Bruce Stephens walked on to the Columbia University campus in 1974 intending to earn a degree in chemistry to become a pharmacist. And play a little football.
He walked off four years later with a degree in economics after they closed the pharmacy school his sophomore year. And having been named as the team’s MVP his senior season.
The Jets noticed his gridiron accomplishments and made the short drive to check him out.
“It’d always been my dream to play pro football,” Stephens said. “And before the draft, I got a letter from the 49ers and the Raiders and couple other teams, but the Jets sent someone to clock me in the 40. I think I ran a 4.3 at the time, and they said, ‘Yeah, we’ll be on the lookout for you.’
“And the day of the draft, going into the final round, I got a call from the Jets and they told me to sit tight. They think they want to take me in the last round. But the last round came about they picked up (Florida punter Alan Williams). Then they sent a car and took me out to their headquarters on Long Island, and signed me as a free agent right there.”
After the team gathered for the 1978 training camp at Hofstra, Stephens’ speed may have been why he was moved from running back, which he played in college, to wide receiver. And may have also been when head coach Walt Michaels told the punt- and kick-returners to stay after practice, he made a point of telling Stephens to be there.
“He asked me if I had returned punts in college. I said, ‘No, I didn’t, but I can sure try,'” Stephens said. “And when I turned around and looked back at all the punt-returners and kick-returners who had stayed after, it was only Ken Schroy and Bruce Harper. I think they needed someone else. So on kickoffs, Bruce Harper and I were the returners, and I backed up Wesley Walker at wideout.”
Used to playing in front of 1,500 to 2,000 at Baker Field at 128th and Broadway while at Columbia, Stephens’ first game as a Jet was in the…
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