Northeastern University football great Dan Ross dies at 49
Ross was inducted into the Northeastern Hall of Fame in 1986 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004. He was the owner and president of Power House Supply.
Arguably the greatest player ever to don a Northeastern University football jersey, Ross rewrote the Northeastern record books as an All-America tight end. He went on to star in the National Football League, where he earned All-Pro status in both the NFL and USFL. He caught a Super Bowl record 11 footballs in the 1983 Super Bowl when his Cincinnati Bengals lost against San Francisco.
Ross, whose last full season of college ball was in 1978, still holds several records at Northeastern. Ross holds the Northeastern records for receptions in a season (68) and set the career mark of 217. Both were also New England records. He set Northeastern marks for receiving yards in a season (988) and career yards (2,343), which were later eclipsed by Dave Klemic (1997-2000).
In Ross' collegiate heyday, few would argue that he was the area's premier receiver, and perhaps the best at his trade in the East. His specialty was attracting crowds and still hanging onto the football. His tremendous power, concentration, hands, blocking ability and open field running added up to one of the most exciting athletes to ever take the gridiron in New England.
He blossomed as a junior when he caught 60 passes for 913 yards and four touchdowns. He followed that with 988 yards and seven touchdowns a year later, as he copped both of New England's highest football honors, the Bulger Lowe (Outstanding Player) and Harry Agganis (Outstanding Senior) Awards. After his final game, Northeastern officially retired his jersey, number 84.
Professional scouts were aware of Ross' talents and he was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals for whom he had 41 catches resulting in All Rookie team selection. He went on to play 10 pro football seasons in the NFL and USFL.
He leaves his wife Joan and two children Dan Jr., 22, and Jillian, 23, both of Atkinson, N.H.
May 17, 2006
Northeastern University Hall of Famer and football great Dan Ross died suddenly on Tuesday night, at his Atkinson, N.H. home after he had been out jogging. He was 49 years old.
