This week’s show focuses on the Darryl Rogers years, 1976-79. Featured guests include Kirk Gibson, Dan Bass, and Morten Andersen. I also comment on Rogers motivating Larry Beatha to reach his potential as a senior. Bethea remains the only defensive player to outright win the Big Ten Chicago Tribune Silver Trophy as its most valuable player without playing on a conference championship team.
Tag: Kirk Gibson
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Why Kirk Gibson has mellowed after years of furious intensity
The first time I saw Kirk Gibson in the flesh, he was rampaging toward me, near-naked and jeering; the second time, he limped to the plate and hit one of the most dramatic home runs in history. One moment was heinous, the other heroic. In each he seemed unbound by humanity’s usual norms and limits, bigger than life, incomprehensible. Both events occurred three decades ago. Now it was a late-March morning in 2018, and as I approached a dugout, I recognized the broad back of Gibson, sitting alone.
Source: SI.com
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Kirk Gibson Officially Inducted Into College Football Hall of Fame
Former Michigan State All-American wide receiver Kirk Gibson was officially inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday night at the 60th annual National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner, held at the New York Hilton Midtown’s Grand Ballroom.
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Hall of Famer Kirk Gibson took off after landing at MSU
“I came to Michigan State University as really the last guy in,” Kirk Gibson said Tuesday morning before his induction at the 60th NFF Annual Awards Dinner. I wasn’t a guy who was highly touted. I think my credentials going in was ‘honorable mention Oakland County.’ But I had a plan. And, again, I’ve had great teammates and great mentors along the way to encourage me to see how good I could be in my beliefs. Michigan State University and the people I became associated with, they were the right people.”
Source: Detroit News
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How football taught Kirk Gibson to attack life’s curveballs
College Football Hall of Fame inductee Kirk Gibson has the same approach to life as he did football at Michigan State, which is to say tough as nails.
Source: Detroit Free Press
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Kirk Gibson and friends raises $1.2 million for Parkinson’s research
Before the highly anticipated MSU vs. Notre Dame game and before Spartan, Tiger and Dodger legend, Kirk Gibson, took his place among the “Ring of Honor” at Spartan Stadium, “Gibby and Friends vs. Parky” announced on Saturday afternoon they raised $1.2 million to fund research through MSU’s College of Human Medicine into Parkinson’s disease.However, Gibson wanted to make sure he isn’t the only person that’s recognized.
Source: The State News
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Kirk Gibson remembers Spartans’ 1978 Big Ten title
Despite his toughness and tenacity, Kirk Gibson nearly came to tears. It partly was due to his number entering Michigan State’s Ring of Honor. Thinking about the 30-plus former Spartans teammates he planned to have on the field with him welled up the College Football Hall of Famer.
Source: MSU notes: Kirk Gibson remembers Spartans’ 1978 Big Ten title
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Kirk Gibson inducted into Spartan Stadium ‘Ring of Fame,’ praises former teammates
When Kirk Gibson and his former Michigan State football teammates gathered for an annual golf outing about five years ago, it was frigid. Gibson said former Michigan State long snapper Mark Tapling declared enough was enough, and put up the first $15,000 for an annual “Sparty Party” golf outing at prestigious Torrey Pines in San Diego. The first year, there were about 15 attendees. Last year, roughly 50 showed up.
Source: MLive.com
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Kirk Gibson lauds teammates as he enters MSU Ring of Fame
This is special. And a certain sports celebrity, known more for baseball than for football, appreciates the exclusivity. Of the thousands of men who have played football at Michigan State, only 11 have been selected for Spartan Stadium’s Ring of Fame, with Kirk Gibson becoming the 12th when he’s inducted during Saturday night’s Notre Dame game.
Source: Detroit News
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Kirk Gibson, George Perles to launch Parkinson’s fund-raising effort
Michigan State football Hall of Famer Kirk Gibson and other MSU legends will unveil efforts to raise money in the fight against Parkinson’s disease. Gibson, former Spartans football coach George Perles and former MSU professor James Potchen, all Parkinson’s patients, will hold a news conference at 3 p.m. Saturday to discuss their efforts. Gibson’s former Tigers teammate Alan Trammell will also be on hand. The goal of the campaign, called Gibby and Friends vs. Parky, is to raise $1 million for MSU’s College of Human Medicine for use in Parkinson’s research.
Source: Detroit Free Press
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Spartans Uniting with Kirk Gibson to Battle Parkinson’s Disease
A team of MSU luminaries will gather at a unique fundraiser that unites the Spartan Nation in raising $1 million to fight Parkinson’s disease—or, as Kirk Gibson has nicknamed it, “Parky.” The Gibby & Friends vs. Parky pregame tailgate will be hosted in MSU’s Kellogg Center at 4:00 this Saturday, September 23, four hours before the Notre Dame football game that kicks off at 8:00 that evening. On that same day, Gibson will be on campus as MSU will honor his accomplishments by retiring his football jersey at halftime of the game.
Source: The Spartan Podcast
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Kirk Gibson’s message for grads: Challenge, overcome
In traditional Kirk Gibson fashion, he will step to a lectern at 1 p.m. Friday at the Breslin Center, fortified by preparation and resolve. Thousands of Michigan State University seniors and their families will have packed into an arena known more for its sports triumphs. Spanning a 12-minute commencement address, a time slot Gibson will abide by with his usual discipline, he will both exhort and command graduates to shoot for the kind of self-directed victories Gibson personally has known. They are victories Gibson continues to seek.
Source: Detroit News
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Kirk Gibson to speak at MSU commencement May 5
Detroit Tigers legend Kirk Gibson, who also starred in football at Michigan State University, will address the undergraduate commencement at his alma mater May 5.Gibson, 59, who was a two-time All-American with the Spartans, will receive an honorary doctorate of humanities.
Source: Detroit News
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Kirk Gibson thanks ‘power of we’ for College Football Hall of Fame nod
“It’s an incredible honor to be selected to the College Football Hall of Fame,” Gibson wrote in a text message to the Free Press. “But I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize all those who were there to lift me up when I was down, or those who kicked me in the ass when it was warranted. I was blessed to have dedicated and supportive family, friends, teammates and coaches. This award is in honor of all of them and significant in illustrating the power of we.”
Source: Detroit Free Press
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Kirk Gibson Elected to College Football Hall of Fame
A four-year letterman who played for both Denny Stolz (1975) and Darryl Rogers (1976-78), Gibson earned first-team All-Big Ten and first-team All-America honors as a senior while helping lead the Spartans to a share of the 1978 Big Ten Championship and a No. 12 national ranking by The Associated Press. He set career highs in receptions (42), receiving yards (806) and touchdown receptions (7) in 1978. The 806 receiving yards in a single season established a school record at the time, breaking his own record of 748 he set as a sophomore. -
MSU great Kirk Gibson makes College Football Hall of Fame
Michigan State star receiver Kirk Gibson, who went on to a MLB career mostly with the Detroit Tigers, has been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, it was announced Monday. Gibson finished his Spartan career in 1978 as the school leader in career receptions (112), touchdown receptions (24) and receiving yards (2,347). He still holds the MSU record for career receiving average at 21.0 yards.
Source: Detroit News