He’s more known for his pro career. But an underrated part of Mike Stratton was how he helped extend Bowden Wyatt’s career an extra four years when he played for Tennessee football, similar to what Condredge Holloway did for Bill Battle and what Joshua Dobbs did for Butch Jones.
Stratton, who was a six-time AFL Pro Bowler and two-time AFL champion with the Buffalo Bills, passed away Wednesday at age 78. He made the famous “hit heard around the world” in the 1964 AFL Championship game against the San Diego Chargers, knocking out star Chargers running back Keith Lincoln on a kickoff return with the Bills trailing 7-0.