Hall of Fame
Position: Defensive Tackle
Years: 1966, 1968-1969
Place of Birth: Altoona, PA
Date of Birth: May 24, 1947
Jersey Number: 68
Height: 6-3
Weight: 240
High School: Altoona, PA (Altoona HS)
Mike Reid is, without question, the greatest combination football player/songwriter who ever lived. In his senior year (1969), the tackle spearheaded Penn State on defense with 89 tackles. He was a unanimous All-America choice, won the Outland Trophy as the outstanding interior lineman in America, and was awarded the Maxwell Trophy as the nation's outstanding player in college football. But, while all this was going on, Mike Reid had other interests. He loved to play the piano and he loved music. When Mike completed his collegiate career at Penn State, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals. He played five years with the Bengals, and was twice named to the All-Pro team. But after five seasons the call from music persisted and Mike retired from the pro ranks to concentrate on music. How has he done? Not bad for a 6-3, 240-pound tackle. He moved to Nashville and in 1983 received a Grammy Award for his composition "Stranger In My House." In 1984 he was named Cash Box Magazine's "Songwriter of the Year" and in 1985 he was voted "Country Songwriter of the Year." Reid was named by the Academy of Country Music as "Songwriter of the Year", in 1986. He may become the first American to be in the College Football Hall of Fame and Music's Hall of Fame.
