Former RU Football Star Van Ness Passes Away
Nov 07 | Football
Bruce Van Ness, a standout in both football and lacrosse at
The versatile Van Ness played five positions during his three-year (1967-69) varsity career for the Scarlet Knights, including quarterback, tailback and fullback, and accounted for 2,216 all purpose yards. He was East Coast Athletic Conference's (ECAC) Sophomore of the Year as a quarterback in 1967 after throwing for 504 yards and five TDs, and adding another 389 yards and four TDs on the ground.
As a junior in 1968, Van Ness led the Scarlet Knights to an 8-2 record, playing both quarterback and tailback. He threw for 656 yards and five touchdowns, rushed for 280 yards and two TDs, and caught nine passes for 135 yards.
Van Ness led Rutgers to a 6-3 record as a senior, including a 29-0 win over
Following his senior season, Van Ness was chosen to play in college football's North-South all-star game, where he earned MVP honors. He was a fifth round draft choice of the Atlanta Falcons, and later went on to play for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He was inducted into the Rutgers Football Hall of Fame in 1991.
Van Ness also played lacrosse at
Van Ness graduated with a degree in business agriculture. Van Ness was the son of the late Janice Hapgood and the late Roy Van Ness, who was director of athletics at Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) from 1964-87. He served as a volunteer football and lacrosse coach at Rumson-Fair Haven in Rumson. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl; daughter Catherine of Brooklyn Heights, N.Y.; twin brother, David; sister, Krista; brother, Kirk; and his stepfather, David Hapgood.
A memorial service will be held in
