Hall of Fame
Position: Tackle
Years: 1958-1960
Place of Birth: Olney, TX
Date of Birth: Jul 26, 1939
Jersey Number: 72
Height: 6-5
Weight: 250
High School: Throckmorton, TX (Throckmorton HS)Pendelton, OR (Pendelton HS)
If defense is, indeed, the name of the game, then the name of Bob Lilly is rightfully etched in gridiron granite. He was, indeed, "Mr. Defense" as both a collegiate and professional star. During Lilly's three varsity seasons with Texas Christian, the Horned Frogs surrendered an average of just eight points a game. As a sophomore in 1958, Bob helped the Horned Frogs to an 8-2-1 record which included a scoreless tie with Air Force in the Cotton Bowl. TCU was 8-2 in 1959 before losing to Clemson, 23-7, in the first Bluebonnet Bowl game. Eleven opponents could total no more than 75 points against the Horned Frogs that year, an average of less than seven points a game. Lilly was the ring leader of that great TCU defense, winning All- Southwest Conference honors. Although the Horned Frogs slipped to a mediocre 4-4-2 record in 1960, Bob Lilly's individual play continued to draw praises from the experts. Again, he was all-conference and he added consensus All-America laurels. That season he appeared in four post-season contests - the East-West Shrine Game, the Hula Bowl, the Coaches All-America game and the College All-Star Game. Following his collegiate career, Lilly went on to star for the Dallas Cowboys and became an All-Pro defensive star.
