Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bob Zimpfer To Be Inducted Into The Cast Of Honor
October 10, 2019 | Football
In recognition of the 100th anniversary of Bowling Green State University Football, the BGSU Department of Athletics will induct ten football players into the Cast of Honor, recognizing the "Best of the Best" by hanging their names and numbers in Doyt L. Perry Stadium.
The criteria for selecting members to the Cast of Honor is extensive. The nominee must have received his or her undergraduate degree from BGSU or, in the event of early pursuit of a professional career, must have been a student in good academic standing and made significant progress towards a degree. The candidate must have been at least 10 years removed from graduation and be a member of the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame, and must have exceptional athletic qualifications such as national award recognition, All-American status, and/or conference player of the year status. Finally, personal conduct, character, integrity, and community and University standing were considered.
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Full Cast of Honor Release
Football's 100th Anniversary Page
Part One: Bernie Casey
Part Two: Fred Durig
Part Three: Josh Harris
Part Four: Jack Hecker
Part Five: Kory Lichtensteiger
Part Six: Mark Miller
Part Seven: Vince Palko
Part Eight: Phil Villapiano
Part Nine: Mike Weger
Today we look at Bob Zimpfer '60, who lettered for Bowling Green from 1957-59.
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Bob Zimpfer was a 1959 College Division All-American and captain of the team that finished 9-0 and were voted the National College Division Champions. The Falcons won the MAC title that season and it was the second consecutive year in which Zimpfer was named first team All-MAC and first team All-Ohio. He played in the 1959 All-American Bowl and the 1959 North-South Game before being selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1960 NFL Draft. He was inducted into the BGSU Hall of Fame in 1974 and then again in 2013 as part of the 1959 national championship team.
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Zimpfer passed away in 2000 and his wife, Joy, will be attending the 100th anniversary game in his place.
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"Bob sometimes wished that he'd gone on to play professionally, but he played football for eight years and never really got hurt," Joy recalled. "They didn't pay all that well back then and he wanted to get started on education. He was a school superintendent for many years and his last full-time job was at Sylvania before retiring.
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"I had a letter from the assistant superintendent at Sylvania," Joy went on, "that said he earned the reputation as a healer. He returned good will, leadership and pride to the school. His motto was always, 'Plan your work, then work your plan, and you will accomplish what you set out to do'. He was called the Gentle Giant because he was calm, cool, collected. He always said that football led him to his education and he loved Bowling Green. He couldn't go anywhere without starting into 'Ay Ziggy Zoomba'."
The criteria for selecting members to the Cast of Honor is extensive. The nominee must have received his or her undergraduate degree from BGSU or, in the event of early pursuit of a professional career, must have been a student in good academic standing and made significant progress towards a degree. The candidate must have been at least 10 years removed from graduation and be a member of the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame, and must have exceptional athletic qualifications such as national award recognition, All-American status, and/or conference player of the year status. Finally, personal conduct, character, integrity, and community and University standing were considered.
Â
Full Cast of Honor Release
Football's 100th Anniversary Page
Part One: Bernie Casey
Part Two: Fred Durig
Part Three: Josh Harris
Part Four: Jack Hecker
Part Five: Kory Lichtensteiger
Part Six: Mark Miller
Part Seven: Vince Palko
Part Eight: Phil Villapiano
Part Nine: Mike Weger
Today we look at Bob Zimpfer '60, who lettered for Bowling Green from 1957-59.Â
Bob Zimpfer was a 1959 College Division All-American and captain of the team that finished 9-0 and were voted the National College Division Champions. The Falcons won the MAC title that season and it was the second consecutive year in which Zimpfer was named first team All-MAC and first team All-Ohio. He played in the 1959 All-American Bowl and the 1959 North-South Game before being selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1960 NFL Draft. He was inducted into the BGSU Hall of Fame in 1974 and then again in 2013 as part of the 1959 national championship team.
Â
Zimpfer passed away in 2000 and his wife, Joy, will be attending the 100th anniversary game in his place.
Â
"Bob sometimes wished that he'd gone on to play professionally, but he played football for eight years and never really got hurt," Joy recalled. "They didn't pay all that well back then and he wanted to get started on education. He was a school superintendent for many years and his last full-time job was at Sylvania before retiring.
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"I had a letter from the assistant superintendent at Sylvania," Joy went on, "that said he earned the reputation as a healer. He returned good will, leadership and pride to the school. His motto was always, 'Plan your work, then work your plan, and you will accomplish what you set out to do'. He was called the Gentle Giant because he was calm, cool, collected. He always said that football led him to his education and he loved Bowling Green. He couldn't go anywhere without starting into 'Ay Ziggy Zoomba'."
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