The United States Naval Academy is one of the most disciplined programs in the sport. It has a rich history and has produced some of the best players the country has ever seen.
Among all their achievements, the proudest are Joe Bellino’s and Roger Staubach’s Heisman Trophy wins in 1960 and 1963. Below, we have shared all you need to know about the legends of Navy Midshipmen.
1) Joe Bellino’s (1960)
Joe Bellino, nicknamed the “Winchester Rifle” for his Massachusetts roots, was handy in multiple sports. He turned heads both in baseball and football during his highschool days and his talent attracted the attention of many programs who wanted to bag him for their lineups.
Happy Birthday to former #NavyFootball standout and 1960 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Bellino! @NavyFB pic.twitter.com/14wfE08zxT
— Navy Athletics (@NavyAthletics) March 13, 2018
However, Bellino turned down many of them, including a Pittsburgh Pirates contract and offers from Notre Dame to attend Navy and play football for them.
After a year in prep school, Bellino exploded onto the college football scene. From 1958 to 1960, he rushed for 1,664 yards, scored 31 touchdowns, and set 15 program records, including 833 yards on kick returns.
In his Heisman-winning 1960 season, Bellino rushed for 834 yards and 15 touchdowns, adding three receiving scores. His glory on the field earned him unanimous All-America honors and the Maxwell Award.
Bellino dominated the Heisman vote, amassing 1,929 points to Penn State’s Richie Lucas’ 613. Off the gridiron, Bellino shone as Navy’s baseball captain, batting .428 in 1959. After graduating, he served four years in the Navy, later playing three seasons with the Boston Patriots.
Belino was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977, and his No. 27 jersey was retired by the program. He passed away in 2019 at 81.
2) Roger Staubach (1963)
Three years later, Roger Staubach, nicknamed “Roger the Dodger,” also managed to climb the impossible cliffs and earned another Heisman win for the Navy. As a junior in 1963, Staubach led the Midshipmen to a No. 2 national ranking and a Cotton Bowl berth.
He completed 106 of 161 passes for 1,474 yards, setting bowl records with 21 completions and 228 passing yards against Texas. Navy’s wins over Michigan, Notre Dame, and Maryland showed what Roger is made of. Staubach earned consensus All-America honors, the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Trophy.
His Heisman win was pretty decisive, with a majority of votes falling on his name by the committee. Staubach also starred in baseball, hitting .420 in 1963, and lettered in basketball.
After serving in Vietnam, Staubach joined the Dallas Cowboys, leading them to two Super Bowl titles and earning Super Bowl VI MVP honors. His 23 fourth-quarter comebacks made him the gold standard in clutch plays.
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He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985. Staubach received the National Football Foundation’s Gold Medal in 2008. Navy’s locker room in Ricketts Hall bears his name.
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