[1] Born in Redwood City, California, Bunce graduated from Woodside High School in 1967 and attended nearby Stanford University in Palo Alto, where he played behind Jim Plunkett, the Heisman Trophy winner in 1970 and first selection in the 1971 NFL draft.

Bunce became the starting quarterback as a fifth-year senior in 1971 and led the Indians to the Pac-8 championship and a spot in the Rose Bowl against favored and unbeaten Michigan on New Year's Day.

[2] With the scored tied at ten and less than four minutes to play, Michigan's 46-yard field goal attempt was short and right, but Stanford opted to run it out of the end zone.

Although he made it past the five-yard-line before retreating, Jim Ferguson was pushed back from the three and landed in the end zone; the nearest official awarded a controversial safety.

[2] In the 1972 NFL draft, Bunce was selected in the twelfth round (307th overall) by the Washington Redskins, but opted to join the Canadian Football League, where he signed a three-year contract with the British Columbia Lions of Vancouver and planned to attend medical school at the University of British Columbia.