It’s a big leap from high school football to major college football. The players in major college football are simply bigger, faster, and more athletic.

But in the mid-1970s, Ron Kullas made that big leap—impressively. He went from being an All-Metro football player at Columbia Heights High School to eventually being named an All-Big Ten receiver—twice—with the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

The best receivers in football are said to have “hands of gold,” but in Ron’s case, as a wide receiver for the Gophers, one might say that he had the hands of "maroon and gold." When a pass was thrown Ron's way, he usually caught it—and it was usually for a first down. And sometimes, for a touchdown.

Success in the college game didn’t come immediately to Ron, but his hard work and dedication eventually paid off. During his junio ...