Burt Reynolds his spleen and injured his other knee in a bad car accident. These injuries hampered his abilities on the field, and after being beaten in coverage for the game-winning touchdown in a 7-0 loss to North Carolina State on October 12, 1957, he decided to give up football. Ending his college football career, Reynolds thought of becoming a police officer; however, his father suggested he finish college and become a parole officer. To keep up with his studies, he began taking classes at Palm Beach Junior College (PBJC) in neighboring Lake Park. In his first term at PBJC, he was
Burt Reynolds by Merrick, who fired and then rehired director Don Siegel during filming. Reynolds had two huge hits with car films directed by Needham, "Smokey and the Bandit II" (1980) and "The Cannonball Run" (1981). He starred in David Steinberg's film "Paternity" (1981) and directed himself in a tough action film, "Sharky's Machine" (1981). Reynolds wanted to try a musical again and so agreed to do "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982). It was a hit, as was "Best Friends" (1982) with Goldie Hawn. In 1982, Reynolds was voted the most popular star in the US for the fifth year