Division I Collegiate Athletes of a
Gifted Yet Humble Caliber Who Played
Dubuque Rugby Football & American Football;
also near the end, a Family of 7s Team:
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Randy Rick:
Randy is a valued University of Nebraska Cornhusker graduate, 6'4" 210 lbs, who played defensive end through 1977. Randy as well played in the forward pack for the Dubuque Rugby Club in the 70s & 80s. On the pitch, Randy's agile and instinctive Rugby play as well as aggressive tackling, running, and gifted leaping abilities among lineouts positioned him among Iowa's best, an All-Iowa Select Side Player. Moreover, Randy was recognized as the Most Valuable Player while playing with the NYC Old Blue among a Barbados Tour in 1980. This being noteworthy in that the Old Blue team placed third among the Nation's Final Four at the very first USA Rugby Nationals in 1979. The Old Blue RFC was established in 1963 within New York City by University of Columbia Alumni and is a founding member of the elite USA Rugby Super League founded in 1997.
Tom Rusk:
Tom is a respected University of Iowa Hawkeye graduate, 6'2" 232 lbs, who ruthlessly played linebacker through 1975-78 and among the top 10 Iowa linebackers for total tackles as an Iowa Hawkeye: 361. Moreover, Tom was recognized as the Hawkeye's most valuable player in 1977 and Co-MVP in 1978 as well as a 1977 First-team All-Big Ten linebacker. Furthermore, Tom played as one of the most aggressive tacklers and runners in the backfield for the Dubuque Rugby Club in the 80s & 90s. Prior to joining his three brothers on the Rugby Club, Tom also played professional football—a linebacker for the Toronto Argonauts in 1980 & 81 in the Canadian Football League. Among his other athletic achievements, Tom placed 1st in 1975—a State Wrestling Champion,185 lbs and an All-State Fullback in 1974 as well as finished 2nd in a National Toughman boxing competition in 1983. Indeed, being the youngest Rusk brother among four brothers likely polished certain athletic skills for Thomas and yielded that hand-me-down Rusk toughness from all that brotherly love.
Sir Thomas Rusk on your left
and of course Rugby veteran Boone Schlueter on the right
Below: Sir Randy Rick on your left:
and of course Rugby veteran Mike Weber on the right
For Division I college athlete: John Jacob "Jay" Berwanger, please click/tap the latter.
Atop: Bob, Mike, Jeff, & DBQ-Tom
One knee: Dick, Don, Rock Island-Tom, Rusk(s) & (?)
Gordon Rusk of Dubuque
Father of Don, Bob, Dick, & Tom Rusk
Don, Bob, & Dick atop
Mike & Tom Rusk(s) on one knee
Note: Athletes written about herein will likely down play their accomplishments. However, from an objective perspective truth has a life of its own; some athletes' ability and humility simply live on decade after decade. On a different note—from a somewhat comical point of view—when counting eight players in the Rusk 7s photo—the unnamed Rugger is someone who filled in for one of the DBQ Rusks who slept in late and missed half of the first morning match !
Hmmm ? Wonder which Rusk Brother that would have been (?). One might wonder if Dick had shared his smokes with the Sir/Ref the night before and thus explaining a resulting miscount and let a match of 8's go on in the second half against an opposing 7s side ; )