Bill was a member of Red River’s first-ever graduating class in 1968 and a three-sport letter winner, participating in football, wrestling, and track and field. On the mat, Janssen was a solid wrestler for the Riders and helped the school’s first-ever wrestling team to a 35-13 win over Grand Forks Central. In track, Janssen was Red River’s first-ever state placer in the javelin, placing 5th in the 1968 state meet. On the gridiron, in Red River’s inaugural season, he was a captain for the Roughriders and was a dominant figure on the defensive side of the ball.  It was a season of growth for the Riders, but the season ended the right way with a 21-6 win over Grand Forks Central.  Upon graduation, Janssen received a football scholarship at the University of Nebraska, where he had a storied career for the Cornhuskers. After breaking his arm as a sophomore, Janssen earned a starting position for the 1971 Husker squad that went on to win the National Title. A 1972 team captain, Janssen was a second-team All-Big Eight pick when he made 48 tackles and had eight tackles for loss. He was prominently featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated after beating Alabama in 1972. Janssen was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1973 NFL Draft and played in the World Football League before retiring from football.