 Bunce passing in the1972 Rose Bowl | |
| No. 11 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1949-01-17)January 17, 1949 Redwood City, California, U.S. |
| Died | April 15, 2003(2003-04-15) (aged 54) Santa Cruz, California, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| College | Stanford |
| NFL draft | 1972: 12th round, 307th overall pick |
| Career history | |
| 1972 | BC Lions |
| Awards and highlights | |
| |
Dr. Don Bunce (January 17, 1949 – April 15, 2003) was an Americanfootballquarterback andorthopedic surgeon.[1]
Born inRedwood City, California, Bunce graduated fromWoodside High School in 1967 and attended nearbyStanford University inPalo Alto, where he played behindJim Plunkett, theHeisman Trophy winner in1970 and first selection in the1971 NFL draft. Bunce became thestarting quarterback as a fifth-year senior in1971 and led theIndians to thePac-8 championship and a spot in theRose Bowl against favored and unbeatenMichigan on New Year's Day.[2]
With the scored tied at ten and less than four minutes to play, Michigan's 46-yard field goal attempt was short and right, but Stanford opted to run it out of the end zone. Although he made it past the five-yard-line before retreating, Jim Ferguson was pushed back from the three and landed in the end zone; the nearest official awarded a controversial safety.[3] After the free kick, Stanford stopped Michigan and forced a punt. Trailing by two points with 1:48 left from his own 22-yard-line, a sleep-deprived Bunce completed five of six passes, driving 64 yards in eight plays to the Michigan 14 to set up a game-winning field goal attempt with sixteen seconds left. From just inside the right hashmark, placekicker Rod Garcia split the uprights from 31 yards and Stanford won, 13−12.[4][5] Bunce was named Rose Bowlmost valuable player, after completing 24 of 44 attempts for 290 yards and no interceptions.[4] Earlier in the week, he was also awarded the1971W.J. Voit Memorial Trophy as the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast.[2]
In the1972 NFL draft, Bunce was selected in thetwelfth round (307th overall) by theWashington Redskins, but opted to join theCanadian Football League, where he signed a three-year contract with theBritish Columbia Lions ofVancouver and planned to attendmedical school at theUniversity of British Columbia.[6] He played one season in1972, then left football and attendedStanford Medical School, where he received anM.D. degree in 1977 and went on to start a successful practice as anorthopedic surgeon in Palo Alto. He also served as team doctor for Stanford'sfootball team from1982 to1992.[1]
Bunce died of aheart attack at the age of 54 while vacationing nearSanta Cruz.[1][7]