You’ll never get closer to action on a gridiron than this vintage early ‘40s photo of Minnesota’s All-American halfback and College HOFer Bruce “Boo” Smith charging between three defenders, the ball snugly under his right arm, #54 stretched wide across his broad back. One can see why Smith won the Heisman in ’41 as he breaks free of a tackler under him and his body is perfectly angled to bowl over the two other guys trying to get the angle on him. Photo has cropped Smith and a tackler’s head for an extreme close-up perspective that focuses on the grit, dirt and sweat of a typical play. Indeed, dirt kicked up by Smith’s spikes may have gotten onto the lens, creating a neat effect that looks like there are bullet holes through the back of his shirt – which may have been the only way he could have been stopped. Sepia-toned 7 x 9” photo is signed, “To Danny Gallagher, Bruce Smith” in bold black ink, the large and carefree signature grading NRMT. Photo is VG w/fold damage on the upper and lower right corners. Verso is stamped “Filed Oct. 29, 1940” with “Roll 2 #9” handwritten in pencil.