Michigan Football: Hall of Famer and WW2 Vet Bob Chappuis Dies at 89

Michigan football announced on its website this weekend that it has lost a legend of its post-WW2 football history with the passing of Bob Chappuis, a quarterback and halfback who led the Wolverines to a Rose Bowl victory and a national championship in 1947. He was 89.

Chappuis' legacy still lives on in college football history to this day. He finished second in Heisman voting that season to Notre Dame legend Johnny Lujack, and he was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988.

Even 65 years after the fact, Chappuis remains the Big Ten's single-season leader in passing efficiency with a 175.3 rating, and his 18.8 yards per completion that year still stands as a Michigan record.

But Chappuis was so much more than a great quarterback; he was a great American.

Chappuis' Michigan career actually began in 1942, when he first enrolled at Michigan. Not long afterwards, he was drafted into World War 2, and he was off to Europe, running missions in B-25 bombers into Italy from his base on the island of Corsica. In 1945, however, Chappuis' 21st mission would be his last. Here's the story told by Chappuis himself for the Legacies Project.

Fortunately for Chappuis, after those three months, the war was ended, and he was able to return home safely; he rejoined Michigan the following year.

Chappuis' incredible story is a testament to the bravery of the young men and women who literally risked their lives—and millions of times paid with them—for the safety of their common man and woman in the face of such a brutal war.

It is also a plain and simple reminder that regardless of what Nike calls its uniforms or how it markets them, football is not war. That is a very good thing, because war is hell, and football—well, football is not. As Chappuis' future fellow WW2 participant (and, ultimately, casualty) Iowa back Nile Kinnick said during his Heisman speech in 1939:

"

I thank God that I was born on the gridirons of the Middle West and not on the battlefields of Europe. I can speak confidently and positively that the player of this country would more, much rather struggle and fight to win the Heisman award than for the Croix de Guerre.

"

We're proud that Chappuis did the latter and that so many of the young men that have followed have had the freedom to do the former.

Rest in peace, Mr. Chappuis, and thank you.