I wrote earlier in the week about Rick Leach, a Toronto Blue Jay from 1985 to 1988. I had no idea Rick Leach was best known in the USA as the stellar quarterback from the University of Michigan.
I just found a 1978 clip that compares Rick Leach to Joe Montana, and the comparison is pretty favourable to Mr. Leach. Yes folks, he was that good.
From Wikipedia:
Leach was a star quarterback at the University of Michigan from 1975 to 1978 under legendary coach Bo Schembechler. A left-hander, he was given the starting job before his freshman year and held it until he graduated four years later. In his freshman year, with the Big Ten championship and the 1976 Rose Bowl on the line in the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, Leach would throw an interception that was run back for a touchdown by Ray Griffin that would be the final score in a 21-14 Buckeye win.[1] However, Leach and the Wolverines would never lose to Ohio State again in his career. One of the finest athletes in Michigan history, Leach was named All-Big Ten as a quarterback three times and also placed in the voting for the Heisman Trophy three times. He was co-most valuable player in the 1979 Rose Bowl.
Leach shattered all Michigan's career passing, total offense and touchdown records. He set an NCAA record for most touchdowns accounted for (82) and broke Big Ten records for total offense (6,460) total plays (1,034) and touchdown passes (48). In 1978, he finished third in balloting for the Heisman Trophy, behind Billy Sims and Chuck Fusina.
