Inventor of the Stagg Party tooOK - so ABC/ESPN are pimping their Top 25 and I notice they rank the only (for at least one more year) two-time Heisman Trophy Winner #21. Done. After reading that far, I knew their list sucked. As such, I'd like to offer MY list - which considers not only play on the field, but IMPACT a player had on the game. Let me use two Buckeyes (of course) to illustrate what I mean by IMPACT.
Bill Willis - played on Ohio State's 1st National Championship Team during a period in which black players were few and far between - even in "The North." A partial result of his success was the start of black players getting opportunities to play college (and professional sports). Even though it would be another 20+ years before some southern schools (Alabama) allowed black players the opportunity, Willis was a ground-breaker.
Archie Griffin - changed the role of freshman in college sports by breaking the school rushing record IN HIS FIRST GAME during the first year when freshman were allowed to play. An iron man of the 70's, #45 NEVER missed a game due to injury and ran for 100+ yards in 31 consecutive games. Archie became the first player to start in four Rose Bowls! 21st best? Not even close ABC!
On to THE REAL LIST...
25 Colt Brennan, QB - Hawaii: ALL-TIME TD leader (and he's not yet done) - just made island football relevant for the first time ever.
24 Bill Willis, DL - Ohio State: Played on Ohio State's first National Championship team in 1942 and also excelled in track. Earned All-American honors in 1944 and was later honored by induction into both pro and college football halls of fame. Broke the professional sports color-barrier one year before Jackie Robinson. One of the first great minority players.
23 Gerald Ford, C - Michigan: A great center (and linebacker), Ford was a leader on 2 Wolverine National Championship teams and voted Team MVP his senior year. Turned down a chance to play pro football - instead opting to coach at Yale and attend law school. Went on to become president. An example of all that is good about college sports.
22 Johnny Rodgers, RB - Nebraska: "The Jet" was the greatest kick returner in college football history and received the Heisman trophy in 1972. His punt return for a TD helped Nebraska beat Oklahoma 35-31 in one of the greatest games in history (1971).
21 Bronco Nagurski, DT - Minnesota: Won All-America honors at two positions…in the same year. Played one game with a cracked vertebrae and recovered a fumble before rushing for the winning TD. Award for best defensive player in the country is named after him.
20 Earl Campbell, RB - Texas: maybe the hardest player to tackle in the history of college football, Campbell won the Heisman in 1977.
19 Dick Butkus, LB - Illinois: Played both center and linebacker for the Illini earning two-time All-America honors and was the Big ten MVP in 1963. Probably the best linebacker to ever play college football.
18 Vince Young, QB - Texas: Set the standard for the modern dual-threat QB. Led the Longhorns return to glory by winning the 2005 Heisman Trophy and orchestrating an upset of USC in one of the greatest Rose Bowl games ever played. An electrifying player to watch.
17 Hugh Green, DE - Pitt: This decorated three-time All-American finished 2nd in Heisman balloting and left Pitt with 53 career sacks. Won the Lombardi, Maxwell, and Camp Awards. Probably the best defensive end to play the game. Unfortunately, was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
16 Bo Jackson, RB - Auburn: A bruising, fast back, Jackson was drafted by the Yankees, but instead, chose to play at Auburn where he won the '85 Heisman in a landslide. Stands behind Walker as the 2nd best RB in SEC history - based on rushing yards and TDs. Bo knows Savant's
Top 25 List!
15 Alonzo Stagg, E - Yale: An end on the very first All-American team, Stagg later gained notoriety as coach of the Chicago Maroons.
14 Deion Sanders, DB - Florida State: "Neon Deion" was the 1st DB to alter opponent's game plans, superior to Woodson in every way. One of the greatest open-field runners ever and a great punt returner, too. Sanders was twice named All-American and also played baseball and ran track for the Seminoles.
13 Tony Dorsett, RB - Pitt: Broke Archie Griffin's career rushing record and led the Panthers to the 1976 National Championship, won the Heisman, Maxwell, and Walter Camp awards.
12 Tom Harmon, RB - Michigan: "Old #98" played RB, QB, and kicker, won the Heisman in 1940 and twice led the nation in scoring (only player to accomplish that feat). In his final game, against Ohio State, he led the Wolverines to a 40-0 victory, scoring five TDs (3 rushing and 2 by passing), kicking 4 PATs, intercepting three passes, and averaging 50 yards on 3 punts.
11 Billy Cannon, RB - LSU: Led the Tigers to the '58 National Championship and clinched the '59 Heisman Trophy with a spectacular 89-yard punt return against Ole Miss.
I'll be back soon with the rest.
No Bitches, they are already done, but we need to stretch these things out a bit. What are we.....prolific? Dumbass.
Savant Out
5 comments:
I guarantee if this list was re-written, I'd be on it.
They play football in the North? Never heard of most of these guys.
Excuse me, did I miss something? I didn't see Sean Taylor on this list. I don't even know who you are anymore.
WTF??? Can't a one-trick pony get on your list?
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