Bob Shurtleff
Bob Shurtleff started his football career at Pikeville High School as a center before moving to play left tackle on offense and defense. He also punted in 1981, his senior season. Though primarily playing primarily as a tackle he would often be counted on as a long snapper as well.
Shurtleff was also on the basketball team at PHS and played against some of the big name players of the time, including Todd May, Melvin Turpin, Leroy Bird, Greg Wilson, and Dirk Minnifield. He was also a shot putter and held the regional record for the discus throw until 2007.
Belfry was Shurtleff’s favorite high school rival. Those games were great competition, and he lived for it. Other rivalries included Hazard and Prestonsburg.
One memory that Shurtleff recounted was his freshman season’s game against Paintsville. Those Pikeville-Paintsville games have always been some of the best in the commonwealth. Coaches Hillard Howard of Pikeville and Walter Brugh of Paintsville admired and respect each other, but game time was an all-out battle.
Shurtleff also recounted other notable memories, including playing against Somerset and future UK teammate Pete Venable and challenging Fort Campbell, the previous year’s champions, for the state title.
Bob Shurtleff won many honors in his high school career. As a junior he made All-State teams as an offensive and defensive tackle. His senior year, he made the AP, Lexington Herald-Leader, and Louisville Courier-Journal all-state teams, and also played in the East-West All Star game.
Shurtleff went to the University of Kentucky. As a sophomore he played in nine games, and became a starting left tackle his junior year. He was picked in one poll as an All-SEC player, but that honor did not materialize. However, he was selected as an “SEC Lineman of the Week.”
Shurtleff played in two bowl games while at UK. As a junior the 1983 Wildcats lost to West Virginia 16-20 in the Hall of Fame Bowl, and as a senior he and his teammates beat nationally ranked Wisconsin 20-19 in the same bowl game. The 1984 Wildcats ended with a 9-3 record, ranked 19th in the final poll,
Bob’s least favorite place to play in college was definitely at LSU. “The crown of the field was about the same level as the first row of bleachers and it was the loudest place I’ve ever played. I was fortunate enough to win there at Tiger Stadium, as well as at Neyland stadium (Tennessee), It was nice to not hear over 100,000 fans in orange screaming and that band playing Rocky Top!”
His senior season over, Shurtleff’s play did not go unnoticed. He was presented with a plaque honoring him as UK’s “Unsung Hero” for 1984.
