Ricky Bell (running back)
Encyclopedia
Ricky Lynn Bell younger brother of recording artist Archie Bell
, was an American
professional football player who played running back
in the NFL
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
and San Diego Chargers
from 1977 to 1982. Bell played football collegiately at USC
.
duties with David Farmer for the 10-1-1 UPI National Champions that went to defeat Ohio State in the Rose Bowl 18-17. In 1975, Bell led the Trojans to a 7-0 start; however, the almost complete lack of a passing attack to balance the offense, coupled with head coach John McKay's mid-season announcement that he would not be returning after the season. resulted in the team stumbling to an 8-4 finish, capped by a Liberty Bowl
victory over Texas A&M. During this season, Bell led the nation in rushing, gaining 1,875 yards, and finished third in the Heisman Trophy
voting. As an encore, Bell led the 1976 Trojans to a #2 ranking and 11-1 record, capped by a victory over Michigan
in the Rose Bowl. Despite suffering nagging injuries that limited his playing time, Bell set the single-game rushing record of 347 yards against Washington State University
, and finished as the Heisman runner-up to Pittsburgh's Tony Dorsett
. Bell was voted Pac-10 player of the year in 1976. He was also awarded the 1976 W.J. Voit Memorial Trophy
as the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast.
, selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. The pick was somewhat controversial because Tony Dorsett
was being projected as an arguably better back than Bell. Bell's selection was not a surprise, however, because Tampa Bay was coached by John McKay, Bell's former coach at USC. In 1979
, Bell enjoyed his finest season, rushing for 1,263 yards and leading the Buccaneers to the NFC Central Division crown. He led the Buccaneers to their first playoff win in franchise history that season by rushing for 142 yards on 38 carries scoring 2 touchdown
s against the Philadelphia Eagles
. The team fell one game short of a trip to Super Bowl XIV
, ending their season as NFC runners up to the Los Angeles Rams.
. Mario Van Peebles
portrayed the player in the made-for-television movie, A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story, which was based on Bell's life. Bell's remains are interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood California.
Archie Bell
Archie Lee Bell is an African-American solo singer and former lead singer of Archie Bell & the Drells.-Background:...
, was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional football player who played 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...
in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
and San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
from 1977 to 1982. Bell played football collegiately at USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
.
College career
Bell first attracted notice during his sophomore season in 1974 as a devastating blocker and between-the-tackles runner, sharing fullbackFullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
duties with David Farmer for the 10-1-1 UPI National Champions that went to defeat Ohio State in the Rose Bowl 18-17. In 1975, Bell led the Trojans to a 7-0 start; however, the almost complete lack of a passing attack to balance the offense, coupled with head coach John McKay's mid-season announcement that he would not be returning after the season. resulted in the team stumbling to an 8-4 finish, capped by a Liberty Bowl
Liberty Bowl
The Liberty Bowl is an annual U.S. American college football bowl game played in December of each year from 1959 to 2007 and in January in 2009 and 2010. The Liberty Bowl was sponsored by AXA Financial and was known as the AXA Liberty Bowl from 1997 to 2003...
victory over Texas A&M. During this season, Bell led the nation in rushing, gaining 1,875 yards, and finished third in the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
voting. As an encore, Bell led the 1976 Trojans to a #2 ranking and 11-1 record, capped by a victory over Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in the Rose Bowl. Despite suffering nagging injuries that limited his playing time, Bell set the single-game rushing record of 347 yards against Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
, and finished as the Heisman runner-up to Pittsburgh's Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett
Anthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-Early years:...
. Bell was voted Pac-10 player of the year in 1976. He was also awarded the 1976 W.J. Voit Memorial Trophy
W.J. Voit Memorial Trophy
The W. J. Voit Memorial Trophy was awarded by the Helms Athletic Foundation from 1951 to 1978 to the outstanding college football player on the Pacific Coast. The recipient was determined based on votes cast by West Coast football writers and later broadcasters as well. Award recipients include...
as the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast.
NFL career
Bell was the first overall draft choice in the 1977 NFL Draft1977 NFL Draft
The 1977 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held May 3–4, 1977...
, selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. The pick was somewhat controversial because Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett
Anthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-Early years:...
was being projected as an arguably better back than Bell. Bell's selection was not a surprise, however, because Tampa Bay was coached by John McKay, Bell's former coach at USC. In 1979
1979 NFL season
The 1979 NFL season was the 60th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XIV when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams...
, Bell enjoyed his finest season, rushing for 1,263 yards and leading the Buccaneers to the NFC Central Division crown. He led the Buccaneers to their first playoff win in franchise history that season by rushing for 142 yards on 38 carries scoring 2 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The team fell one game short of a trip to Super Bowl XIV
Super Bowl XIV
Super Bowl XIV was an American football game played on January 20, 1980 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1979 regular season...
, ending their season as NFC runners up to the Los Angeles Rams.
Death
Bell died in 1984 of heart failure caused by dermatomyositisDermatomyositis
Dermatomyositis is a connective-tissue disease related to polymyositis and Bramaticosis that is characterized by inflammation of the muscles and the skin.- Causes :...
. Mario Van Peebles
Mario Van Peebles
Mario "Chip" Cain Van Peebles is an American director and actor who has appeared in numerous Hollywood films. He is son of filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles.-Life and career:...
portrayed the player in the made-for-television movie, A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story, which was based on Bell's life. Bell's remains are interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood California.
Honors
- Bell was elected to the College Football Hall of FameCollege Football Hall of FameThe College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 2004. - Member of Omega Psi PhiOmega Psi PhiOmega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
fraternity.