Best collegian ever? Tebow No. 2, Herschel still No. 1
Tim Tebow is the greatest collegian of the 21st Century. But the greatest collegiate player ever? Not quite. That distinction falls to a man who played for the other side in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, and I speak of …
Zippy Morocco.
OK, I’m kidding. You know who I mean. As majestic as he was against everybody, Herschel Walker was never so splendid as those three afternoons in Jacksonville. He rushed for 649 yards and scored eight touchdowns against the Gators, who were really good each year but lost three times simply because they didn’t have Herschel. (Granted, Lindsay Scott had a bit to do with the 1980 outcome.)
Not since Herschel has the college game seen a force so irresistible as Tebow. He figures to win a second Heisman Trophy on merit. But Herschel played only three seasons before leaving for the USFL, and he won one Heisman and should have had two (he was clearly superior to George Rogers in 1980) and would have had another had he completed his eligibility.
Grand as he is, Tebow hasn’t been the Florida focal point all four seasons. He was the backup/changeup to Chris Leak when the Gators took the 2006 national championship, and in his first season as a starter he won the Heisman but didn’t lift his team to higher heights. The 2007 Gators finished 9-4. The Georgia Bulldogs with Herschel Walker lost three games in three seasons: Two to teams (Clemson and Penn State) that would themselves take national titles, the third to a team (Pittsburgh) that finished No. 2 in the land.
Georgia with Herschel won the 1980 national title, played for the 1982 championship and was still in the hunt until Clemson beat Nebraska in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 1982. Those Bulldogs won three SEC titles at a time when Paul W. Bryant was still coaching Alabama and Patrick F. Dye was getting going at Auburn and Mike Shanahan was coordinating the Florida run-and-shoot.
It would be wrong to suggest Herschel had no help. He didn’t play defense. (He did, however, return kickoffs.) But it’s instructive that Georgia produced only one first-round NFL draftee those three seasons, that being the aforementioned Scott. It finished undefeated in 1980 despite not leading the SEC in any major offensive or defensive category. It won because of No. 34.
From the moment he stepped onto Shields-Watkins Field the night of Sept. 6, 1980, Herschel was the only Dog who mattered. Remember Clemson biting on the handoff to the broken-thumbed Herschel on Labor Day night 1982 and being laid bare on a reverse to Tron Jackson? (No matter that the play was nullified by penalty.) Every defense was set to stop one man, and in 36 games that man rushed for more than 100 yards 31 times.
He willed Georgia to the Sugar Bowl victory over Notre Dame on Jan. 1, 1981, by gaining 150 yards with a separated shoulder on a day when the Bulldogs managed 127 total yards. The Georgia quarterback, name of Benjamin Franklin Belue, completed one pass (in 13 attempts) for seven yards.
Loading ...In 33 regular-season games Georgia managed 13,012 yards from scrimmage. Herschel gained 5,502 of those. He was 42 percent of Georgia’s offense without completing a pass. (Though he did once throw the ball. Against Kentucky in 1981. Intercepted.)
You can argue that because Tebow runs and passes he means more to Florida than Herschel meant to Georgia, but you’d be wrong. Tebow has demonstrably more talent around him. He has worked alongside three first-round Gators, with Brandon Spikes and Carlos Dunlap sure to come.
I have no problem calling Tebow the second-best college player ever. But no player lifted a program higher faster than Herschel Walker, the Goal Line Stalker. Georgia was 20-13-1 the three years before he arrived. It was 33-3 the three years he dotted the “I.” Cause and effect. Case closed.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
455 comments Add your comment
the real Old Gold
October 26th, 2009
2:40 pm
Okay.. my deal is that if you go off stats then Walker is clearly better than Bo Jackson in most aspects, but we all know that you can’t just use stats, then the “best” players of all time would all be in the WAC and the Mountain West for receivers and QB’s and the “best” backs would come from Navy and Air Force…
Walker was clearly a dominating player, but I think Jackson was a better all around athlete and in my OPINION he was a better player, just as I think Tebow is better than both as a PLAYER. Walker was incredible, but we are all entitled to our opinions. We’ll never know other than opinion because there’s no way TO know. I’l leave it at that.
GeoffDawg
October 26th, 2009
2:40 pm
If you say Hearst wasn’t a game changer, than I don’t think you ever actually saw him play. Toretta benefitted from the being a solid QB on a Miami team that everyone expected to beat Alabama for the national title by the time the votes had to be cast. Marshall Faulk had more yards than Hearst but starred for San Diego State and thus played against a laughable schedule. Hearst even won the Doak Walker award over Faulk. Why this is such a bone of contention for a Commodore fan though, I can’t begin to guess.
Zeier was probably the most talented and productive QB of his day but suffered under Ray Goff and didn’t have the supporting W/L record to seriously compete for the Heisman. I’d also say Champ had a better season than Charles Woodson from the previous year but he didn’t really deserve it either.
BG
October 26th, 2009
2:41 pm
Walker gained his stats in 3yrs not 4 like Tebow. Also, back then bowl games stats were not counted like they are now. So, really there is no comparison between the two. Walker has the edge by a mile.
Valdosta Dawg
October 26th, 2009
2:41 pm
JaxGator, did you not read Marks column? Tebow first of all did not win that first National Title, that was Chris Leaks team. Look at the talent around Tebow, that is why he is so good. Bottom line is if Tebow were at Vandy, Vandy might win a few more games, if Hershel were at Vandy they would have won a lot more games, maybe an SEC title. If you put Tebow on the early 80’s teams of UGA they would not have gone 33-3 as UGA did with Hershel. If you put Hershel on the Gators teams that Tebow has been on, they would have never lost a game and have 4 titles!
Tebow is not in the same caliber as Hershel, as a person or an athlete.
j
October 26th, 2009
2:41 pm
tebow is the king of peeling little boys’ foreskin.
Atticus
October 26th, 2009
2:42 pm
Do your research, Bo was NOT Herschel. If you look at practically every stat, Herschel wins. He was a warrior, Bo sometimes checked out, he didn’t always like the contact and wasn’t as durable and didn’t carry the teams on his shoulders the way Herschel did. But in 1985, Bo WAS a stud, no doubt. Top 5 RBs probably but not HW
wyldbyllhyltnyr@gmail.com
October 26th, 2009
2:42 pm
Herschel Walker, the best ever – no way. He would not have started the season OU had Joe Washington and Greg Pruitt at halfback. Herschel was the whole show for UGA in the weak SEC. One only need look at Herschel’s failure to be a top NFL player to understand how much playing in the weak SEC helped him.
dawgfacedboy
October 26th, 2009
2:43 pm
Tebow is a running back that happens to be able to throw the ball 6 yards downfield in the direction of a track star who then sprints his way down field. He is David Greene with legs. The fact that he is about to break Walker’s record and people are comparing him to Walker is a disgrace. Tebow is a great player, no doubt, but there have been many great players in college football. He has 4 rushing TD in a game, not one of them is more than 3 yards, that doesn’t impress me. You can’t stop a 245 lb body from getting 3 yards too often.
The fact that he might win a 2nd Heisman is also a disgrace. He has the worst stats of anyone in the top 10 in voting. Ryan Mallet’s stats are a hell of alot better than his!!! They’ve had a lackluster year offensively and if it were not for 2, not 1, but 2 bogus penalties late in the 4th quarter that directly affected the game in Florida’s favor you would not only have a heralded QB with average numbers but possibly a 2 loss team on your hands.
I can name 20 players better and more exciting than him without taking a breath. He has the numbers because he’s in the game with a 30 pt. lead in the 4th quarter paddig his stats. Not impressed.
No Love 4 the dawgs
October 26th, 2009
2:44 pm
Hey I am a Jackets fan. But I do have to say Herschel was the greatest player of all time. Tebow is just an over hyped quarterback. Tebow does not truck defensive players like Herschel did and then break away for 80 yard runs. As much as I hate to admit it Herschel was and always will be the greatest player in college football history. Oh yea I did get a chance to see him in highschool and he has all of the records in the state of Georgia
HH
October 26th, 2009
2:44 pm
As a guy who saw Herschel play all three years, to include the victory over Notre Dame, the Gators can have Tebow, I’ll take Herschel any day of the week. Also, to add insult to injury, Tebow is not the best quarterback to play in the SEC, much to a Gator fanatic’s chagrin. The best quarterback I saw play, without doubt, was Archie Manning. Finally, the only back in the SEC that comes close to Herschel was Bo Jackson of Auburn. Only Herschel was better. Sorry Gators, no comparison.
Buck in Valdosta
October 26th, 2009
2:46 pm
Gotta go with Tebow, sorry pal
the real Old Gold
October 26th, 2009
2:46 pm
Ed, your list is fine.. I was being sarcastic (not that Calvin isn’t on my top ten). It was a play on the bias issue. I was just poking fun.
Ed
October 26th, 2009
2:46 pm
‘73 dawg, I don’t see a problem with Georgia “holding on” to Herschel. Has Illinois let go of Red Grange yet? Has Army forgotten Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside? For that matter, I don’t think Georgia has let go of Trippi and Sinkwich yet.
It’s called tradition, and it makes college football the great sport that it is. What Herschel did is in the record books, for all time. All of his efforts were to the everlasting glory of UGA. There’s a lot of old time Gators and Techies who would love to pretend that ‘80-’82 never happened.
dan
October 26th, 2009
2:47 pm
If we’re talking greatest athlete, I’ll go with Bo Jackson. But if we’re talking about greatest football player, I’m going with Herschel. But don’t get me wrong, you can’t go wrong picking either one of them. Those guys were freaks of nature.
As far as Tebow is concerned, he’s a great player as well. He wills his team to success and is the perfect fit for that spread offense. The guy has talent and work ethic, and makes it work for his team. I will say he’s one of the most dominant college players of all time. But would I put him in Herschel or Bo’s league? No. Both of those guys could play today and still be dominant and anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot.
Bryan G.
October 26th, 2009
2:48 pm
Old Gold…fair enough. If it makes you feel better, Calvin Johnson is the best college WR I’ve seen by a mile.
Grandad
October 26th, 2009
2:49 pm
Ed: Pro – Barry Sanders,no argument; College – Herschel,hands down.
Red is the color of menstration
October 26th, 2009
2:49 pm
Did Tebow get a new car for signing with Florida like Herschel did for signing at UGA?
Dandy Vandy
October 26th, 2009
2:51 pm
GD, of course you would say Champ was better than Woodson and that Zeier didn’t have a supporting cast. It’s always an excuse for UGA players. You never give props to other players. The fact is you get some of the best talent year in and year out and all you can talk about is 1980 and Herschel. Hearst was a good back but he was not great. Never Heisman material! As a Vandy fan, I just thought I would get onto your blog the same way you get onto everyone else’s.
CrazyVol
October 26th, 2009
2:51 pm
Interesting, The title of the blog is best “collegian” while both their stats can’t denied, do you put any weight on the man who chose to stay with his school all 4 years? Big paycheck or support your school?
Halsey
October 26th, 2009
2:52 pm
The truth is nobody knows how good Tebow really is because he’s always played while being surrounded by better talent than his opponent. Has anyone seen how good Harvin is this year? Has anyone seen how much the Gator’s D is keeping them in games. He’s playing at a school which constantly surrounds him with the best players, coaches, trainers, etc, etc. The ideas that you can truly measure who the best college player ever is or compare players from different eras are fantasy.
the real Old Gold
October 26th, 2009
2:52 pm
This IS bias talking but I hate how Eddie Lee Ivery (3,515 yds) never gets talked about as a dominate back in this era… And what about Jerry Mays (3,699 yds)
Also Robert Lavette rushed for over 4,000 yds between 81-84.
GIVE ME A BREAK
October 26th, 2009
2:53 pm
NONE OF THE ABOVE. NEED MORE CHOICES.
Steve
October 26th, 2009
2:53 pm
Unless Tebow goes crazy in the last month, he shouldn’t even be considered for the Heisman this season, as he has not had a very good year (weak receiving corps and concussion sure don’t help).
Is Herschel Walker the greatest college player ever? That’s such a wide category (in the ultimate team sport) that while it makes for a good article/talk, awfully tough to prove. If Tebow were to win a Heisman and have his team win a 2nd national as starting QB, you’d certainly have to say he is the “most decorated/awarded player ever.” There are plenty of linemen, linebackers, WRs, etc. that could easily have claim to best player ever (and they may have been), but without the ball in their hands (like QBs and RBs), they don’t get written about.
Charles Woodson won the Heisman Trophy and led his team to the national championship in 1997 (that gives him all the same important contributions that the writer implies we should gauge greatest on). He played both ways and returned kicks (for touchdowns) as well. I’m sure there are other players who, in their own ways, were as dominant as Walker and Tebow (just a lot less writers/TV at the time).
NCDawg
October 26th, 2009
2:54 pm
Tebow may be a god in Florida, but he couldn’t carry Herschel’s jock strap! The majority of Tebow’s TD’s have been from the 1 yard line. He’s played four years to Herschel’s three. Tebow has never really impressed me and he did not deserve the Heisman as a sophmore. There never has been and there never will be another like Herschel Walker. Herschel looked like a man playing amongst boys. Tebow is a very physical QB / fullback. He would make a great FB or TE in the pros. He will not make it in the pros at QB.
Josh M
October 26th, 2009
2:54 pm
Calvin Johnson? Wait, is that the same guy who amassed 73 yards IN THREE GAMES against UGA? That guy?
GeoffDawg
October 26th, 2009
2:54 pm
Someone can be a consensus All-American and the Doak Walker Award winner while playing against SEC competition but not be a legitimate Heisman candidate? Sure, that makes sense.
Eric
October 26th, 2009
2:55 pm
hahahaha i laugh every time I come on the AJC and read UGA forums. I go to UGA. I’m a huge UGA fan. But to even have the nerve to say Tim Tebow is not a top 2 college player ever is outrageous. I never got the chance to see Herschel play, but from films other stuff, I’m not going to take anything away from him. Fine, Herschel’s the greatest… I guess. I have watched Tim Tebow destroy teams. . And to say he’s surrounded by sooooo much talent? He throws to two white wide receivers and an undersized tight end. He makes things happen. To stop him on third and short… IMPOSSIBLE. Nothing against our underachieving Bulldogs, but Tebo is going to once again demonstrate why he’s the greatest ever. To say he i not the greatest or even second greatest college player of all time is embarrassing and shows how little you know about college football. We come on here with our huge UGA bias and we’re probably a little ashamed this year so it still makes us feel better to take achievements away from Tebow, but look at the numbers. This guy just broke Herschel’s SEC rushing TD record… as a QUARTERBACK! He will win another Heisman and whether Georgia beats them this weekend (and I hope they do) or not, Florida will win another National Championship. I guarantee if this guy went to Georgia, there wouldn’t be an argument. But then again, he sure as hell wouldn’t have these numbers playing here. Swallow your pride and give the guy a little credit. We all know it’s well deserved.
big fat alligator
October 26th, 2009
2:56 pm
Tebow is head and shoulders better than Hershey Nutjob. Hershey just runs the ball. Big Daddy runs, passes and quarterbacks the team. And, if you don’t think he’s the best ever, just ask Kirk Herbstreit, he’ll set you straight.
the real Old Gold
October 26th, 2009
2:56 pm
I’ll have to say, I’ve enjoyed this discussion, and everyone’s been pretty civil. This is the most I’ve enjoyed talking to bulldogs fans (other than my brother in law) in years and without hate in my heart.
dan
October 26th, 2009
2:56 pm
If we’re talking the greatest college athlete ever: I’ll say Bo Jackson hands down. If we’re talking about greatest college running back: I’ll say Herschel Walker. Truth be told, you can’t go wrong with either of these guys.
I’d put Tebow in the top 5 greatest college players of all time, and if his arm was as dangerous as his running ability, I’d put him in Herschel and Bo’s league. But his arm is only good not great IMO. Also Herschel and Bo could score at anytime. Tebow is really one a threat within the 20 yard line. Bottom Line: Tebow’s a great kid, fierce competitor. But he’s not Herschel or Bo.
Joe Pachick
October 26th, 2009
2:57 pm
I played on the gridiron and nobody ever scared me. If I saw Hershel coming at me full out, I would have stayed and done my job, with soiled pants. Some may may question Tebow vs. Hrershel. If it was Tebow coming at me at least I could of used the proper facilities.
Dandy Vandy
October 26th, 2009
2:57 pm
GeoffDawg, someone’s at the drive through. Go take their order or have Garrison take it!
GTjohn
October 26th, 2009
2:58 pm
You forget Steve Spurrier, Bob Griese, Pat Sullivan, Terry Beasly and others?
samson
October 26th, 2009
2:58 pm
Preach to the Choir Bradley!
NA
October 26th, 2009
2:58 pm
HERSCHEL WALKER
34
the real Old Gold
October 26th, 2009
2:59 pm
Josh M… if Reggie Ball threw to Randy Moss with an NFL O line and no defense with Gailey and Nix play calling… he’d have under a hundred yards in 3 games too.
You can’t deny Calving Johnson was one of the most dominate athletes of the last half century, anyone who knows college football will tell you that.
the real Old Gold
October 26th, 2009
2:59 pm
*Calvin
HBTD
October 26th, 2009
2:59 pm
Mark. You’re dead on with this call. Hershel was the greatest football player I’ve ever seen. For those who were not old enough to see him, rest assured, there’s not been anything like it since. Everytime he touched the ball you held your breath in anticipation that this would be the next highlight run of the year. He was phenominal in every way not only on the football field, but also when politely conducting interviews after the game. Who could ever forget the question posed to Hershel after the 1981 Florida game when asked if he ever got tired of toting the ball so many times (44) to which he said, “the ball ain’t heavy”. He was one of a kind. The Hershel Walker following was literally like following a rock star where the press hung on every word. His popularity on a visit to NY for the Heisman award in 1982 was transcended only by UGA III who as we all know is the biggest “rock star” celebrity to ever.
"No, suh - ball ain't heavy"...
October 26th, 2009
2:59 pm
…”I’m just glad I could make his dream come true” – thanks MightyQuinn!
Ed
October 26th, 2009
3:00 pm
“Did Tebow get a new car for signing with Florida like Herschel did for signing at UGA?”
Probably – have you checked out Florida’s history of NCAA violations, probation, stripped titles, being banned from bowls, etc?
Suck it Nerd
October 26th, 2009
3:01 pm
Gator Gum -
Ignorant? Not really. Too busy to spend time spell checking, yep.
‘You are such an ignorant “Dumb-A$$”!!’ – redundant. Work to increase your vocabulary.
RHR
October 26th, 2009
3:03 pm
However, what if Tebow wins a second Heisman AND a second national championship (actually, it would be a third national championship team that he played and took snaps on)???? . . . At that point, isn’t it fair to say that we may be witnessing the greatest college FB player ever? . . .
Timmy ain’t winning the Heisman again so your point is moot.
Darius
October 26th, 2009
3:03 pm
LOL @ Bradley and the UGA fans … outside of state of Georgia, Hershel is not even in the discussion of best player ever.
Dillan Hatcher
October 26th, 2009
3:05 pm
Haha. Walker is a lot better than Tebow. Herschel was a RB and Tebow is a QB. The last time i checked, QB’s are supposed to throw the ball and a RB’s job is to run the football. Tebow is about to get rattled Saturday in Jacksonville. GOOOOOOO DAWGS!!!!!!! SIC EM!!!!!!!
GeoffDawg
October 26th, 2009
3:05 pm
the real Old Gold – I concur with you sentiment. The fact that the only real troll on this board is a Vandy fan is not something you see very often.
Bid Factory
October 26th, 2009
3:05 pm
The only reason Barry Sanders isn’t the clear cut #1 is because he backed up All-American Thurman Thomas for two years, when he should have started over him. His records, unlike Herschel’s, will NEVER be broken. 2,628 yds with 37 rush td’s? 5 consecutive games with 200+ yds? Insane…
Vince
October 26th, 2009
3:06 pm
I don’t think Tebow has progressed in his 3 years as a starter. He still holds the ball too long, he throws ill-timed passes instead of throwing the ball away, takes too many sacks, and too many times feels he has to do it all. His statistics this year show that. Now that UF is playing teams with actual defenses, without his co-stars from last year, Tebow is having problems again. He had problems in that 9-4 season because he was trying to do it all. In the NC year, he was able to utilize the guys around him to be effective, but he’s gone back to trying to do everything again this year rather than let his guys make plays. He’s like a manager that doesn’t fully trust his employees yet–rather than let them do the work, he constantly is taking up all the assignments himself to make sure they get done “right”. And eventually you get overwhelmed. He’ll get drafted in the NFL, but that’s due to his athleticism and attitude. He hasn’t shown much, if any, growth as a QB in college, but that might be due to the system he has to run.
Reality Check
October 26th, 2009
3:07 pm
Focusing on one player who played 29 years ago is a big reason why UGA’s current situation will drag on and on.
Erin 02
October 26th, 2009
3:07 pm
Great Article Mark! But heres one for you! Who’s better Tim Tebow or Charlie Ward?
Nerd
October 26th, 2009
3:07 pm
Who is the idiot that said HW didn’t have a great pro career? Check the records – he is still in the top 15 for total yards gained. And that doesn’t include his USFL #s. He was an absolute beast in the NFL. The Vikes had a very good reason for making that trade. They just gave up too much.
People don’t realize that he was the total package – one of the best blocking backs in football. Which is why he played as long as he did.