VY pulled our *** out of the fire way more the Earl. Dude was superhuman. OKSTATE 2005 is all you need to see as evidence
But where is Vince now? Yes, I think he was super human... AMAZING player, but there are so many more that rate as the best. I agree on Earl! Man was AWESOME!!!
I remember driving to Bubba Bean's house and University fo Houston had TWO red Cadillacs parked out front as a constant reminder. Rod Dockery's (of Kevin Murray fame) dad was principal at Kirbyville HS back them, later was Superintendant. Bubba was one of those players that RC snuck out the backdoor and hid before signing date. You shoudl get Bubba to tell you about his recruiting trip to Colorado.
The question is best COLLEGE player ever so what Earl did in the pros shouldn't count. For what it's worth, Earl was awesome in Houston. However VY is the best college player I've ever seen to this day.
So the best college player ever couldn't start till his redshirt sophmore year? The Link Earl could have started at Texas his senior year at John Tyler High, maybe earlier. Barry Switzer said he was the only player he ever saw that could have gone directly from high school to the NFL and been a star there. The Link Earl was never second string to anybody in any league whether it was high school, college, or the NFL. He won all kinds of awards in college. He even came back from a severe injury and won the Heisman in 1977. He then won every award a running back could win in the NFL and was a first ballot hall of famer. Also as great a football player as he was, he is an even better human being.
I just wanted to take a brief moment to salute the memory, knowledge, insight, and passion of all the posts I read in this thread. I'm going to sleep well tonight as a result. Unfortunately, my dreams may be more sports themed than would otherwise be the norm...
Let me suggest a book for you. While it's not football, but baseball, there is considerable discussion of the ongoing debate about who was the best, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, or Duke Snider. The author does a masterful job of concluding that it's the debate that matters, not the conclusion. There were so many viewpoints at the time, and so many more now as new statistical measuring stick have come along, that these things will never be, and probably should not be, decided. The book is called "The Last Boy" - by Leavy. Enjoy.
No, I blame this on every time Vince gets kicked to the curb in the NFL a thread is started like this for certain posters to feel better I guess. This is for Arizona this time I guess. This is at least the third post of this nature this year. The let's build a statue post was the last one. I also know Chance Mock came in and saved the day against Texas Tech. It wouldn't matter who the coach was Earl would always start like he did at every level.
I live in Georgia where Hershel, like Earl, is a legend. But when I show people this, reactions range from amazement, to some who don't believe this video is real - like that guy was photoshopped riding on Earl's arm.
I think you mean this against Rice. The Link It's very real, I was there and saw it personally. Earl ran over a lot of guys in college and the NFL. Like this one in the Dome against the Rams. The Link Even the people in Georgia should have seen this video.
VY may have made the defense better, but so did Sammy Baugh............... while playing defense. Get back to me when Vince leads the NFL in passing, pass interceptions, and punting in 1943.
Nobis made the offense better, because he was an f'ing All-American guard, not just the best middle linebacker on the field.
Vince Young played on an all star team that had an offense where Jamaal Charles was the third team running back. It had many future stars in the NFL. You say he made them better, well it can also be said they made him better too. They had only average receivers? You call David Thomas an average receiver. That Limas Sweed and Billy Pittman couldn't play? Earl Campbell could only dream of having a team around him like Vince had. He had a third string quarterback that had to introduce himself to most of the offense when he was forced into action against OU. Earl carried that offense on his shoulders all season. Earl won the Heisman by a landslide and Vince did not. He didn't win it because in a close race with Bush in his last regular season game against A&M he was held in check. The Heisman Trophy is about the regular season and always has been. The last thing voters saw before they voted was Vince Young rushing 11 times for 19 yards against A&M. Is that the domination you speak of that Earl didn't have? You are correct then because Earl never had a game like that. That's why the final Heisman vote was Bush-2,541, Young-1,608, and Leinart- 797. The Link The Link The key play that turned the game in Texas's favor was a blocked punt by Cedric Griffin. You just say things like he had average receivers, never with anything to back it up. Yeah that was a real average team around him. Many of them are stars in the NFL like David Thomas with his Super Bowl rings and Jamaal Charles who led the NFL in rushing. It's Vince who is not in the NFL and why as I said before this is the third thread this year with this as the subject. It's like some kind of therapy for posters like yourself to feel better. Post #1 4/23/12 The Link Post #2 which must have been deleted, but is still listed on the search option. 9/3/12 The Link And of course this current offering. So I guess we are due another one of these on about April 1, 2013 which would be appropiate.
Have to say, watching Earl running, stepping on top of players to run, was unreal. Much more of a man among boys than anyone, but VYs speed and ability to freeze defenses was equally awesome....
Hey NB Horn - It is my opinion that VY was the most unstopable force in college football. It is also my opinion that if it was possible to ask coaches lilke Stoops, Carrol, Saban, Meyer which player they would least like to face, VY would top that list. His receivers were average. His O-Line was great. DT was a very good college TE and I and so happy VY had him to throw to. Quan was the next best. The fact that he did not win the Heisman means nothing to me. This thread is about college not NFL careers. Earl is my favorite player of all time, but he was not as dominate as VY in college. There is no way to prove it, but it is fun to discuss.
I thought the Heisman was a college award. Who won one and who didn't and I explained why. A horrible A&M team who finished 5-6 for the year and 3-5 in conference play prevented Vince from any chance of winning it. Yet you keep talking about domination. In contrast UT's only other Heisman winner Ricky Williams had the same opportunity against #6 Texas A&M that won the Big 12 conference. We all know how that turned out. That's how Heisman's are won and lost. Two Horns won Heismans and one didn't and we know why. And for the record Earl's last regular season game against #12 ranked Texas A&M. The Link That's 27 carries for 224 yards and 3 TD's plus a 60 yard pass reception for a TD. I think it's easy to see why Ricky and Earl won their Heismans and Vince did not.
This thread puts me in the odd position of putting Earl down. If you want to compare VY and Earls last game, there is not comparison. VY won the NC and Earl was stuffed by ND.