senior in 1961, he was recognized as a high school All-American.
College years
Bennett accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the
Bennett graduated from the university with a bachelor's degree in 1968, and was later inducted into the
Professional career
Bennett joined the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1966, and participated in the team's 29–10 Grey Cup victory over Ottawa.[9] He played for the Roughriders from 1966 to 1972, and became one of the league's top safeties.[9] He also was the team's go-to "good hands" player for onside kicks,[9] and served as the team's emergency quarterback, completing 8 of 17 passes in his CFL career.[9] He registered career highs of eight interceptions in both 1969 and 1971.[9] In seven CFL seasons, Bennett played in 112 games, and totaled thirty-five interceptions (including two he returned for touchdowns), and 606 return yards.[10] His career interception total still ranks third on the Roughriders' all-time list.[10] Bennett's teammates selected him as the team captain four times, and he earned six Western Conference All-Star selections (1967–1972) and one CFL All-Star selection (1969).[9]
Death
Bruce Bennett died from complications of pneumonia and COVID-19 in Ocala, Florida, on January 12, 2021. He was 77.[11]
See also
- 1965 College Football All-America Team
- Florida Gators football, 1960–69
- List of Florida Gators football All-Americans
- List of University of Florida alumni
- List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members
References
- ^ Vanstone, Rob (January 17, 2021). "The late Bruce Bennett remembered for dedication to Saskatchewan Roughriders". Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ "Remembering the life of Bruce Bennett 1943 – 2021". obituaries.valdostadailytimes.com.
- ^ a b c 2012 Florida Football Media Guide Archived May 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 76, 79, 87, 143, 158, 176 (2012). Retrieved September 15, 2012.
- ^ Buddy Martin, "Bennett Leads Gators To Victory," Ocala Star-Banner, p. 25 (November 10, 1963). Retrieved December 18, 2011.
- ^ United Press International, "Bennett Is All-America," St. Petersburg Times, p. 1-C (December 3, 1965). Retrieved December 17, 2011.
- ^ Tom McEwen, The Gators: A Story of Florida Football, The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama, p. 305 (1974).
- ^ F Club, Hall of Fame, Gator Greats. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
- ^ Robbie Andreu & Pat Dooley, "No. 38 Bruce Bennett Archived September 24, 2015, at the Wayback Machine," The Gainesville Sun (July 27, 2006). Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f CFLapedia.com, Players A–Z, Bruce Bennett. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
- ^ a b Riderville.com, Team History, All-Time Leaders in Saskatchewan Roughrider History Archived November 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
- ^ "The late Bruce Bennett remembered for dedication to Saskatchewan Roughriders". leaderpost.
Bibliography
- Carlson, Norm, University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators, Whitman Publishing, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia (2007). ISBN 0-7948-2298-3.
- Golenbock, Peter, Go Gators! An Oral History of Florida's Pursuit of Gridiron Glory, Legends Publishing, LLC, St. Petersburg, Florida (2002). ISBN 0-9650782-1-3.
- Hairston, Jack, Tales from the Gator Swamp: A Collection of the Greatest Gator Stories Ever Told, Sports Publishing, LLC, Champaign, Illinois (2002). ISBN 1-58261-514-4.
- McEwen, Tom, The Gators: A Story of Florida Football, The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama (1974). ISBN 0-87397-025-X.
- Nash, Noel, ed., The Gainesville Sun Presents The Greatest Moments in Florida Gators Football, Sports Publishing, Inc., Champaign, Illinois (1998). ISBN 1-57167-196-X.