"Joe likes to say that at one point in his career, he was 6-3, but he had tackled so many fullbacks that it drove his neck into his shoulders and now he is 6-foot," said the late Lions owner William Clay Ford, remembering Schmidt at his Hall of Fame induction. "At any rate, he was listed at 6-feet and as I say was marginal for that position. There are, however, qualities that certainly scouts or anybody who is drafting a ballplayer cannot measure."
"Pitt provided me with the opportunity to do what I've wanted to do, and further myself through my athletic abilities," Schmidt said, reflecting on his college years at Pittsburgh. "Everything I have stemmed from that opportunity."
Schmidt's contributions were vital during his tenure. He was an eight-time All-Pro and a crucial figure in the Lions winning their NFL titles in 1953 and 1957, showcasing leadership and excellence on the field.
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