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Reactions: College Football Players of the Century Hokie and Hurricane fans spoke loudlyLatest: Thursday August 17, 2000 10:58 AM
Sports Illustrated senior writer Ivan Maisel has named his top player of the century past at each of the 115 Division I-A school. CNNSI.com users were asked if they agreed or disagreed with his pick for their favorite school. Here's a sample of the responses we received: Notre Dame's George Gipp should have been a no-brainer for Ivan Maisel. Plenty of great players have played under the Golden Dome at Notre Dame, however, when things get tough and the breaks are beating the boys, I don't recall hearing the cry go up..."Win one for the Lujack."
Ever hear of some guy named Bruce Smith at Virginia Tech? Vick is awesome but one year does not make you player of the century!
Rich Glover as the greatest player ever at NU? I think you've been spending a little too much time tailgating before the games on Saturday. Did you see that run by a guy named Tommy Fraizer in the Sugar Bowl a few years ago, when we crushed Florida for the national title? That was the greatest run, by the greatest player, ever to wear a Nebraska uniform!
UCLA Gary Beban, QB 1964-67: Out of the entire history of UCLA football there has only been one championship trophy, and one Heisman. Gary Beban has won both.
Great call on BYU. Detmer certainly wasn't the best pro prospect, but he had a magical feel for the game that few other quarterbacks have ever had at the college level. But take it from an avowed Wyoming foe, I never worried about Marcus Harris like I did Jay Novacek.
How can you pick Ricky Williams over Earl Campbell? Earl was the most dominating back of his day and one of the most dominant of all-time. He is also a "Texas legend" alongside Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston. Ricky Williams has shown his true colors by his antics with the Saints and his immaturity in the SI interview with John Ed Bradley.
Colorado's player of the century is undoubtedly Byron "Whizzer" White. White established the highest total yards-per-game average record that stood for almost 50 years, until Raghib "Rocket" Ismael of Notre Dame broke it in 1991. White also was an All-American in football and basketball, and one-upped Romig -- he became Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
There is only one pick I completely disagree with. Hugh Green as player of the century for Pittsburgh instead of Tony Dorsett? On top of winning the Heisman and setting the collegiate rushing record, he also led his team to the national title.
Ryan Leaf over Drew Bledsoe?
Tony Dorsett should have been Pittsburgh's choice. Among other accomplishments, Dorsett held the all-time rushing record for about 20 years. I'd also take Earl Campbell over Ricky Williams. Of the two, Campbell was by far more dominating than Williams.
I certainly agree with your pick of Lee Roy Jordan from Bama. I was there from 1960-1964 and saw him play almost every game. There has never been another player who played with as much heart and desire as Lee Roy. This, along with his athletic abilities, made him what he was in college and the pros. There was a joke about Lee Roy back in those days: When one of the other Bama defenders was trying to tackle an opposing ball carrier and he wouldn't go down, the Bama player would say "Hurry up and fall fool, before Lee Roy comes and kills us both." He was always where the ball was and he was a great player.
Ivan: You botched almost the entire state of Florida.
How in the world can you not list Steve Largent for Tulsa? A Hall-of-Fame receiver like Largent is ousted by Twilley?
How the heck can Drew Bledsoe not be the man from Washington State? Ryan Leaf? Are you guys crazy? Ryan is what you might call a "one-trick pony" and that one trick is being a complete jerk! I do believe that in the case of Oklahoma, the man should be Billy Simms. He was only the school's last Heisman winner and more notably the last great runner to come out of the Oklahoma program (and no, Billy DuPree does not qualify). If it hadn't been for a blatant low tackle by a Minnesota Vikings player in 1983, he would easily have cleared 10,000 yards rushing and become one of the NFL's best backs ever.
While Jim Ritcher did win the Outland Trophy, I feel Ted Brown was the best player to ever don the Red and White of the Wolfpack. Brown set numerous records, both school and conference, and his career stats are the measuring stick for current and future ACC running backs. His 275-yard game against Penn State is still talked about as one of the greatest efforts in the history of college football. If your picks are based on their pro careers as well as their college efforts then I agree with your pick, but if it is solely on collegiate effort, Ted Brown is the best to ever play at Riddick Stadium or Carter Finley Stadium.
I agree with most of his choices, but to pick Mike Reid for Penn State after they have had so many amazing offensive stars is hard to swallow. Blair Thomas, Ki-Jana Carter, Kerry Collins, O.J. McDuffie -- the list just goes on.
It would be really tough for me to name a player of the century for the University of Alabama. There have been so many who could lay claim to that title. Jordan is definitely one of the best ever, but how could anyone overlook Derrick Thomas, Joe Namath, or even the most recent 'Bama hero Shaun Alexander?
I wonder if Jerome Bettis or Raghib Ismail were considered for Notre Dame. "Rocket" could single-handedly change the game in one play. Remember the punt return against Colorado in the Orange Bowl that got called back for a bogus clipping penalty? That was the difference in a win, one play. He was by far the most dominant punt returner in college football ever. Also Jerome Bettis was the most dominant running back in college football until Ricky Williams came along. He could run around or over defenders, and with him paired with Reggie Brooks in the backfield, ND had the best running back tandem in football.
I think a better choice for Texas Tech would have been Byron Hanspard, RB, '94-'97. He led them to bowl games all three years he played and was a legitimate Heisman candidate. In addition, he is one of the few to have rushed for 2000 yards in a season. Ask Spike Dykes and he'll tell you Hanspard is deserving.
I feel the player of the century for UNC was Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice. He electrified college football in the late 40s and even had a song written about him. He put UNC football on the map. He had more of an impact than Lawrence Taylor.
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