At 5-feet-10 and 200 pounds, Bauer was small by NFL standards, but believes attending CLU gave him advantages over some players who came from big-time college programs. “I wasn’t burned out. I know some players from big schools that by the time they got to the NFL their bodies and desires had given out,” Bauer explained. “We played hard at Cal Lutheran, don’t get me wrong, but we were also expected to excel in the classroom and get involved in other things. I graduated on-time and Cum Laude and when I got to the NFL, football was still fresh, new and exciting. It was a new challenge for me. Yes, CLU helped me achieve success –on the football field and off. It was a great place to find myself.”

Bauer’s tenacity and leadership qualities earned the respect of teammates, who elected him as a team captain, Most Inspirational Player in 1978 and Special Teams MVP in 1980 and 1981. Twice he received national recognition from the NFL as Special Teams Player of the Year.

In celebration of their 40th and 50th Anniversaries, the San Diego Chargers had their Hall of Famers, select media and fans twice vote for the top 50 All-time Chargers team. Seven members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame – Dan Fouts, Lance Alworth, Ron Mix, Fred Dean, Kellen Winslow, Charlie Joiner and Coach Sid Gillman were among those selected, and California Lutheran University’s Hank Bauer also made the list. It’s an honor that astounds and humbles him, even today.

Although Bauer was a star running back at CLU from 1972 through 1975 – rushing for 2,659 yards and 38 touchdowns for the Kingsmen – the number of players from small NAIA schools making it in the NFL are very few. But that didn’t stop Bauer, even after he was cut by the Dallas Cowboys in training camp in 1976. In 1977, Bauer signed as a free agent with San Diego, where he found his niche not only as a short-yardage power runner (which is where his nickname “hammer” came from), but a significant scoring threat, with 21 career touchdowns, scoring 9 touchdowns in 1978 and 8 touchdowns in 1979. Bauer holds the NFL single season record for most tackles on kickoff and punt coverage with 52 in 1981. He quickly became a fan favorite.

Forced to retire in 1983 after playing six games with a broken neck, Bauer coached running backs and special teams for four years with the Chargers, and since 1987 has been a broadcaster / color commentator for the team. In all, he has been affiliated with the Chargers for 36 years.

Even so, he credits his “big brothers“ for being the biggest influences on his life, including his brother Jim Bauer, who was also a great Cal Lutheran player / coach, and both Brian Kelley, who played 11 years at linebacker for the New York Giants, and Sam Cvijanovich, who was the Canadian Football League’s Rookie of the Year in 1974 with the Toronto Argonauts. My dearest friends are Kingsmen player / coach alumni,” said Bauer, who remains close to many former teammates.

Hank’s advice to young men who are considering playing football is this: : “Life is the greatest game of all. Live happy. Live to be happy. Live to have no regrets. Be loyal. Be honest. Play it every day, as though it were your last!