Reginald Rucker
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Sport:
Multiple |
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Year
Graduated: 1969 |
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Year
Inducted: 1978 |
If Reggie Rucker had not made it big in sports, there is
no doubt that he could have become a star on Broadway.
A native of Washington, D.C., Reggie came to Boston University
because "the coaching staff showed faith in me."
During the next four years his exploits in foorball and baseball
can only be described as "theatrical." Reggie never
just caught a pass; he always seemed to catch the pass for
the winning touchdown. And when he went back to return a punt
or kickoff return, the crowd stood electrified, waiting for
the Reg to take it all the way.
As a sophomore, following an outstanding year on an undefeated
freshman football team and an equally outstanding freshman
baseball team, Reggie gave a preview of what was to come during
the next three seasons. The first time he touched the football
in a varsity game, he returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown
against Holy Cross. The following week, he duplicated the
effort with a 71-yard return against UMass for a TD and then
two weeks later he returned one 54 yards against UConn for
another score. With the third he set a New England major college
record for most punt returns for touchdowns in a season.
As a junior he took a kickoff 81 yards against Bucknell and
then finished the game with a circus catch for a 60-yard winning
touchdown. In his senior year, he made two great catches in
the closing seconds, the second for a touchdown, to give the
Terriers a 7-0 upset victory over Temple.
As great as he was in football (bearing in mind that Bruce
Taylor was on the same team his junior and senior seasons),
Reggie was probably a better baseball player. He was lightening
quick on the base paths and drove opposing pitchers (and catchers)
crazy with his baserunning. When he and Taylor were on the
base together, it was like having Lou Brock and Curt Flood
running against you.
He also hit with power. Against Harvard he blasted one 400
feet for a homerun. The next time up, the left fielder played
him so far out that when Reggie hit it 420 feet, the outfielder
had to come in for the catch.
Besides football and baseball, Reggie also lettered in basketball
and track, making him the first four sport athlete at Boston
University in more than 20 years.
Although baseball was probably his best sport, he decided
to try to make it in football. The director of player personnel
at the time for the Boston Patriots was quoted as saying,
"Reggie Rucker does not have a future in professional
football."
He signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys and the
following January he started the Super Bowl. He since has
played for the New York Giants, the same Patriots, and was
the offensive captain and leading reciever for the Cleveland
Browns.
