| No. 82, 80, 85 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1950-10-07)October 7, 1950 Sandusky, Ohio, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died: | April 2, 2018(2018-04-02) (aged 67) Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 184 lb (83 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Sandusky (OH) | ||||||||
| College: | Michigan | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1973: 4th round, 104th pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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David Elmer "Bo" Rather (October 7, 1950 – April 2, 2018) was an American professionalfootball player. He playedcollege football for theUniversity of Michigan from 1970 to 1972 and as awide receiver in theNational Football League (NFL) for theMiami Dolphins in 1973 and 1978 and for theChicago Bears from 1974 to 1978. In six years of playing in the NFL, Rather appeared in 64 games and had 92 receptions for 1,467 yards and seven touchdowns.
Rather was born inSandusky, Ohio, in 1950. He attendedSandusky High School.[1]
Rather enrolled at theUniversity of Michigan in 1969 and playedcollege football forBo Schembechler'sMichigan Wolverines football teams from 1970 to 1972.[2] As a sophomore in 1970, Rather was adefensive back who started two games for the Wolverines.[3]
As a junior, Rather was moved to the offense where he started 11 games at thesplit end position for the1971 Michigan Wolverines football team that compiled an 11-1 record, scored 421 points,[4] and broke Michigan's all-time record with 3,977 net rushing yards (331 rushing yards per game).[5] In September 1971, Rather led Michigan to a 21-6 victory over Northwestern with 114 all-purpose yards and a rushing touchdown.[6][7] However, he played for a run-oriented offense, catching only 11 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns.[5]
As a senior, Rather started six games at split end for the1972 Wolverines that compiled a 10-1 record. Rather shared playing time at the split end position withGil Chapman.[8] In September 1972, Rather caught a 21-yard touchdown pass fromDennis Franklin to give Michigan a 7-0 victory over Northwestern.[9] During the 1972 season, Rather caught a total of 15 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns.[5]
Rather gained a total of 796all-purpose yards for Michigan, including 378 receiving yards and 302 yards on kickoff returns.[6]
Rather was selected by theMiami Dolphins in the fourth round (104th overall pick) of the1973 NFL draft.[1] He appeared in only six games for the Dolphins during the1973 NFL season and had no pass receptions.[1] He next played for theChicago Bears as awide receiver from 1974 to 1978. During his time with the Bears, Rather appeared in 55 games, 37 as a starter, and caught 91 passes for 1,428 yards and seven touchdowns.[1] Rather returned to the Dolphins for the final three games of the1979 NFL season.[1]
In six years of playing in the NFL, Rather appeared in 64 games and had 92 receptions for 1,467 yards and seven touchdowns.[1]