Max Miller
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Sport:
Football |
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Year
Graduated: 1938 |
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Year
Inducted: 1998 |
In an era when football players played both offense and defense,
Max Miller was one of the Terriers' finest two-way performers.
On offense, he was a 150-pound blocking guard who joined
with fellow Hall of Fame quarterback Leon Spivack to open
gaping holes for the Terrier running backs. Then, on defense,
he was a nose guard taking on linemen who usually out-weighed
him by 45 to 50 pounds.
Originally enrolled at Alabama where he was a classmate of
Paul "Bear" Bryant, Miller transferred to B.U. where
he was a mainstay on the Terriers' outstanding teams of 1936
and 1937 that had a combined record of 11-3-2. Certainly,
one of the highlights came in the final game of the 1937 season
when the Terriers defeated Boston College, 13-6. It was the
first time since 1895 that B.U. had defeated the Eagles, who
had won 12 straight over their crosstown rivals. What's more,
it would be 16 more games over a 22-year span before B.U.
would beat BC again on the gridiron.
The 1937 season was one of the greatest ever enjoyed by a
Terrier defensive unit. En route to a 6-2 record, the defense,
with Miller at nose guard, never gave up more than 12 points,
and they held six opponents to seven points or less. Statistically,
Clarkson was held to minus 6 yards rushing, Lehigh had 11
yards on the ground, and Slippery Rock managed just 20 yards.
Individually, Miller's top effort was against Washington
University. He forced a pair of fumbles that helped preserve
a 14-12 Terrier win.
His post-season accolades included First Team Jewish All-America
as a junior and senior, Third Team All-New England his junior
year, and Honorable Mention All-East and Honorable Mention
All-America following his senior year.
