Bob Hitchens
Encyclopedia
Bob Hitchens was a college football
running back
at Miami University
in Oxford, Ohio
from 1971-1973.
honors as a tailback for three consecutive years from 1971-73. His junior year he established five Miami University records and was selected the most valuable player on the team, the offensive player of the year in the Mid-American Conference, Miami University's athlete of the year, and gained All-America honors from the Associated Press. Hitchens had one season with 326 carries for 1,370 yards and 15 touchdowns (90 points). Hitchens had career statistics of 773 rushing attempts for 3,118 yards and 34 touchdowns (204 points). Many of Hitchens records at Miami University were later broken by Travis Prentice
, including Hitchens school record of 15 touchdowns in a season.
Hitchens played under Coach Bill Mallory
for three years. Hitchens helped lead Miami to an 11-0 season as a co-captain his senior year in 1973 that included a Mid-American Conference title and a Tangerine Bowl
victory over the University of Florida
. Hitchens football jersey number 40 was retired, making him the second player to be honored following John Pont
. Ben Roethlisberger
became the third player to have his number retired at Miami University
. Hitchens was inducted into the Miami University Hall of Fame in 1980.
, Kansas City Chiefs
and Pittsburgh Steelers
.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
in Oxford, Ohio
Oxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...
from 1971-1973.
College career
Hitchens received all-Mid-American ConferenceMid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
honors as a tailback for three consecutive years from 1971-73. His junior year he established five Miami University records and was selected the most valuable player on the team, the offensive player of the year in the Mid-American Conference, Miami University's athlete of the year, and gained All-America honors from the Associated Press. Hitchens had one season with 326 carries for 1,370 yards and 15 touchdowns (90 points). Hitchens had career statistics of 773 rushing attempts for 3,118 yards and 34 touchdowns (204 points). Many of Hitchens records at Miami University were later broken by Travis Prentice
Travis Prentice
Travis Jason Prentice is a former American football running back. Prentice holds the NCAA Division I-A records for career rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns, and points scored while playing running back for the Miami RedHawks.-High school career:Prentice attended duPont Manual High School in...
, including Hitchens school record of 15 touchdowns in a season.
Hitchens played under Coach Bill Mallory
Bill Mallory
William G. "Bill" Mallory is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Miami University , the University of Colorado at Boulder , Northern Illinois University , and Indiana University , compiling a career college football record of...
for three years. Hitchens helped lead Miami to an 11-0 season as a co-captain his senior year in 1973 that included a Mid-American Conference title and a Tangerine Bowl
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
victory over the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
. Hitchens football jersey number 40 was retired, making him the second player to be honored following John Pont
John Pont
John Pont was an American football player and coach. He served as head coach at Miami University, Yale University, Northwestern University and Indiana University. He was the only Indiana University coach to take a team to the Rose Bowl. Later in his career, Pont was recruited to start a football...
. Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger
Benjamin Todd "Ben" Roethlisberger , nicknamed Big Ben, is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round in the 2004 NFL Draft...
became the third player to have his number retired at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
. Hitchens was inducted into the Miami University Hall of Fame in 1980.
Professional career
Following graduation, Hitchens played professional football for two years with the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
and Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
.