 |
 Some athletes are twice blessed, that is, with both
great ability and good size. Others, like Bob Bezuk, go
on to outstanding careers despite the shortcoming of size. Bob was a
5’-8” quarterback at Ambridge under
Moe Rubenstein
from 1944 to 1947. Bob's abilities were such that Rubenstein adapted
the T formation to take advantage of his skills. Bob took to
the offense immediately and became the staring quarterback by the end of his
freshman year. By the time he graduated, he had been named
All County three times, All WPIAL twice, and honorable mention
All State once. Bob set Bridger career records with 15 touchdown
runs and 35 TD passes and also set the single season scoring mark
with 13 scoring passes. With 50 collegiate offers, Bob chose to go
to Kentucky with his friend,
Babe Parilli of Rochester, to play
under legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. Parilli had come from a
single wing offense, but Bryant had Bezuk teach him the intricacies
of the T formation. Although both were close in ability, Bob
suffered an injury and Parilli took control of the Wildcats offense
and went on to become an All American. Bob then transferred
to the College of the Pacific, where he was able to play under
another legend, Amos Alonzo Stagg. Bob had to sit out a season but
had a spectacular spring, once throwing nine touchdown passes in a
scrimmage. But that summer his career took another course when he
was drafted into the Army. He played a year in the military and
quarterbacked his team to third in the Army championship. After his
discharge, Bob returned to college and graduated from the University
of Pittsburgh in 1956. He
retired after 38 years of teaching and with 18 years of
football coaching experience at Freedom, Monaca, and Ambridge High
Schools. |
|
|
