Rob Lytle Died

Submitted by His Dudeness on

Heart attack.

Read it on rivals...

As if this day couldn't get any worse.

[FA EDIT: Bumped because people keep making new threads about this despite being still on the front page of everything]

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Football

ST3

November 20th, 2010 at 10:08 PM ^

I started going to games when I was 6 in 1976. Rob Lytle was the first Michigan football player I idolized. I switched from being a Raiders fan to being a Broncos fan because of Lytle. 30+ years later, I still root for the Broncos because they were smart enough to draft Rob Lytle. RIP, Rob.

Joined: 09/11/2010

MGoPoints: 52464

meals69

November 20th, 2010 at 11:33 PM ^

i've personally know Rob for 15 years or so as he was one of my HS football coaches and he was very involved in our community (Fremont, OH) he was a great man and was proud to be a Wolverine.

 

ROB YOU WILL BE MISSED!!!

Joined: 07/25/2008

MGoPoints: 1272

Blueto

November 20th, 2010 at 11:40 PM ^

Rob Lytle was one of my favorite Wolverines of all time and absolutely my favorite running back. He played both fullback and tailback. He was maybe a little small for a fullback and a step slow for a tailback but he had rare grit and determination. I'll never forget his gritty performance in the 1976 Michigan-Ohio State game.

There will always be more football games that we lose. It is far bigger blow to lose a true hero. My prayers go out to him and his family.

Joined: 11/18/2009

MGoPoints: 412

rdlwolverine

November 21st, 2010 at 9:01 AM ^

First player to score a touchdown in both the Rose Bowl and the Super Bowl.  For the commenter above that said he was small for a fullback and a bit slow for a tailback, he was not slow.  He ran track at UM and placed in the sprints at Big 10 champsionships as I recall.

Joined: 09/28/2008

MGoPoints: 983

eth2

November 21st, 2010 at 9:16 AM ^

Thanks for posting. Lytle ran some tough yards and fittingly scored the final TD. Love the fake PAT that was run in for two, and the ensuing dig by the legendary Bob Ufer on ole Joe Falls who said Bo played dull football. Yes, even back then the Freep was bitching about M football. RIP Rob Lytle, one of the true Michigan greats.

Joined: 09/20/2010

MGoPoints: 3204

Bill in Birmingham

November 21st, 2010 at 8:55 AM ^

He was a few years ahead of me. But he was a starting fullback as a little guy. The fastest fullback in the history of the world. I didn't get upset yesterday about the game, but I'm kind of crying in my coffee now. God bless, Rob.

Joined: 08/30/2008

MGoPoints: 7179

Blue Blue Blue

November 21st, 2010 at 11:00 AM ^

I knew Rob and Tracy in during their West Quad days.   Even then, he was a star.....but only if you knew it.   I remember being in a class with a girl who professed a crush on "that guy Rob"....and when we told her who he was, she thought we were kidding her.

I was particularly touched by the poster who said Rob was one of his HS football coaches, and "a great man".

 

No doubt.

Joined: 06/20/2010

MGoPoints: -999446

uferfan1

November 21st, 2010 at 11:35 AM ^

Those were the early days of my college football fanhood, and I sure did enjoy his toughness. Sorry for his family  and friends. I hate being at the age I see more obits than wedding announcements. Say hello to Bo and flick Woody's ear.

Joined: 10/25/2009

MGoPoints: 346

WolverineHistorian

November 21st, 2010 at 12:49 PM ^

56 is too young.  It's really disturbing how we keep losing members of the Wolverine family too soon.  Tom Slade, Rodney Feaster and now Rob Lytle. 

This sucks.  My prayers go out to Lytle's loved ones.  God bless his cotton picking maize and blue heart. 

Joined: 08/10/2009

MGoPoints: 55466

mgobobb

November 21st, 2010 at 2:13 PM ^

What a terrible shame.  Life is strange.  I just looked at a photo on my wall of Rob and Rick Leach 15 minutes ago.  As someone said, the most DEPENDABLE back in our history.  A real gamer.  I will never forget the '76 UM-OSU game and I had the good fortune to walk down to the locker room with his mom and dad.
 
True so true, our youth is fleeting.  I'm saddened and truly shocked.
 
Dear God, please bless Rob Lytle and his family and may he rest with You in eternal grace.

Joined: 08/14/2010

MGoPoints: 321

C-BusWolve

November 21st, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^

Rob was a member of my home church in Fremont, OH. I have never spoken to him but have seen him at services before. He always sat in the back of the church with his family and if you weren't an avid Michigan fan or sports follower you would have never known there was a former superstar in the sanctuary. He seemed like a very humble man. RIP Rob, definitely too soon for you to go.

Joined: 09/15/2009

MGoPoints: 117

Don

November 21st, 2010 at 6:16 PM ^

With Huckleby and Davis, those guys were a load in 1976. They were just a missed last-second FG against Purdue away from going into the Rose Bowl undefeated. If they'd managed beat PU and USC, they probably would have shared the NC with Pitt.

One of Lytle's teammates, Dan Jilek, passed away a number of years ago. It's easy to think of these football gods as indestructible, but fate seems to play no favorites.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 148278