Wheaton College Athletics

Bob Bakke was one of the lightest tackles in Wheaton football history, weighing in at 185 pounds. Bob didn’t allow his size to keep him for being a successful tackle on both sides of the ball. He was twice named to the All-Conference squad and was an AP First Team Little All-American his senior season. During his three seasons as a starter, Wheaton had a 23-2 record and captured three CCI Championships.

Coach Harv Chrouser notes of what made Bob great, “First, he was an intelligent player - a student of the game who figured out all the blocking angles. Then it was Bob’s unusual speed that beat to the charge the larger opponents across the line. And he loved to race downfield ahead of ball carriers to block. On defense, again it was this maneuverability that made him so tough to take out, and the same agility and drive made Bakke among our best all-time pass rushers. Pound for pound, he was dynamite.”