Michael Thomas Bass (born March 31, 1945) is a former American football player.
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Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
Born: | Ypsilanti, Michigan | March 31, 1945||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||
Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||
Career information | |||||||||
High school: | Ypsilanti High School | ||||||||
College: | Michigan | ||||||||
NFL draft: | 1967 / Round: 12 / Pick: 314 (by the Green Bay Packers) | ||||||||
Career history | |||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Player stats at PFR |
Bass played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) as a cornerback for the Washington Redskins from 1969 to 1975. He appeared in 104 consecutive games for the Redskins between 1969 and 1975, 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.
A native of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Bass played college football as a halfback for the University of Michigan from 1964 to 1966. He also appeared in two games as a special teams player for the Detroit Lions in 1967.
Early years
Michael Bass was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 1945.[1] His father, Thomas Bass, was a medical doctor, and his mother, Louise Bass, was a teacher.[2] Michael Bass attended Ypsilanti High School, where Mike participated in football, basketball, and track and field.[2]
University of Michigan
Michael Bass received a scholarship to the University of Michigan,[2] enrolling in 1963, and playing on the Michigan Wolverines football team as a halfback from 1964 to 1966.[3] As a junior, Michael Bass started one game at quarterback and two games at right halfback for the 1965 Michigan Wolverines football team.[4] As a senior, Mike started two games at left halfback and four games at right halfback for the 1966 Michigan team.[5] Although listed as a halfback,Michael Bass played principally on defense and was limited to five carries on offense for 13 rushing yards.[6] Mike graduated from Michigan in 1967 with a bachelor of arts degree in education.[2]
Professional football
Bass was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 12th round (314th overall pick) of the 1967 NFL 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 NFL 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.[7] He spent the next seven seasons from as a cornerback with the Redskins,[1] appearing in 104 consecutive games for the Redskins between 1969 and 1975.[7] In seven seasons with the Redskins, 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 Dallas Cowboys in the 1972 NFC Championship Game. The Redskins held the Cowboys to three points and limited 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, where they lost to the Miami Dolphins, 14-7. Bass scored the only touchdown for the Redskins in Super Bowl VII, when he picked up Garo Yepremian's botched pass, following a blocked field goal, and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown.[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] In 2002, Bass was named one of the 70 greatest Redskins players of all time.[2][9]
Later years
After retiring from the NFL, Bass moved to the Freeport, Bahamas, where he was the owner and operator of Channel House Resort Club for 18 years.[2][10]
Bass 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.[11]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Mike Bass". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Biography". mtbasss.com. Michael "Mike: Bass. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
- ^ "All-Time Football Roster Database". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
- ^ "1965 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
- ^ "1966 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
- ^ "Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page". University of Michigan. Archived from the original on November 12, 2007. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e f "Mike Bass tells Skins it's over". The Spokesman-Review (AP story). July 29, 1976. p. 32.
- ^ a b "Career". mtbass.com. Mike Bass. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
- ^ a b 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) - ^ Glenn Miller (May 17, 1984). "Bahama Mike: '72 Super Bowl hero Bass is at home in Freeport". St. Petersburg Independent. p. 4-C.
- ^ "Family". mtbass.com. Mike Bass. Retrieved March 25, 2015.