Bo Austin, 1953

It was good to be Bo Austin in 1957. Playing for George Washington, he was the Sun Bowl MVP after GW beat Texas Western 13-0. Four pretty girls crowded around him and kissed him while he held the MVP trophy for a photographer.

"Bo always reminds us (about the picture)," said former Science Hill teammate Bob May.

Most would’ve thought future Pro Bowler Don Maynard would’ve been in the picture. The Texas Western flanker’s team was at home and heavily favored.

"We were probably a two- or three-touchdown underdog," Austin said, "but they were overconfident."

Austin was an even bigger man on campus at Science Hill. At 195 pounds, he was the largest football starter. He was All-State two years in football and All-American as a senior in 1952 after rushing for 994 yards.

"I might've had one 40-yard run out of those 994," Austin said. "When you're a fullback, most of them are good for three or four yards."

Austin was also all-conference multiple years at Science Hill in basketball and baseball.

"I wasn't our best basketball player," Austin said laughing. "Coach (Sid) Smallwood would say, 'Austin, just rebound and then get out of the way.'"

He was two-time All-Southern Conference in football and baseball at George Washington, and was the 153rd overall pick in the 1957 draft by the Washington Redskins. But he injured his shoulder in the second preseason game against San Francisco, and joined the Marines in 1958.

Austin played and coached for three years in the service. His team won the Inner-Service Football Championship be defeating Balling Air Force Base in 1959.

He played and coached football and baseball after a transfer to Okinawa, Japan, where he was chosen Marine Corps Far East athlete of the year.

"Bo was a really good fullback," May said. "And he threw me a (game-winning TD pass) against Kingsport my junior year. I couldn't have missed it; he put it right in my hands from about 25 yards out."

Science Hill football players Bob Taylor and Bob Evans took a visit to Virginia Tech in 1954.

"Bo Austin was playing baseball for George Washington that particular day," Taylor said. "He was an excellent athlete."

Added Steve Spurrier: "You certainly knew who Bo Austin was."