Former Steelers’ back dies
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Bob Ferguson, an All-American fullback at Ohio State who played for coach Woody Hayes and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1961, died at 64. He died Thursday, the Cook & Son-Pallay Funeral Home told The Associated Press on Friday. He had complications from diabetes.
Ferguson starred at Ohio State from 1959-61 and was an All-American his last two seasons. He scored 26 touchdowns, including four against Michigan in 1961, when the Buckeyes defeated the Wolverines 50-20 to cap an 8-0-1 season.
During his three years at Ohio State, the 220-pound Ferguson accumulated 2,304 all-purpose yards, including 2,162 rushing for an average of 5 yards a carry.
“He wasn’t a finesse runner,” son Robert Ferguson Jr. told The Columbus Dispatch. “He was a power runner. Those were the days of three yards and a cloud of dust.”
During the 1961 season, Ohio State turned down a Rose Bowl invitation because administrators felt the university was becoming known simply as a football school. Minnesota went instead and beat UCLA 21-3.
Ferguson had a disappointing NFL career. He was a Pittsburgh Steelers reserve for two years and played another season with the Minnesota Vikings. Ferguson later worked as a youth counselor in Columbus and retired in 1990 because of health problems.
He is survived by wife Diana, sons Robert, Rodney and Ronald and daughter Robin.
Funeral services are pending.