Husky Legend: Bob Sapp
November 03, 2017 | Football
This week's Husky Legend Bob Sapp is best remembered as the UW offensive lineman that recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in the Whammy in Miami game in 1994, but his career was much, much more than that fleeting moment.
Sapp was a three-year letter winner on the line that was well-respected by not only his teammates, but his opponents. Sapp, who was listed as 6-foot-5 and 295-pounds as a senior in 1996, was a freakish athlete that could do a standing back flip and the splits. His athletic prowess helped him become a stalwart on the offensive line as he was named The Morris Trophy award winner as the Pac-10's best offensive lineman, voted on by defensive linemen from across the Conference. He earned this recognition from his peers despite not being named to the All-Conference first team.
Sapp was drafted in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears and would play four years in the NFL. While Sapp had a very successful career on the gridiron at Washington and beyond, it does not compare to the fame he found after leaving football.
Sapp became one of Japan's biggest celebrities after making his mark in K-1 Championship Fighting, a combination of karate, taekwondo, and kickboxing. "The Beast," as Sapp is known in the world of K-1, was listed as 6-foot-7 and 375 pounds, and quickly established himself in the sport by defeating four-time K-1 World Grand Prix Champion Ernesto Hoost of Holland.
Sapp's popularity in Japan soared. He once gobbled down handfuls of squid during a tour of Tokyo with an ensemble of media and has attracted hundreds of commercial endorsements β ranging, but not limited to mobile phones, pizza, candy and fabric softener.
Sapp has been featured on the cover of Time and the Wall Street Journal. ESPN Magazine and HBO's Real Sports have both profiled the former Husky. Sapp has also starred in the movies "Elektra" and "The Longest Yard."
Here is a little excerpt from a recent interview by GoHuskies.com with Sapp:
GoHuskies.com: How did you start playing football?
Bob Sapp: I started playing when I was 10 years old. I started as a defensive lineman. I ended up to get pretty good when I was in high school.
GH.com: Being from Colorado, what was the recruiting process like for you and why did you choose Washington?
Sapp: The University of Washington was my first time being on an airplane by myself. It was funny because my parents were shocked that I even did it. I was pretty freaked out, but I made myself do it. I was recruited from all around, but I had a really great need to be here at UW, like a magnetic force.
GH.com: Your dad was a police officer and very tough. Tell us about when he dropped you off for school at UW.
Sapp: We got to my dorm and we were unloading all of my stuff from the car. When I took my luggage upstairs, my dad had left. When I got back downstairs he was gone. Later my dad called me from far away to check in on me, but I was surprised. My dad loves to do that kind of stuff. One time while at UW, I hurt my foot and my dad changed the phone number at the house. He eventually reached out to me.
Β
GH.com: It's pretty well known that you lived in a hotel during some of your time at Washington. How did that come about?
Sapp: I lived in the Travelodge hotel (less than a mile from Husky Stadium). We were only able to work during spring break and small vacations during the quarter. So I worked there. As an employee, I was able to get a discounted price, and then I ended up using that as my home. I lived in a room and got that down to a rate that wasn't too different from renting an apartment.
GH.com: What is your memory of the win at Miami thatΒ Miami snapped their 58-game home winning streak?
Sapp: That was a game that was quite unique. The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) and Warren Sapp were at Miami at the time. So you had all of those guys on the field at the same time, future NFL ballers. It was a phenomenal and crazy time. It was one of the first times I got off the bench and I scored a touchdown. Everyone was going crazy and I thought I was in trouble.
GH.com: What was it like winning the Morris Trophy Award in 1996?
Sapp: I thought it was given to me by my coach because his last name was Morrison. Then he told me that it was a big deal. That meant a lot to me because it meant that people saw my hard work.
Β
GH.com: How has life been since you left Washington?
Sapp: My life has changed dramatically and it has taken me a long time to accept that. I have been a football player, an actor and a fighter. It's crazy. Just one of the things I've accomplished could be someone else's lifelong dream.
Sapp was a three-year letter winner on the line that was well-respected by not only his teammates, but his opponents. Sapp, who was listed as 6-foot-5 and 295-pounds as a senior in 1996, was a freakish athlete that could do a standing back flip and the splits. His athletic prowess helped him become a stalwart on the offensive line as he was named The Morris Trophy award winner as the Pac-10's best offensive lineman, voted on by defensive linemen from across the Conference. He earned this recognition from his peers despite not being named to the All-Conference first team.
Sapp was drafted in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears and would play four years in the NFL. While Sapp had a very successful career on the gridiron at Washington and beyond, it does not compare to the fame he found after leaving football.
Sapp became one of Japan's biggest celebrities after making his mark in K-1 Championship Fighting, a combination of karate, taekwondo, and kickboxing. "The Beast," as Sapp is known in the world of K-1, was listed as 6-foot-7 and 375 pounds, and quickly established himself in the sport by defeating four-time K-1 World Grand Prix Champion Ernesto Hoost of Holland.
Sapp's popularity in Japan soared. He once gobbled down handfuls of squid during a tour of Tokyo with an ensemble of media and has attracted hundreds of commercial endorsements β ranging, but not limited to mobile phones, pizza, candy and fabric softener.
Sapp has been featured on the cover of Time and the Wall Street Journal. ESPN Magazine and HBO's Real Sports have both profiled the former Husky. Sapp has also starred in the movies "Elektra" and "The Longest Yard."
Here is a little excerpt from a recent interview by GoHuskies.com with Sapp:
GoHuskies.com: How did you start playing football?
Bob Sapp: I started playing when I was 10 years old. I started as a defensive lineman. I ended up to get pretty good when I was in high school.
GH.com: Being from Colorado, what was the recruiting process like for you and why did you choose Washington?
Sapp: The University of Washington was my first time being on an airplane by myself. It was funny because my parents were shocked that I even did it. I was pretty freaked out, but I made myself do it. I was recruited from all around, but I had a really great need to be here at UW, like a magnetic force.
GH.com: Your dad was a police officer and very tough. Tell us about when he dropped you off for school at UW.
Sapp: We got to my dorm and we were unloading all of my stuff from the car. When I took my luggage upstairs, my dad had left. When I got back downstairs he was gone. Later my dad called me from far away to check in on me, but I was surprised. My dad loves to do that kind of stuff. One time while at UW, I hurt my foot and my dad changed the phone number at the house. He eventually reached out to me.
Β
GH.com: It's pretty well known that you lived in a hotel during some of your time at Washington. How did that come about?
Sapp: I lived in the Travelodge hotel (less than a mile from Husky Stadium). We were only able to work during spring break and small vacations during the quarter. So I worked there. As an employee, I was able to get a discounted price, and then I ended up using that as my home. I lived in a room and got that down to a rate that wasn't too different from renting an apartment.
GH.com: What is your memory of the win at Miami thatΒ Miami snapped their 58-game home winning streak?
Sapp: That was a game that was quite unique. The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) and Warren Sapp were at Miami at the time. So you had all of those guys on the field at the same time, future NFL ballers. It was a phenomenal and crazy time. It was one of the first times I got off the bench and I scored a touchdown. Everyone was going crazy and I thought I was in trouble.
GH.com: What was it like winning the Morris Trophy Award in 1996?
Sapp: I thought it was given to me by my coach because his last name was Morrison. Then he told me that it was a big deal. That meant a lot to me because it meant that people saw my hard work.
Β
GH.com: How has life been since you left Washington?
Sapp: My life has changed dramatically and it has taken me a long time to accept that. I have been a football player, an actor and a fighter. It's crazy. Just one of the things I've accomplished could be someone else's lifelong dream.
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