Wednesday, February 24, 2021

College Football GOAT Conversation #365985

Earlier this week , as I was doing my usual perusal of the sports landscape, seeing what topics were being bandied about, one topic made me immediately become an old man and begin to yell at those younger than me to get off my damn lawn. You see the topic of who was the greatest college football player came up and while I will not debate who the greatest on the collegiate level is, what I won't do is stand by and see some of the people who should be mentioned in this conversation have their accomplishments minimized by those not yet old enough or well versed enough to recognize greatness.

Peter Warrick, WR, FSU (96-99)

Alright this is the person who got me most heated at people not realizing just how dope he was. Peter Warrick was a damn cheat code when he played for the Seminoles. The wideout position was not the marquee position it had once been but when FSU put Warrick on the field he was electric. He was a two-time consensus All-American and finished his career ranked among the top 3 in receptions, receiving yardage and touchdown receptions. He wasn't just a receiving threat, my man was a damn threat anytime he got the ball. He scored 4 rushing touchdowns and returning two punts for scores. He was the definition of a damn problem.

Steve McNair, QB, Alcorn State (91-94)

Air McNair doesn't get nearly the amount of props he deserves for how great of a player he was. McNair was so dope he Alcorn State games aired on ESPN. Alcorn State plays in the lower I-AA division, now the FCS or Football Championship Subdivision. In his senior season, McNair shattered NCAA all-division records, as he had damn near 6,000 yards in total offense. My mans was responsible for 53 combined touchdowns. He was so dope that not only did he win the Walter Payton award for the top Division I-AA player he finished third in Heisman Trophy voting. That's like someone from AAA getting MVP votes for the major leagues. Put some respeck on his name.

And last but certainly not least...

Tommie Frazier, QB, Nebraska (92-95)

No list of greats can be complete without mentioning Tommie Frazier. Tommie was so damn good he had brothers rooting HARD for a team from Lincoln, Nebraska. He was an absolute cheat code. You KNEW he was running the ball and there wasn't a damn thing you could do to stop him. He was the first quarterback in over 40 years to lead a team to back to back national championships. And while one play doesn't cement you in the GOAT conversation, his 75-yard touchdown run against Florida in the national championship game showed just why he was beloved from Compton to Brooklyn. He broke seven tackles and brought two hapless Florida defenders several yards before telling them GET OFF ME and strolling into the end zone. Look at this resume upon leaving Lincoln and tell me he doesn't get enough props:

  • 33–3 record as starter
  • 2 national championships
  • 4 Big Eight Conference championships
  • former Nebraska Cornhuskers record for total offense, career (5,476 yards)
  • former Nebraska Cornhuskers record for touchdown passes, career (43)
  • former Nebraska Cornhuskers record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, season (14)
  • former NCAA record for rushing yards in a bowl game by a quarterback (199)
  • former Nebraska Cornhuskers record for total offense in a bowl game (304 yards)
  • longest touchdown run in a bowl game (75 yards)

So folks there you have it, just a quick you know what grinds my gears in the form of some of my favorite athletes who in turn should become some of your favorite athletes.


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