RIP Bubba Smith

Found dead at his LA home.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/08/bubba-smith-nfl-star-police-academy-actor-found-dead-home.html

 

RIP to a bad, bad man.

 

Sixty-six years old? Man, I thought he was older than that...

 

Tackleberry must've called for some backup up in the heavens.

 

Classic Miller Lite commercial:

 

One of those guys you have to wonder what would have happened if injuries didn't get to him.

 

I'm with Killick in thinking he was older. RIP.

 

Here's hoping Bubba is kicking back with a Miller Lite in heaven ... in the easy opening can.

 

And the sequel, with Dick Butkus:

 

RIP to a guy who played a big role in the integration of college football. Saw a special on HBO about it a couple of years ago. Smith grew up dreaming of playing for the University of Texas but they weren't integrated at the time, so he headed north to Michigan State. When the southern schools started seeing how the northern schools were winning with black southern talent those barriers started coming down real fast.

 

That sucks.

RIP

 

Smith's NFL career was a mixed bag due to the injuries discussed above, but he's probably in the discussion for the greatest college football defensive lineman of all-time.

As a New Orleans Saints fan, Smith's name always makes me wistful. The Saints traded the No. 1 pick in the 1967 draft to Baltimore for quarterback Gary Cuozzo, who had been Unitas' long-time back-up but never did anything with the Saints. The Colts used the pick on Smith.