Chelsea gridiron great Bob Fee will be rooting for the Hoosiers in title game
Legendary Chelsea High School football player and head coach Bob Fee celebrated his 91st birthday January 11.
“Sunday was my birthday. I was born on 1-1-1,” noted Fee in an interview from his residence in Prattville.
A potentially glorious celebration for Fee, his family, and friends may be forthcoming as his beloved alma mater, Indiana University, will be playing the University of Miami for the national championship Monday night in Florida.
“If Indiana wins, there may be a future celebration at the Merritt Club, where my son [Robert Fee Jr.], is a member,” related Fee. “The whole club is pulling for Indiana.”
One of Indiana’s most illustrious football players, Fee has been closely following the Hoosiers’ undefeated season. He has been in touch with Indiana Athletic Director Scott Dolson throughout the season.
“He wanted me to come out to a game, but I wasn’t able to make one, but I watch them on television every game – there’s one more to go.”
Fee said he’s been very impressed with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy as the most outstanding college football player in the country.
A superb career at
Indiana
After earning All-Scholastic honors at Chelsea High School, Fee chose Indiana over several other schools, entering as an 18-year-old freshman.
“In a way, Indiana reminded me of Chelsea’s situation. They were playing in the best football conference (Big 10) in all of football, and I wanted to play against the best and maybe I could help Indiana win a game or two,” said Fee. “It worked out great.”
Because freshmen could not play varsity at that time, Fee began his IU career as a sophomore and became a three-year starter. During the 1954 Season. Fee helped the Hoosiers record one of their biggest wins ever, a 13-9 upset of Michigan at Michigan Stadium.
“We had beaten Nebraska on their field the week before,” recalled Fee. “After flying home to Indianapolis, we were on the team bus going back to school, and the coach called me up to the front of the bus. The coach asked that I come see him before practice Monday in his office. He said to me, “Nobody on this planet thinks we’re going to beat Michigan come Saturday. We’re a four-touchdown underdog.
“He then asked me, ‘Would you be willing to play another position in this game?’
Fee agreed and moved from defensive end to defensive back in addition to his role as the starting fullback. His assignment was to cover Michigan’s All-American receiver, Ron Kramer.
Fee intercepted two passes in the game, returning one 49 yards to the Michigan 1-yard line where, on the next offensive play, he rushed for a touchdown to give Indiana a 13-9 lead.
Michigan drove inside Indiana’s 10-yard line late in the fourth quarter. When Kramer lined up at tight end, Fee moved to his usual defensive end position. He made two tackles for losses on Michigan’s possession as the Hoosiers held on for the victory.
Indiana never forgot Fee’s outstanding contributions to the Indiana football program, naming a street near the campus, “Fee Lane” in his honor.
Fee’s prolific college career earned him an invitation in 1960 to try out for the Boston Patriots, who were about to begin their first season in the American Football League (AFL). Fee had been playing for the semi-professional Nu Way Sweepers (whose home field was Chelsea Memorial Stadium) at the time of the Patriots’ training camp.
“I was running the Sweepers at the time, and the Patriots invited me to their first training camp,” said Fee. “I was the last guy the Patriots let go. Rick Sapienza (Everett) and I were the last two cuts on the last day of camp.”
Fee remained with the Nu Way Sweepers for four more seasons. “I called it quits and started my running,” said Fee, who competed in several marathons and long-distance races over the next 50 years.
Fee returned to Chelsea High and became the head coach of the Red Devils’ football team in the late 1970s.
Fee’s greatest coaching triumph came in the 1980 Thanksgiving football game against Everett when quarterback Richie Maronski and receiver Paul Driscoll combined for three touchdowns and Chelsea overcame a 20-0 deficit to defeat Everett, 34-26. David Wood had a huge sack late in the game to seal the victory.
“We were losing 20-0, so I called timeout and I said to Paul Driscoll, ‘When you go down and out on your pass route, how does Everett’s defensive back cover you?”
“Paul said, “the defensive back is right with me.’
“After a [fullback] Greg DePatto running play, we called a down and up. Paul left his defender behind him, and Richie threw Paul a perfect strike for a touchdown,” said Fee. “We did that three times. The defense held Everett on the last drive, and we won.”
Fee said he will be watching the Indiana-Miami game at his home Monday night.
Should Indiana win the game, it will be “Hoosier Hysteria” at the Merritt Club.