Lehigh Sports Forum

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh Hall of Fame member and two sport standout John S. Hill '72 passed away Sunday at the age of 68. Hill is regarded as one of the greatest offensive linemen in Lehigh football history and enjoyed a 14-year career in the National Football League. He also competed in track and field, where his school records in the shot put stood for more than 40 years.

Source: https://lehighsports.com/news/2018/10/2 ... -away.aspx

The most successful professional football player to come out of Lehigh. 14 years in the NFL and named captain of the New Orleans Saints his last 5-6 years there and named to their 'wall of fame'. An amazing athlete. He set shot put records at Lehigh that lasted four decades.

CTE casualty.

Former Saints center John Hill died Sunday night at the age of 68 of pancreatic cancer in Raleigh, NC. Hill had undergone surgery earlier this year. Not CTE!

He was the long snapper on punts. The thing I will always remember as a testament to what a great athlete he was, is that after he snapped the ball, he was always the first guy downfield. He had a great run as the Saints center. However, he started with the Giants and they stupidly moved him to tackle. We could use a center like him right now.

He was the best OL ever at Lehigh. Back then with 4 man DLs he was the perfect OC both at Lehigh and in the NFL.

I came to Lehigh as a 17 year old small town kid from a small town high school who was half way decent at math and signed up for ChemE. And scared to death I would flunk out. I had never done any thing like a Chemistry lab exercise. At Chem 1 my lab partner was a big kid from a big time New Jersey high school. He made me feel at lot more at ease and we became passing-thru first semester friends. I did a lot of the math and he did most of the set ups. But I was scared he might crush some of the test tubes, 'cause he was that big.

I never realized he was a football player until sophomore year when he was finally allowed to play. Never really met him again until an intramural basketball game junior year when he almost took my head off on a rebound.

Never knew him that well but, RIP John Hill, a really good guy from my perspective.

Great story Jim. Thanks.

How times have changed. John was listed as 6-2, 249# when he was drafted in the 6th round by the Giants. That's the size of an average NFL fullback today.

Lehigh74 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 31, 2018 2:18 pm He was the long snapper on punts. The thing I will always remember as a testament to what a great athlete he was, is that after he snapped the ball, he was always the first guy downfield. He had a great run as the Saints center. However, he started with the Giants and they stupidly moved him to tackle. We could use a center like him right now.

Yes, as I said, above, John was a tremendous athlete. He clocked around 4.7 in the 40 yard dash.