Greatest college player ever? Not Tim Tebow, I’m afraid
A kerfuffle arose last week when esteemed colleague Mr. College Football noted the sainted Tim Tebow was not — repeat, was not – a unanimous choice on the SEC coaches’ preseason all-conference team. Not that anyone should ever care about a preseason all-conference team. But I digress.
We are about to embark on a season in which the debate will rage: Is Tim Tebow the greatest college player ever? Thom Brennaman touched off the discussion during the broadcast of the BCS title game, and essentially every broadcast of every Florida game in 2009 will include some variation thereof. And I should stipulate that, not so long ago, I wrote that Matthew Stafford was a better college quarterback than Tebow.
I was, as often happens, wrong. And I became a massive Tebow believer during his bravura performance against Alabama in the SEC championship game. I would have no trouble putting him in the all-time top five among college players, alongside or slightly ahead of Red Grange, O.J. Simpson and Roger Staubach. But I could not in good conscience put him atop that list. Because, as great as Tebow has been, Herschel Walker was greater.
In Tebow’s three seasons at Florida, the Gators have lost six games and won two national championships. (Remember, he was the backup quarterback to Chris Leak in 2006.) In Herschel’s three seasons at Georgia, the Bulldogs lost three games, won one national championship and played for another (and were tantalizingly close to playing for a third). Herschel didn’t touch the ball on every play, but it was as if he did.
Remember the Labor Day night game against Clemson in 1982? Remember Herschel, who had broken his thumb in preseason practice, trotting on the field despite Vince Dooley’s assurance (whoops) he wouldn’t play? Remember how Dooley, in the greatest moment of a Hall of Fame career, had John Lastinger fake to Herschel and hand the ball to Tron (Electron) Jackson on a reverse? Remember how the stout Clemson defense — Terry Kinard and Refrigerator Perry among the crew — all ran to Herschel? Remember Jackson scoring the coolest-ever touchdown that didn’t actually count? (Motion penalty nullified it.)
That was Herschel to a “H.” He terrified defenses. The Sunday before Kentucky played Georgia in 1980, I sat with the Wildcats’ defensive coaches as they watched film of Herschel, who had just gained 283 yards against Vanderbilt. Fran Curci, the head coach, never watched film with the defensive guys, but he watched this one.
Loading ...And when it came to the immortal sequence when a hapless Commodore latched onto Herschel’s shoulder pad before being brushed off — it’s first clip on the YouTube video below — Curci stood and started yelling. “Did you see that? He didn’t even know the guy was there!” (Three years earlier, Curci had beaten Georgia in Athens 33-0 with Prince Charles and James Brown in attendance, and here he was hollering like an ordinary fan.)
Tim Tebow still has another year, and he has already proved me wrong once. He’s a great player. But I confess I don’t come to this discussion with an entirely open mind. I decided long before I moved to Georgia that Herschel was the best college player I’d ever see, and 29 years later I haven’t wavered.
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399 comments Add your comment
mq
July 21st, 2009
10:14 am
Tebow couldn’t shine Walkers shoes.
wheby
July 21st, 2009
10:18 am
Loyalty to the college should be a criteria for this acclaim. Tebow will have stayed all four years, Walker quit, and ran away. Remember the scholarship should be for four years……
Wheby has a point...
July 21st, 2009
10:23 am
…but, still, there is no doubt that as good as Tebow has been and is, he, and no one else, compares to Herschel “my body is like an Army” and “no suh, ball ain’t heavy” Walker!
Didn't Junkyard Blawger...
July 21st, 2009
10:24 am
…cover this a couple of weeks ago?
H.S. Coach
July 21st, 2009
10:24 am
Why on earth does it matter how many years he plays? Scholarships are 1 year agreements that the coach or player can agree not to renew each year. The man was the greatest of that generation if not all time. And he didn’t quit and walk away as you suggest.
GTDhoo
July 21st, 2009
10:25 am
If Tebow wins 3 national championships to Herschel’s 1, I think you’ll have your answer
Mark Bradley
July 21st, 2009
10:26 am
Tebow’s not going to win three BCS titles as a starter, I don’t believe.
DawginLex
July 21st, 2009
10:28 am
Herschel
Bo Jackson
Archie Griffin
Big dropoff after that to Tebow and others like OJ, Charles White, Ricky Williams, Earl Campbell etc.
Huh?
July 21st, 2009
10:28 am
When I think of Tebow, I think of jump passes in to the endzone from 4 yards out and grinding out 3 yard touchdown runs. I think this is what he will be remembered for. Watching that Hershel highlight reel you ask yourself where are all the similar big plays from Tebow? They really aren’t there. He is undoubtedly the best player in the game right now and one of the best in a long long time, but the best ever? I don’t think so.
Robert
July 21st, 2009
10:29 am
Tebow may well be the best college quarterback ever, but he won’t be a great pro. There is no doubt that Herchel was the greatest college football player ever. I was lucky to be in the stadium for all of his home games and a bunch of the away ones. He was truly a man among boys.
Mark Bradley
July 21st, 2009
10:31 am
I don’t rate college players on pro potential. Apples and oranges.
Oh, and I believe the Junkyard Blawger addressed best Georgia players ever, not the best college players. Could be wrong, though.
Huh?
July 21st, 2009
10:31 am
wheby does not have a point. The only point he has is that he is absolutely woefully clueless about the business of college and pro football. Tebow was projected as no better than a 3rd round draft choice in this year’s draft. To act like he made some bold and brave choice by staying at Florida smacks of ignorance. He had no choice. He had to come back. Please get yourself a flippin’ clue. Thanks.
Bryan G.
July 21st, 2009
10:35 am
I’m a UGA alum, so of course I am going to be shaded towards #34.
I think Tebow is definitely in the discussion of greatest ever. If he wins another BCS championship and Heisman this year, though, it’s going to be hard to say that #34 was better. The Gators lost 4 games in 2007 not because of Tebow but because their defense was awful.
By the way…why doesn’t Tommy Frazier get more love for best all-time?? He was 33-3 as a starter and won two NCs and played for a third (and almost beat the unbeatable FSU team).
Robert, I have said this before...
July 21st, 2009
10:36 am
…don’t be a dumb a$$ – Herschel was not necessarily a good pro, either. And the question was about college players, and NOBODY compares to Herschel as a college football player – nobody!
Tide Rising
July 21st, 2009
10:39 am
Neutral opinion here. Herschel is definitely the greater player over Tebow.
Tebow is a great player but when sportscasters are saying during the seccg that every person would be a better person if they just spent 5 minutes with Tim Tebow then I know the hype is getting a little crazy. Still a great player though.
Sorry, Huh?...
July 21st, 2009
10:42 am
…what I was trying to say was that Tebow, as good as he has been and is, still does NOT compare, nor does anyone else, to Herschel “my body is like an Army’ and “no suh, ball ain’t heavy” Walker!
So, I really do have a clue, I am just not very articulate, unlike you!
Saint Simons
July 21st, 2009
10:44 am
45-42!!!!!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
CrimsonRedScarlett
July 21st, 2009
10:45 am
It is almost impossible to compare the players from before 1960 to the latter group. Temember that the earlier ones had to play defense and could not go in and out every play. This also applies to the NFL.
That said, I woudl go for Trippi at UGA and Hutson at Alabama for two southern schools. To e fair, I think that Tebow could be OK at safety.
Mac
July 21st, 2009
10:46 am
Looks like a job may have just opened up for Michael Vick in Pittsburgh.
JMar
July 21st, 2009
10:47 am
I’d rather hear the garbage about Tebow being the best college player every single game, versus having to hear the circumcisions story for the billionth time.
Robert
July 21st, 2009
10:48 am
That was my point. The games are apples and oranges and again I think that Tebow is the best college quarterback that I have seen. I liked your point that Herchel was the complete focus of every defense after his first 3 games and still could not be stopped. Tebow has had the luxury of being surrounded by a great supporting cast. I also think that it is strange that Jim Brown gets no mention in the list of greatest players.
David Granger
July 21st, 2009
10:49 am
Herschel also excelled under two different offensive systems. His freshman year, Georgia ran the wishbone. (And Hershcel had…what might have been…his best season ever.) Then Dooley switched to the I-formation, and let Herschel carry the ball 45 times a game. And Herschel continued to excel.
I like Tebow, and am a fan…but I don’t think he would be as effective running any other offensive scheme. (And Urban Meyer is to be commended for KNOWING that, and running the offense that works.)
I get a little tired of hearing the Gator fans praising Tebow to the skies…but I’m sure the fans of other schools got tired of hearing Dawg fans rave about “Hushel”.
Tebow’s a great one…NOT the best ever.
Chris
July 21st, 2009
10:50 am
Oh man what a great memory Mark!
I had completely forgotten the fake to Tron was nullified. The entire defense, the stadium, cameramen bit on Herschel. Greatest play fake ever David Greene notwithstanding.
Vince Dooley: “Tron is what you maght call a watuh-bugg”
VanDSIRROM
July 21st, 2009
10:50 am
Robert says Walker was a ‘man among boys’ and that’s correct. The 1980 Vanderbilt game was Herschel’s ‘coming out party’.
I was in the stadium that day and if the article had said he gained 383 yds., I’d have believed it.
No doubt, Herschel Walker was a great player; however, he was not the leader that Tim Tebow is. Remember the speech after the Ole Miss loss.
In 2009, Florida plays more competent teams in today’s SEC than Georgia played in all of Walker’s career at Georgia. In 1980, football was not a ‘year round’ sport as it is today. The level of football played by any team in the 1980’s is not even close to what the players do these days. There was not even a ‘football weight room’ in those days, much less year round conditioning.
When Florida wins another national championship this year, Mark, you need to ‘eat crow’ like a man and crown Tim Tebow as THE greatest football player–ever.
Oh, geez DAvid Granger...
July 21st, 2009
10:52 am
…UGA, and especially Vince Dooley, has NEVER run the wishbone – where in the heck did you dream that?
bali smith
July 21st, 2009
10:53 am
i had a sideline pass for the georgia south carolina game when walker outran the south carolina defense.. should of been a 10m yard gain , he ran for over 50 and scored thetouchdown. iknew the safety was gonna tackle him around the 10 yd line and he just blew past him…….. greatest run i have ever seen
wally
July 21st, 2009
10:53 am
Mark, you know how to get these guys going. haha I enjoy reading your articles though.
Paddy
July 21st, 2009
10:54 am
Bo Jackson needs to be right behind Walker. Didn’t see Red Grange, but hell, he’s Red Grange, nuff said. Next would be Earl Campbell. Somebody else pick #5 for me, the light gets sort of dim right now. OJ would never be on any list of mine, ever. It was hard enough just to type his initials.
And Jim Brown...
July 21st, 2009
10:56 am
…was not Jim Brown until he got to pros (like MJ was not MJ until he left North Carolina), though Jim Brown was a very good college player at the ‘Cuse!
Also, Herschel’s coming out party was NOT the Vandy game – he had already ‘come out’ in the opening game against that other team in TN – UT.
#5 would be...
July 21st, 2009
10:58 am
…Barry Sanders at OK State if you are leaving OJ off the list.
ryan
July 21st, 2009
11:02 am
Tebow . . . and its not even close.
Pretend Hero
July 21st, 2009
11:02 am
He may not be the best college player ever, but if he wins another heisman and another national championship, he will certainly be the most accomplished college player ever.
meat rabbit
July 21st, 2009
11:02 am
Who cares….did you hear that there is a naked Erin Andrews video on the internet?? You never saw anyone videotaping Herschel through a peephole.
Robert
July 21st, 2009
11:02 am
Georgia ran the wishbone? Georgia always ran the I. They ran a two fullback power I in some short yardage situations, but never a bone. And never forget that Jimmy Womack was the lead blocker for most of Herchel’s greatest runs. One of those unsung hero’s from 80.
secondguesser
July 21st, 2009
11:09 am
You leghumpers are out of your gords with jealousy! Tim might not be able to run a 4.4 but Herschel Walker couldn’t throw thirty yard lasers either. Tebow is without a doubt the most galvanized player with skills to ever play the college game. I can’t wait for the ribbiing I’m gonna give when his pro career dominates that of the beloved Herschel! If Wayne Weaver has the cards fall his way he will pounce to grab the saviour of his franchise. Ten years of sellouts and a couple of Super Bowls will be his reward for keeping the prodigy at home.
Barks Madley, thanks for the sure thing with another idiotic homer opinion that will once again be proved laughable. It will be like the way last year turned out!!!!! Dawgs number one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that’s a good one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Herschel over Tebow!!!!!! ROFLMAO Keep’em comin Barks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jack G.
July 21st, 2009
11:09 am
Mark
If you were a little older and had seen Trippi play you might have a different #1.
Reality Check
July 21st, 2009
11:13 am
Tebow is really good at what he does. However is you look at the best QBs in college football history, I would not put him in the top 5.
Tommy Frazier – Beginning as a frost started in three national title games winning two. Would made it 4 for 4 if not for blood clotting issue.
Matt Leinart – Started three years and played in national title games in all three.
Ken Dorsey – In three years, only lost two games. Should have won two national titles and played for a third.
Roger Staubach – Didn’t play for a national title, but won the Heisman at Navy…NAVY…long after the service academies were national powers.
Doug Flutie – Took a weak BC program without a ton of talent to national prominence and ended up as the NCAA’s career passing leading.
THe list doesn’t even include people like.
Jamelle Holieway – Won a national title as a freshman at OU. Finished second in the nation in back to back seasons. Only lost six games as a starter.
John Elway – Stanford sucked without his heroics.
Danny Wuerffel – Amazing how quickly Gator fans forget…
Tebow is good, but other people have resumes that equal his.
J.D.
July 21st, 2009
11:14 am
Walker, hands down. I still get a rush playing a recording of Munson’s broadcast of the ‘80 Tennessee game.
Robert
July 21st, 2009
11:15 am
It was not a 4.4 I can promise you that. One of the most awe inspiring athletic moments I ever saw was not on the football field. I attended a UGA-Auburn dual meet at the Georgia Track the spring after the 80 football season. There were two Olympians there in Melvin Lattany and Harvey Glance. I saw Melvin set the college record at 10.02 on that day with Glance a close second. Herchel Walker was less than a step behind the two of them, but at 230 Lbs.
Robert
July 21st, 2009
11:18 am
Not if you asked Charlie himself.
Buck Strickland
July 21st, 2009
11:27 am
Beat out John Elway and Eric Dickerson to win his heisman. Should have won the heisman in 80. Bo Jackson barely beat out Chuck Long and Robbie Bosco.
In 12 NFL seasons, Walker gained 8,225 rushing yards, 4,859 receiving yards, and 5,084 kickoff-return yards. This gave him 18,168 total combined net yards, ranking him second among the NFL’s all-time leaders in total yardage at the time of his retirement. And that’s not counting some of his most productive years lost to the USFL.
Greatest college running back of all time. Period.
When asked if he ever got tired carrying the ball so many times a game, he replied “No sir, the ball ain’t heavy.”
Huh?
July 21st, 2009
11:28 am
LOL. A 4.4? Try a 4.3 and that’s only on a bad day. Hershel Walker had world class speed and the body of an outside linebacker. He was simply a freak of nature. He could play today and do EXACTLY what he did then. In fact, isn’t it true that Walker never lifted weights at Georgia? Could you imagine the havoc this guy would wreak if he had the strength & conditioning that today’s players get? He would hand Brandon Spikes his freaking jock and make him like it. End of story. Hershel Walker craps bigger than Tim Tebow.
Mark Bradley
July 21st, 2009
11:28 am
I didn’t see Trippi. (Wasn’t born yet.) Barely remember Staubach. Did see O.J. on TV quite a bit. I always thought he was the best until Herschel.
My second five: Bo Jackson, Tom Harmon, Dick Butkus, Jim Plunkett, Archie Manning. (Saw two of those in person.)
Honorable mention: Reggie Bush, Charlie Ward, Vince Young, Marcus Allen, Hugh Green.
BeyondSEC
July 21st, 2009
11:29 am
Barry Sanders
Herschel Walker
LT
and much further down the list is Tebow. Unless this is an all SEC blog.
Dr. Warren
July 21st, 2009
11:32 am
I was there to see Walker gain 150 yards with a separated shoulder against ND in the national championship. I saw Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart play in person at least 15 times. Those two put together were not as good as Herschel Walker.
David Granger
July 21st, 2009
11:32 am
Georgia ran variations of the wishbone throughout the 1970’s. Why else do you think Ray Goff carried the ball so much as a quarterback? Do your research.
You’re sure right about Jimmy Womack, Robert. He was vastly underrated, and was the best blocking fullback I ever saw. He’s largely responsible for a lot of the yards gained by both Willie McLendon and Herschel.
john marshall
July 21st, 2009
11:37 am
no doubt about it. Charlie Trippi was foot balls greatest ever.Ask Bisher and Coach Dodd if he is available
LizDawg
July 21st, 2009
11:38 am
Herschel was the best folks, he was the best. Tebow is at best a 3rd round draft pick.
How's the present look?
July 21st, 2009
11:39 am
Georgia football has the same problem now that Tech basketball has had: the stars leaving early for the pros.
MB was throwing dog fans a bone today to revive their Herchel memories of a bygone day when the Dogs were better than the Gators.
With recent national championships in both football and basketball, the hated Gators have achieved what Dog fans would die for.
TS
July 21st, 2009
11:41 am
Hi, my name is Mark Bradley. Mr. College Football puts stuff up and gets three hundred posts about legitimate topics. How can my lame excuse for a blog get 300 posts? I know, I’ll just put up something comparing Tebow to Herschel.
In The Pre-Noon Hour, You Cried More, More, More | MrSEC.com
July 21st, 2009
11:41 am
[...] days (concerning Georgia, Ole Miss, Tim Tebow and Lane Kiffin).Mark Bradley, also of The AJC, says Tim Tebow is NOT the greatest college football player ever. Guess what “goalline stalker” in silver britches gets this Atlanta writer’s [...]
Mark Bradley
July 21st, 2009
11:42 am
I think what Georgia ran was the option, which wasn’t the same as the wishbone. Lots of teams ran the option back in the ’70s.
Chris Broe
July 21st, 2009
11:44 am
The greatest college player was Ronnie Bull for the Baylor Bears in the early sixties, man.
Mark Bradley
July 21st, 2009
11:45 am
Oh, and for the record: I wasn’t working for the AJC while Herschel Walker was at Georgia. I saw him play in person three times, but only because I was covering Kentucky for the Lexington Herald-Leader. So if you’re considering this a “homer” vote … please be advised that I didn’t pick Derrick Ramsey as the all-time greatest college player.
Although he was pretty good back in 1977, I’m here to attest.
FinanceBuzz
July 21st, 2009
11:45 am
Bark Madley was back! Whew! Thought he was not well with his positive comments on Tech lately.
Dr. Nikki
July 21st, 2009
11:49 am
Without a doubt Tebow is the most prolific college football player the SEC has ever had. Not because of his ability ON the field, but for his leadership OFF the field. Walker didn’t command the respect of the bulldogs like Tebow does the Gators, heck Walker was barely literate. I do agree that Tebow’s NFL career is questionable, but we’re not talking NFL here.
RB
July 21st, 2009
11:49 am
Ronnie Bull?
Now there’s one we weren’t expecting.
I give you that.
Robert Byrd (Democrat) KKK member since 1952
July 21st, 2009
11:51 am
Tim Tebow= 2 NT and 1 Heisman…..so far.
Herschel Walker= 1NT and 1 Heisman….AND HE SUCKED IN THE NFL! OVERRATED MORON WHO COULD NOT WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME.
Bo Jackson=1 Heisman, 1 All-Star MVP, 2 sport player and one of the biggest NIKE contracts in history. Also had a cartoon with Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky.
Robert Byrd (Democrat) KKK member since 1952
July 21st, 2009
11:54 am
LizDawg, the DAWGS SUCK!
To all of the dawg fans on here, YOUR DAWGS HAVE 1 NT IN THE LAST 30 YEARS. ONE! THE GATORS HAVE 3 IN THE PAST 20 YEARS AND 2 HEISMAN WINNERS.
Tim Tebow is by FAR better right now than Herschell Choker Walker ever was. Bo Jackson is a legend and had a MUCH better professional career than Mr. Walker.
Dr Who?
July 21st, 2009
11:56 am
Nikki,
you are an ignorant, immature “Dr” for saying Heblow is the most prolific FB player the SEC has ever had. What do you base that on? Heblow is a phony baloney with so-so athletic skills. Walker absolutely commanded respect from his teamates for his workout regimine and effort. Herschel was a MUCH bigger/better collegiate athlete than Heblow will EVER be and Herschel is much more successful now than Heblow will EVER be!!! Put that in your syringe and shoot up!!
Robert Byrd (Democrat) KKK member since 1952
July 21st, 2009
11:57 am
Mark Bradley, so let me get this straight. You’re saying Herschell is the greatest college football player you’ve ever seen? Hmmm, I wonder how Archie Griffin would react to your ridiculous comments?
Archie Griffin: Well, HA HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.
The Bama nation
July 21st, 2009
11:58 am
Herschel wins it hands down over Tebow.
Other notables in my order would be Tommie Frazier, Tebow, Barry Sanders, Staubach, Bo Jackson , Reggie Bush, LT for defense, Hugh Green for defense, Reggie White for defense, Lee Roy Jordan for defense. Let’s face it. The defensive players just won’t get the same pub as the offensive players.
I would like to be a homer and say Joe Namath was the greatest ever but who would believe me?
RB
July 21st, 2009
11:59 am
I think MB takes the heat for Dave Braine’s hatred of the school who put him in charge and paid him well. Most ADs fire the coach by year 4 if he can’t beat the arch-rival once and the contract he gave Hewitt, even if you like him, is the worst deal ever for a college. It was really Braine’s way of giving all of Tech’s alumni the finger.
Robert Byrd (Democrat) KKK member since 1952
July 21st, 2009
11:59 am
Notice how dawg fans rant and rave about Herschell “choked in the NFL” Walker all while ignoring the facts. Just like last year when DAWG fans screamed “WE’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONS OF THE PRE-SEASON RANKINGS…WOO DAWGS SIC EM WOOF WOOF.”
BOTTOM LINE: GEORGIA IS A SECOND RATE FOOTBALL SCHOOL WITH A TRADITION OF LOSING BIG GAMES AND LOSING TO CRAP TEAMS LIKE SOUTH CAROLINA AND KENTUCKY YEAR AFTER YEAR.
Nativebird
July 21st, 2009
11:59 am
He may have not started, but without Tebow’s crucial plays in 2006, Chris Leak doesn’t win anything. Tim Tebow has brought TWO of the three National championships to Florida.
I loved Herschel Walker’s college career too, how can you not. But QB is more vital position to the team than an RB.
Most forget it was Tebow’s clutch PASSING in crucial games that brought him the second one.
Tuesday (7/21) reading « The Chapel Bell
July 21st, 2009
12:00 pm
[...] Bradley says Herschel Walker is the best college football player of all time, and not Tim Tebow. As of now, [...]
Kendawg
July 21st, 2009
12:00 pm
UGA never ran a variation of the wishbone. They ran the “veer” offense some in the ’70’s. Herschel was simply a tailback in the I-formation. If Jimmy Womack had blocked for Herschel all three years at GA, how many yards would Herschel have had? I know I’m biased, but I think Herschel is the greatest college player I’ve ever seen.
Robert Byrd (Democrat) KKK member since 1952
July 21st, 2009
12:00 pm
Mark Bradley, ever heard of ARCHIE GRIFFIN?
» LB: Even other coaches are tweeting about Calipari John Clay’s Sidelines
July 21st, 2009
12:00 pm
[...] native and former H-L columnist Mark Bradley blogs for the AJC that Tim Tebow is not the greatest college football player of all-time. The honor goes to Herschel [...]
Robert "dip sh!t" Byrd
July 21st, 2009
12:01 pm
“Bo Jackson a much better pro”? Are you kidding me? Of course he had a bigger Nike contract. Nike didn’t advertise when Herschel came out and Bo played 2 sports. Deion Sanders ahd a bigger Nike contract than Bo. “Tebow better than Herschel”? You must be pretty damn jealous because Herschel did something you beloved boyfriend can NEVER do: go undefeated against the other team!
footballfan
July 21st, 2009
12:01 pm
No argument needed. Herschel Walker=Legend. No comparison.
Robert Byrd (Democrat) KKK member since 1952
July 21st, 2009
12:02 pm
The Bama nation, Tuscalooser must have taken your brain while you were asleep in your trailer.
ARCHIE GRIFFIN IS THE BEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER. HANDS DOWN. NO OTHER PLAYER HAS EVER WON 2 HEISMANS.
JoeV
July 21st, 2009
12:03 pm
Herschel Walker never scored a TD against Clemson…
…just sayin’. And that ‘82 game still haunts my dreams. Wish that we (Clemson) could be a little more competitive and play you guys every year like the 80’s. Just seems like a natural rivalry.
But seriously, Walker is still the best that has ever played college football.
Tide Rising
July 21st, 2009
12:03 pm
Mark,
Would you agree with this statement?
One thing that I’ve seen consistently written about Herschel is that of all the great college players ever it has been said by coaches and sports writers alike that if ever in history there was one high school player who could have gone straight from high school to the pros it was Herschel.
You cannot say the same for Tebow or anyone else for that matter. Tebow didn’t even start as a freshman. Herschel carried a team to a national title as a freshman. Not even Bo Jackson who was big as a freshman but filled out more as a sophomore was as physically imposing as Herschel was as a freshman.
Robert Byrd (Democrat) KKK member since 1952
July 21st, 2009
12:03 pm
Robert “dip sh!t” Byrd, facts are facts retard. Tim has won more NTs. than Herschell Choker Walker. Bo Jackson HAD A MUCH BETTER CAREER IN THE NFL AND MLB. DEION SANDERS WAS A MORON AND GOT SCRATCHED FROM ATLANTA BRAVES FOR SUCKING ASS.
Gator Rob
July 21st, 2009
12:05 pm
You could make a compelling argument for either player. But the x factor for Tebow is his leadership ability and the effect he has on the rest of his team. I’m sure everyone is saturated with the media talking about Tebow’s intangibles, but how many quarterbacks get in the face of the middle linebacker and crash into a special teams huddles to get his team fired up? How many players have put the team on their back and willed them to a national championship? Not to take away from Walker’s leadership ability, but Tebow’s is unparalleled in college athletics.
I realize stats don’t tell the whole story, but just for fun, let’s take a look at them…
Tebow
Rushing – 2,037 yds, 4.3 yd avg, 43 TD’s
Passing – 6,159 yds, 67 TD’s, 183.2 passer rating
Walker
Rushing – 5, 259 yds, 5.3 yd avg, 52 TD’s
For what it’s worth, Tebow’s are more impressive. It’s hard to argue with 110 total TD’s in 2 seasons as a starter. The SEC is stronger now too. And Tebow has sat out a lot of 4th quarters during blowouts.
Robert Byrd (Democrat) KKK member since 1952
July 21st, 2009
12:06 pm
Dawg fans are nothing but a bunch of crying little babies who don’t live in the real world. They claim NTs before a season even starts ie: 2008. They claim Herschell Walker was the best college football player who ever lived all while ignoring the facts of other great players.
quint
July 21st, 2009
12:06 pm
Larry Csonka was pretty good at Syracuse and he even broke Jim Brown’s rushing record at the school even though he was a fullback. I guess that was back in the day when fullbacks did more than block. He was the MVP of every college bowl game or All-star game in which he played. I know, no Heisman but…top 10 or 15 player easily.
Robert "dip sh!t" Byrd
July 21st, 2009
12:07 pm
“Retard”? how old are you? Look at total NFL yards and tell me who was the better player. Facts are facts.
Robert Byrd (Democrat) KKK member since 1952
July 21st, 2009
12:07 pm
quint, and Csonka had a Super Bowl ring AND FINISHED ON THE ONLY UNDEFEATED NFL TEAM IN HISTORY.
Robert "dip sh!t" Byrd
July 21st, 2009
12:08 pm
BTW, Herschel was a better bobsledder than Bo and a better track runner. Facts are facts!!
dap01
July 21st, 2009
12:08 pm
Not even close.
Robert Byrd (Democrat) KKK member since 1952
July 21st, 2009
12:08 pm
Robert “dip sh!t” Byrd, um…TIM TEBOW HASN’T PLAYED IN THE NFL DIP$HIT. HOW CAN YOU COMPARE RECORDS? FACT IS, HERSCHELL SUCKED AND DAWG FANS CAN’T GET OVER 1980. OH, AND VINCE DOOLEY IS A HACK.
Tebow is a Fraud
July 21st, 2009
12:09 pm
Before any one anoints Tebow as the “Greatest At Everything In The World” lets take a quick look at Timmy’s rushing stats. Timmy has scored 43 rushing TD’s in 3 years at Florida, which is pretty impressive. However only 11 of those TD’s have come from runs of more than 5 yards. That means only roughly 25% of his TD’s came from Timmy’s ability to run and avoid defenders. The rest of his rushing touchdowns have come from Florida’s lack of quality running backs and Timmy calling his own number. I believe Stafford could have scored quite a few rushing TD’s as well if he had decided to be selfish and call his own number instead handing the ball off to Knowshon or Thomas Brown. Take away all of these cheap, some might call selfish, rushing TD’s and Little Timmy is just an average passer on a team loaded with great wide receivers. Timmy is nothing more than a glorified fullback who is capable of completing 10 yard passes to extremely gifted and athletic playmakers.
Josh Rosen
July 21st, 2009
12:09 pm
Georgia did run that standard “option” that was the vogue back in the 70’s. Frequently we’d run it from that Y formation, and that’s a wishbone, whether it’s referred to that way or not. And even before McLendon, Kevin McLee was a pretty good running back from that formation. Coach Dooley loved to run the ball, but then…so did a lot of coaches in that era.
Still haven’t forgiven you UK guys for that homecoming game whooping in 1977, Mark…in front of that English guy with the big ears. UK and Vandy were supposed to be the SEC “thump-a-chump” teams. (Guess nobody told Art Still and Dallas Owens.)
Robert Byrd (Democrat) KKK member since 1952
July 21st, 2009
12:10 pm
Robert “dip sh!t” Byrd, bobsledder? Wow, I didn’t know dopes like Walker could steer a bobsled. Seems like it would be too much work and thinking for him to accomplish.
RB
July 21st, 2009
12:11 pm
One thing about this argument we are not considering:
Herchel could be the best ever but it’s the best ever 25 plus years ago while Tebow is recent past and present.
Proclaming Herchel the best does little to remove the Gators from being a top five program and maybe #1 if they repeat.
Robert Byrd (Democrat) KKK member since 1952
July 21st, 2009
12:11 pm
Tebow is a Fraud, little Timmy destroyed your dawgs. Your little puppies can’t compete in the SEC and this year is going to be yet another season of disappointment. Little Timmy has 2 NTs, 1 Heisman and he doesn’t give a rats a$$ about what you think. Seems to me Little Timmy is a better human being than you are.
Tide Rising
July 21st, 2009
12:12 pm
Gator Rob,
The seasons are longer now so Tebow plays in more games to pad his stats. Herschel sat out a lot of 4th qtrs too. Also, qbs will always have better overall stats than rbs because of the fact that they can pass the ball.
And as far as passing goes there are numerous qbs in ncaa history who have passing stats far superior to Tebow’s overall passing stats. Only a couple of running backs like Marcus Allen had seasons comparable to Herschel. Tebow is up there but Herschel takes the cake.
What nobody is mentioning is that Tebow holds practically no great national passing records. Herschel rewrote rushing records.
Statistically Tebow’s overall accomplishments as a qb relative to other qbs pales in comparison to Herschel’s accomplishments as a running back relative to other rbs.
Robert "dip sh!t" Byrd
July 21st, 2009
12:13 pm
shows how uninformed you are….you also do not read very well. The comparison between NFL careers was for Bo and Herschel not your boyfriend, Heblow. Heblow is nothing but a phony baloney with selfish motives!!!
reebok
July 21st, 2009
12:13 pm
Tech fan here. Herschel Walker took over a game like no player I’ve ever seen. He was an absolute phenom. I haven’t personally seen anybody close to as dominant, and that includes Tebow and Bo Jackson.
playthatfunkymusic whiteboy
July 21st, 2009
12:14 pm
Wow – that guy running the ball in those videos was amazing.
Other Herschel
Jim Donnan of a new era
July 21st, 2009
12:14 pm
Seems to me that there are a lot of jealous people here who hate Tim Tebow. Facts are facts and Tim Tebow is a better football player than Herschel. If Herschel were to play in todays game he would be a number 3 running back behind players like Reggie Bush. Just sayin.
Otto
July 21st, 2009
12:15 pm
Matt Leinart played for 2 NTs not 3 and didn’t deserve to play in one of those.
Herschel didn’t suck in the pros. Walker is currently ranked eighth all time in all-purpose yards with 18,168, despite spending his first three seasons in the USFL and holds a few NFL records
Tebow vs Frazier is a good debate. As for Tebow running one system, Fr. year was not the same system he has run the past 2 years. The system next yeart will change.
Walker not going 4 years? He was far from wealthy growing up in South Ga. with a load of cash being waved at him. He would be dumb not to take it. If he stays and gets hurt he is working the lecture and camp circuits for a much more modest living.
PMC
July 21st, 2009
12:16 pm
Tebow should finish with 3 NT’s and he should have 2 heismans with the asterisk that he was freaking jobbed last year too.
He willed that team to a title last year and he’s improved his QB skills every single year. They HAVE NO INSIDE RUNNING GAME OTHER THAN TIM TEBOW! It is non existant. The way to beat them was before to plug the run and man up on the outside because for the most part, he wasn’t accurate. He improved that by leaps and bounds last year. He could continue to improve that this year. People make him out to be Eric Crouch…. he’s a lot better through the air in the last year than we’ve given him credit for.
Jim Donnan of a new era
July 21st, 2009
12:16 pm
Robert “dip sh!t” Byrd, awe, sounds like somebody has Tim Tebow penis envy. Bo Jackson was a better NFL running back and had a better short term career than Herschels career with Dallas and Minn.
Jim Donnan of a new era
July 21st, 2009
12:17 pm
The only team that Florida fears is Auburn. Tim Tebow can’t beat Auburn. Sounds like teams should look at how Auburn beat Florida two years in a row.
jealousy is not a virtue
July 21st, 2009
12:18 pm
seems to me that all T-Bone lovers are the ones who are jealous as he lost (BAD) to the Dawgs and got beat up in the process. Herschel NEVER lost to the Gaytors and had career days against them.
Billy Bawb
July 21st, 2009
12:19 pm
Mark, your phrase “apples and oranges” is the operative statement when comparing Tim Tebow and Herschel Walker. These are players who are/were at different positions on their team. The difficulty in the comparison is the same as asking what’s more important – the brain or the heart.
Now, if you want to compare Tebow to Buck Belue or John Lastinger then there’s no comparison. Belue’s and Lastinger’s weren’t a pimple on a pup’s ass except when Dooly decided which way they’d turn to hand off to Herschel. Tebow’s leadership clearly dominated those two clown.
If you want to compare Herschel to other great college running backs, then you can make an argument that he’s the greatest. Maybe he was even a better running back in college than OJ. But not in the pros, chief, not in the pros.
Tebow for a td!
July 21st, 2009
12:19 pm
No one in the history of college football as ever been more adept at calling his own number for a td run close to the goal line than Tim Tebow.