Bakhtiar played three years at the University of Virginia from 1955 to 1957, and in his senior year in 1957, ran for 822 yards to lead the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in rushing.  At the time, Bakhtiar was also the all-time leading rusher in the ACC history with 2434 yards  Bakhtiar was named a first-team All-American by Look Magazine and the Football Writers Association of America. Bakhtiar played both ways, starring at running back and linebacker.  Bakhtiar's real given name was Jamshid and being of Iranian descent, Bakhtiar was extremely popular in his ancestral country.  His roots showed up in his nicknames such as the "Iron Iranian" and the "Iranain Prince".  Bakhtiar came to Canada to play for the Calgary Stampeders in 1958, and finished fifth in the West in rushing with 971 yards.  The guys who beat him in his rookie year?  Bright, Lewis, Gilcrist and Lewis. As in three Hall of Fame running backs and one (Gilchrist) who declined the invitation to the HOF. Bakhtiar also handled kickoffs for the Stampeders, leading the West in kickoff yards and kickoff average (57.1). After 1958, Bakhtiar turned his back on football and never played another game.

Biography of Jim Bakhtiar