Mike Bass

Last updated

Mike Bass
No. 26, 41
Position: Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1945-03-31) March 31, 1945 (age 79)
Ypsilanti, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school: Ypsilanti
College: Michigan
NFL draft: 1967  / round: 12 / pick: 314
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:100
Interceptions:30
Fumbles recovered:6
Touchdowns:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Michael Thomas Bass (born March 31, 1945) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) from 1969 through 1975. He appeared in 104 consecutive games for the Redskins, recorded 30 interceptions, and scored the Redskins' only touchdown in Super Bowl VII on a 49-yard fumble return. In 2002, Bass was selected as one of the 70 greatest Redskins players of all time.

Contents

A native of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Bass played college football as a halfback for the Michigan Wolverines from 1964 through 1966. He also appeared in two games as a special teams player for the Detroit Lions in 1967.

Early years

Bass was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 1945. [1] His father, Thomas Bass, was a physician, and his mother, Louise Bass, was a teacher. [2] Bass attended Ypsilanti High School, where he participated in football, basketball, and track and field. [2]

University of Michigan

Bass received a scholarship to the University of Michigan in nearby Ann Arbor, [2] enrolling in 1963, and played halfback for the Wolverines from 1964 to 1966. [3] As a junior in 1965, Bass started one game at quarterback and two games at right halfback. [4] As a senior in 1966, he started two games at left halfback and four games at right halfback. [5] Although listed as a halfback, Bass played principally on defense and was limited to five carries on offense for 13 rushing yards. [6] He graduated from Michigan in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education. [2]

Professional football

Bass was selected by the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers in the twelfth round (314th overall) of the 1967 NFL/AFL draft. [1] Before the start of the 1967 NFL season, the Packers sold Bass to the Detroit Lions. [7] Bass spent most of the 1967 season on the Lions' taxi squad, but was activated late in the season and appeared in the last two games on special teams. [7] [8] He spent the 1968 season on the Lions' taxi squad. [7] During his stint with the Lions, Bass had a small speaking part in the 1968 film Paper Lion .

In February 1969, Bass signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins, now led by general manager and head coach Vince Lombardi. [7] Bass spent the next seven seasons as a cornerback, [1] appearing in 104 consecutive games for the Redskins between 1969 and 1975. [7] In seven seasons with Washington, Bass recorded 30 interceptions for 478 return yards and three touchdowns. He also recovered six fumbles and gained 105 yards on eight kickoff returns; [1] he gave up only eight touchdown passes in his NFL career. [8]

In 1972, the Redskins defeated the defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys in the 1972 NFC Championship Game. The Redskins held the Cowboys to three points and limited quarterback Roger Staubach to 9 of 20 passing for 98 yards. The Redskins' cornerbacks, Bass and Pat Fischer, were credited with shutting down the Cowboys' wide receivers. The Redskins advanced to Super Bowl VII in Los Angeles, where they lost 14–7 to the undefeated Miami Dolphins. Bass scored Washington's only points when he picked up placekicker Garo Yepremian's botched pass, following a blocked field goal, and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown with just over two minutes remaining in the game. [9] In 1974, Bass was selected as a first-team All-NFC player by the Associated Press, United Press International, and Sporting News . [1]

In July 1976, Bass announced his retirement from football due to a neck injury the prior year that was re-injured during the 1976 pre-season. X-rays showed a change in the vertebra, and Bass said at the time he "didn't feel it necessary to take a chance." [7] Bass was named one of the 70 Greatest Redskins in 2002 and was inducted in the Washington Ring of Fame in 2022. [2] [9] [10]

Later years

After retiring from the NFL, Bass moved to the Freeport, Bahamas, where he owned and operated the Channel House Resort Club. [2] [11] He returned to the United States in 1997, working as an academic counselor at the University of Florida. In 2002, Bass formed KimLou Global, LLC (KimLou), a real estate consulting firm. [2]

Bass and his wife, Rosita, had two daughters, Kimberly and Louise. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl VII</span> 1973 Edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl VII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Miami Dolphins and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Washington Redskins to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1972 season. The Dolphins vanquished the Redskins by the score of 14–7, winning their first Super Bowl, and became the first and still the only team in modern NFL history to complete a perfect undefeated season. They also remain the only Super Bowl champion to win despite having been shut out in the second half of the game. The game was played on January 14, 1973, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, the second time the Super Bowl was played in that city. At kickoff, the temperature was 84 °F (29 °C), making the game the warmest Super Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XVII</span> 1983 Edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XVII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Miami Dolphins and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Washington Redskins to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the strike-shortened 1982 season. The Redskins defeated the Dolphins, 27–17, to win their first Super Bowl championship. The game was played on January 30, 1983, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XVIII</span> 1984 edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XVIII was an American football game played on January 22, 1984, at Tampa Stadium between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion and defending Super Bowl XVII champion Washington Redskins and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Los Angeles Raiders to determine the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1983 season. The Raiders defeated the Redskins, 38–9. The Raiders' 38 points scored and 29-point margin of victory broke Super Bowl records; it remains the most points scored by an AFC team in a Super Bowl, later matched by the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. This is the first time the city of Tampa hosted the Super Bowl and was the AFC's last Super Bowl win until Super Bowl XXXII, won by the Denver Broncos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darrell Green</span> American football player (born 1960)

Darrell Ray Green is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) for 20 seasons. Considered to be one of the greatest cornerbacks and fastest players in NFL history, he played college football for the Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas and was drafted by the Redskins in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft. Green played in 295 games with Washington, winning Super Bowls XXII and XXVI, before retiring in 2003. He was named the 1996 NFL Man of the Year, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008, and included on the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Champ Bailey</span> American football player (born 1978)

Roland "Champ" Bailey Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, where he earned consensus All-American honors, and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preston Pearson</span> American football player (born 1945)

Preston James Pearson is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys. He played college basketball for the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Robert Martin Bailey is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams, Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and the Baltimore Ravens. He played college football at the University of Miami.

Aaron Douglas Kyle is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. He was selected in the first round of the 1976 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Wyoming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Volk</span> American football player (born 1945)

Richard Robert Volk is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Colts, New York Giants, and Miami Dolphins. He retired with 38 career interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries, and totaled 574 yards on interception returns and 548 yards on punt returns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Mandich</span> American football player (1948–2011)

James Michael Mandich, also known as "Mad Dog", was an American professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). Mandich played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1967 to 1969 and was recognized as a consensus first-team tight end on the 1969 College Football All-America Team. A second-round pick in the 1970 NFL draft, he played in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins (1970-1977) and Pittsburgh Steelers (1978). After his playing career ended, he worked as the color commentator for the Miami Dolphins and also hosted a sports talk show on local AM radio in Miami.

Joseph Lavender is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins. He played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs. He was a two-time Pro Bowl section in the NFL with Washington, winning a Super Bowl with them in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Washington (cornerback)</span> American football player (born 1947)

Mark Henry Washington is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. He played college football at Morgan State University.

This article contains an in-depth explanation of the history of the Dallas Cowboys, a professional American football team that competes in the National Football League (NFL).

John Felix Rowser was an American football player, a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Denver Broncos.

The 1991 Dallas Cowboys season was the franchise's 32nd season in the National Football League (NFL) and was the third year of the franchise under the ownership of Jerry Jones and head coach Jimmy Johnson. This also marked Norv Turner's first year as offensive coordinator under head coach Jimmy Johnson. The Cowboys improved on their 7–9 record from 1990, finishing 11–5, made the playoffs for the first time since 1985, and won their first playoff game in 9 years (1982).

Michael Theodore Gaechter was an American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Oregon.

Robert Cole Williams is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Kansas City Chiefs. He played college football at Baylor University.

Bryan McCann is a former American football cornerback. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Southern Methodist University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herb Adderley</span> American gridiron football player (1939–2020)

Herbert Anthony Adderley was an American professional football cornerback who played for the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). In 1980, he was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darius Slay</span> American football player (born 1991)

Darius Demetrius Slay Jr. is an American professional football cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Itawamba before transferring to Mississippi State and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mike Bass". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Biography". mtbasss.com. Mike Bass. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  3. ↑ "All-Time Football Roster Database". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  4. ↑ "1965 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  5. ↑ "1966 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page". University of Michigan. Archived from the original on November 12, 2007. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Mike Bass tells Skins it's over". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. July 29, 1976. p. 32.
  8. 1 2 "Career". mtbass.com. Mike Bass. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  9. 1 2 Stone, Mike and Regner, Art (2008). The Great Book of Detroit Sports Lists. Running Press. p. 203. ISBN   9780786741717.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ↑ Allen, Scott. "Washington Ring of Fame inductee Mike Bass capitalized on chance from Vince Lombardi". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  11. ↑ Glenn Miller (May 17, 1984). "Bahama Mike: '72 Super Bowl hero Bass is at home in Freeport". St. Petersburg Independent. p. 4-C.
  12. ↑ "Family". mtbass.com. Mike Bass. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.