Pro football career started at Tech

Bob Lurtsema shined in football and basketball at Michigan Tech for one year before transferring to Western Michigan.

The 6-foot-6, 260-pound Lurtsema later played the defensive line for the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings.

Paul Peterson of The Mining Gazette noted Lurtsema’s unique sense of humor in a recent column.

On his very first play as a Viking, Lurtsema, nicknamed "Benchwarmer Bob," tackled Detroit Lions quarterback Bill Munson for a loss. That prompted Munson to look up and ask “Are we getting beat that bad already?” ...