The late Bubba Smith, a trailblazer in Big Ten College Football at MSU

Smith, a standout at Michigan State, spent five seasons with the Baltimore Colts and two seasons each with Oakland and Houston. (AP Photo)

Story by FoxSportsDetroit
Written by Dave Dye

DETROIT -- Henry Bullough kept one of the buttons that became so popular around East Lansing, Mich., during the1966 season, when Michigan State's Charles "Bubba" Smith was terrorizing quarterbacks in college football.

The button, still attached to a bulletin board in Bullough's home, said it all at the time: "Kill, Bubba, Kill."

Smith, a defensive end, was just bigger and faster than almost everyone else in his era. His combination of size and speed was ahead of its time.

"He changed things," Bullough, who was Smith's defensive coordinator at MSU, said of Bubba's impact on the game. "He was 6-foot-7, 265 pounds, and he could run.

"You didn't have many guys like that (in those days). He's one of the greatest defensive players in college football history."

Smith was found dead, apparently of natural causes, Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 66.

Not only did Bullough coach Smith at Michigan State, Bullough also was an assistant coach for Baltimore in 1970 when Smith helped lead the Colts to the Super Bowl.

"Just like a son," Bullough said of his relationship with Smith, a native of Beaumont, Tex. "He was a great guy. He was supposed to come back to Michigan State in two months to do a big fund-raiser for the George Webster Scholarship Fund."

Smith and Webster were part of a talented group of African-American football players from the South who were recruited to Michigan State by the late coach Duffy Daugherty at a time when it was uncommon for blacks to attend universities in the North.

They turned Michigan State's football program into a powerhouse. In Smith's final two years, the Spartans were 19-1-1, 14-0 in the Big Ten, and finished No. 2 in the Associated Press poll each season. The only loss was to UCLA in the Rose Bowl during the '65 season. The tie was the legendary 10-10 game against Notre Dame in '66.

George Perles, a former Michigan State player/assistant coach/head coach/athletic director and current member of the board of trustees, wasn't at MSU during Smith's college career.

But Perles watched Smith in awe like everyone else, and he knows all the stories.

"The students started the 'Kill, Bubba, Kill,' chants," said Perles, who returned to MSU and joined Daugherty's staff in 1967, a year after Smith's heroics. "The kids loved him. They had buttons, signs, everything.

"Bubba was such a visible player. When he got down in his stance, the poor opponent who had to line up against him was just so much smaller and weaker. Bubba was huge. But he didn't take advantage of it. He played by the rules. He didn't take advantage of his size off the field either.

"Bubba was Duffy's favorite. Duffy loved to give poor kids and minorities a chance. Whenever Bubba came back, he and Duffy would hug each other."

One of Perles' fondest memories of Smith was when he made a pre-game speech to the Spartans before a game at Notre Dame years ago.

"He liked to come back for the Notre Dame game," Perles said. "They gave him the floor."

Asked if he could remember what Bubba said, Perles answered, "Yeah, but I can't tell you."

Perles laughed before adding, "I'll say this, he got them fired up."

Smith made only 30 tackles (10 for loss) during his senior year, but that was because opponents constantly double- and triple-teamed him, and ran to the other side of the field to avoid the Spartans' dominating defensive end.

Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988. His jersey No. 95 was retired by Michigan State in 2006.

After leaving East Lansing, Smith was the No. 1 pick overall in the 1967 NFL Draft by Baltimore. He played nine seasons in the league (Colts 1967-71, Oakland 1973-74 and Houston Oilers 1975-76). Smith was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1970 and '71.

His fame continued long after his playing days. Bubba went on to appear in commercials and became a TV and movie star out in Hollywood. He is well-known for his role as Moses Hightower in the Police Academy movies.

In one of his commercials for Miller Lite, Smith described himself as a player. "I had my own way of tackling," Smith said. "I used to grab the whole backfield. Then I threw guys out until I found the one with the ball."

It was only a slight exaggeration, which is why "Kill, Bubba, Kill" was so appropriate at the time.

REMEMBERING CHARLES "BUBBA" SMITH

Former teammate Robert Viney (defensive end, 1963-65):

“I’m brokenhearted. I just spoke with ‘Bubba’ by phone on Monday. He had invited some old veterans from the Raiders and Rams over to his house to review the NFL’s new collective bargaining agreement.

“He was simply a good guy. His size made him an intimidating figure, but he was a real gentleman. He was a helluva player.

“I will shed some tears tonight because I’ve lost a great friend. He never sought the spotlight. He was a humble man. As I remember him, I recall the chants of “Kill, Bubba, Kill” from the crowd in Spartan Stadium. He will be missed.”

Michigan State University President Lou Anna K. Simon:

“‘Bubba’ Smith was a multi-talented Spartan. He will be remembered for his many contributions to MSU’s great history and tradition of excellence on the football field and for being part of Spartans in Hollywood.”

Michigan State Athletics Director Mark Hollis:

“‘Bubba’ Smith was a great Spartan. Years ago, I had the opportunity to spend some time with him when he served as the grand marshal for the Homecoming parade and again when he returned to campus for the retirement of his jersey number, and he had a great presence wherever he went. Despite his stature and notoriety, you felt comfortable around him because he had an engaging personality. As both a football player and later as an actor, ‘Bubba’ was a great ambassador for the University. It’s only fitting that beginning this fall the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year Award bears his name.”

Michigan State head football coach Mark Dantonio:

“Charles ‘Bubba’ Smith was a larger-than-life figure. A two-time All-American, he’s arguably the greatest defensive end to ever play the college game. He certainly ranks as one of Michigan State’s all-time greats. He loved his experiences here and always enjoyed his return trips to campus. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all of his former teammates.”

Former teammate Gene Washington (wide receiver, 1964-66):

“‘Bubba’ was a very concerned, kind person to everybody. He liked giving back to the community and helping others. ‘Bubba’ will be sorely missed because he touched many lives.

“‘Bubba’ and I played against each other in both football and basketball in high school. His father (W.R. Smith) was his high school, and his dad really encouraged Duffy (Daugherty) to recruit me. His father was a well respected high school coach so his recommendation carried a lot of weight. I’ll be forever thankful for his dad’s efforts to put me on Duffy’s recruiting list.

“Needless to say, ‘Bubba’ was a longtime friend. Our football careers were very involved -- both as competitors in high school and later in the pros and as teammates in college. ‘Bubba’ was definitely a game changer as a defensive end. You simply didn’t see guys with his size and quickness coming off the defensive line. His ability spoke for itself. He was a great teammate and a great leader. ‘Bubba’ never had to say much because he led by example.

“As students at MSU, ‘Bubba’ and I took several classes together. I also remember how supportive he was of my track career. During both the indoor and outdoor track seasons, I could count on ‘Bubba’ being there in the stands, cheering me on.”