RIP - JIM BERTELSEN

[Steamboat1874 4391]

UT sources are reporting Jim Bertelsen has died at age 71.

RIP

Edited May 7, 2021 by Steamboat1874

[Steel Shank 9563]

Street, Bertelsen, Worster, Koy

[Steamboat1874 4391]

And my favorite of all......

 

[cochamps 1887]

Damn!  Rip Jim.

[cochamps 1887]

6 minutes ago, Steamboat1874 said:

And my favorite of all......

 

Great picture.

[Valmy77 13626]

He was a great one. My dad often spoke of watching him play on those 69 and 70 championship teams.

RIP a life well lived I am sure.

[Vito Andolini 9459]

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard the story of how a Wisconsin kid made it down to Texas. Probably just wanted to join a group of other bad asses. RIP 35.

[GreenspointTexas 9992]

Fuck  RIP

[Royal With Cheese 3]

RIP Mr. Bertelsen

[Machinator 32103]

 

[Domedriver 655]

What a heart breaking day for us Longhorns.  His son gave me a signed Texas hat for Christmas 4 years ago.

🙏🏻😢❤️🤘

[Not a cat 5819]

1 hour ago, Vito Andolini said:

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard the story of how a Wisconsin kid made it down to Texas. Probably just wanted to join a group of other bad asses. RIP 35.

If I recall, he hated the cold (as someone now living not far from his hometown of Hudson I can relate).  He was on a recruiting visit to Colorado and the other recruits were all comparing offers.  When he said he had one from Texas they all looked at him and said what the hell are you doing here then. 

My ex father in law is the same age and from Wisconsin.  He remembers it was a big deal that he left big 10 country at the time.  

 

[Hagbard Celine 11290]

light the tower

[Leanderman 2374]

Grew up watching him, one of the great ones. Rest easy big feller. 

[Wally Pryor 5411]

Man, that was a badass group in the backfield. 

RIP.

[bluto 5000]

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard the story of how a Wisconsin kid made it down to Texas. Probably just wanted to join a group of other bad asses. RIP 35.

Thought there was something about a dentist relative or some weird connection like that that put him on DKR radar. I don’t think it was Ketch

Just found this

https://playground.wissports.net/post/the-legend-of-jim-bertelson-9342498

[Vito Andolini 9459]

That story would carry more weight if the teller wrote “film” rather than “tape,” but I’ll accept it as how JB was discovered by Texas, and “Not a cat”’s tale for when he realized Texas was the place to be. 🤘

[The Gimp 354]

I remember something from back then that he loved quarter horses.

[torre 1298]

7 hours ago, Vito Andolini said:

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard the story of how a Wisconsin kid made it down to Texas. Probably just wanted to join a group of other bad asses. RIP 35.

 

A reporter asked the same question.   🙂

 The reporters asked Jim how a running back from Wisconsin got to Texas.

"By plane," Koy said Bertelsen replied without expression.

“And,” Koy said, “he wasn’t trying to be a smart aleck.”

Below is a great, lengthy article on Jim's career worth the read.   Has some great photos.  Will post one below.

It is oft forgotten he scored the tying touchdown in the historic 1969 Arkansas game.    Worster and Street had the attention of the media.

RIP Jim,  Thanks for the memories !

https://www.hookem.com/story/sports/2021/05/07/bohls-jim-bertelsens-great-texas-career-says-all/4995161001/

 

Edited May 8, 2021 by torre

[Not a cat 5819]

I looked and can't find the source for the CU recruiting visit story I shared- I could swear I read it but who knows.

As far as the dentist aunt, according to my ex FIL he was the Vince Young of his day in Wisconsin, everyone in dairy country knew who he was.  I dont think finding him was exactly a diamond in the rough, it was just convincing DKR to waste time on recruiting  a midwest kid when we really didn't recruit much nstionally.

[MrPhlegm 3413]

RIP Jim

[Droopy 2639]

RIP, #35. 🤘🏼

[Armybrat 41443]

RIP - one of my favorites back in the day.

All I can add is that he moved into a house across the street from my brother in Northwest Hills about the time he retired from the NFL.

My brother, who is damn near a mute himself, said “That guy doesn’t talk much”. Lol

[semitired 83]

Great memories of that team as a youngster. RIP

[BevoSwag 272]

14 minutes ago, semitired said:

Great memories of that team as a youngster. RIP

Great memories of that team as an oldster who had suffered through some tough years in the 50's.

[Harrison Stafford 3392]

2 hours ago, Armybrat said:

RIP - one of my favorites back in the day.

All I can add is that he moved into a house across the street from in Northwest Hills about the time he retired from the NFL.

My brother, who is damn near a mute himself, said “That guy doesn’t talk much”. Lol

As a freshman, I lived in Jester and rode the elevator with Jim Bertelsen any number of times.  Everyone in that dorm was pretty much in awe of the football players and you didn’t go out of your way to speak when riding with them unless they initiated the conversation.  Bertelsen, however, was approachable. He projected a kind demeanor and didn’t look like he’d pile drive you if you said, “Hi”.  Our conversations were brief,  but they left a big impression on an 18 year old frosh.

[DalTxHornFan 3130]

9 minutes ago, Harrison Stafford said:

As a freshman, I lived in Jester and rode the elevator with Jim Bertelsen any number of times.  Everyone in that dorm was pretty much in awe of the football players and you didn’t go out of your way to speak when riding with them unless they initiated the conversation.  Bertelsen, however, was approachable. He projected a kind demeanor and didn’t look like he’d pile drive you if you said, “Hi”.  Our conversations were brief,  but they left a big impression on an 18 year old frosh.

It must suck to be a famous guy just doing life. I usually just give them a nod to let them know that I know.  The fuckers trying to get photos and autographs are insufferable.  Michael Dell and his family just trying to have brunch at Chez Zee was a beating.

[Domedriver 655]

7 hours ago, Armybrat said:

RIP - one of my favorites back in the day.

All I can add is that he moved into a house across the street from my brother in Northwest Hills about the time he retired from the NFL.

My brother, who is damn near a mute himself, said “That guy doesn’t talk much”. Lol

Hey Army, Navy here.  We grew up in the same hood!  And all of us were huge Bertelsen fans.  His son Andy is a real talent and if you head out Wimberly way and catch a chance to hear his band the Texas Renegades.  It’s a real treat.  Andy, like his father is quiet, but he has an amazing soulful deep voice. 😢🤘

[83Horn 1666]

Jim Bertelsen was the first Longhorn name I remember.  The first college football game I remember watching was the 1969 Texas/Arkansas game.  I was an 8 year old living in northern New Jersey at the time.  A few months earlier, I had learned that the company my dad worked for was moving its HQS to Houston, and we'd all be moving to Texas the following summer, so I was all in on everything Texas.  I just remember hearing Bertelsen's name repeatedly, and he became my first Longhorn hero.  RIP, Mr. Bertelsen