Best Pro athlete from SMU

[Cadillac]

are we discussing length of pro careers or best athlete? he was the best athlete.

When discussing best pro athlete, I believe length of career is a very important aspect.

-CoS

[ponyboy]

In his prime he was better than anyone who has ever played the Game.

Bingo.

[EastStang]

Berry deserves some mention for his career stats. The man simply was the best wide-out of his generation. True he has Unitas throwing passes to him, but he still caught them and many were of the slat pattern variety that got you hammered. Also, they did not have the 5 yard no touch rule that they have now for corners, so cornerbacks could bump you until the ball was in the air. The fact that he got open so often is a testament to his ability.

Another SMU lineman who had a long career, never went to the pro bowl as far as I know, but was able to get three of his offensive teammates into the Hall of Fame was Ray Schoenke of the Redskins. He was a guard who helped to keep the pocket clear for Sonny Jurgensen so he could make all those passes to Charley Taylor and Bobby Mitchell.

[PK]

Don't forget Jerry Mays, DT/DE. Named to the all-time AFL team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

AFL All-Star 1962, 1964,
1965, 1966, 1967, 1968

NFL Pro Bowl 1970

http://www.kcchiefs.com/hall_of_fame/jerry_mays/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Mays ... ve_lineman)

[Alaric]

In his prime he was better than anyone who has ever played the Game.

Bingo.

Dickerson no question but if you're talking best football player of all time, it's gotta be Bo Jackson who averaged 5.4 ypc. that avg would have probably gone down a little if he had a longer career but then again, if he didn't treat football as a hobby, he might have been able to sustain it

[Stallion]

I'm calling [deleted] on Bo Jackson-he was a great runner no doubt but in fact he never came close to Dickerson in performance Dickerson almost had more yards in one season than Jackson did in a 4 year NFL career. And in his prime-the year he rushed for the NFL record Dickerson averaged 5.6 yards per carry-and that's what I am referring to-his prime.


In his four seasons in the NFL, Jackson rushed for 2,782 yards and 16 touchdowns with an average yards per carry of 5.4.

[ponyte]

Had Doak not been injured his Sr. year, he would have been the first 2 time Heisman winner. Had Bo stayed healthy, he may have been the best runner of all times. The fact is both suffered injuries and the what ifs can never replace reality.

Dickerson is by far and away the best SMU athlete in the pros. And that is something considering the mighty fine company with all the great pro athletes that have come from SMU.

[MustangStealth]

How can nobody have mentioned the #5 scorer in the Belgian pro league?

http://www.eurobasket.com/player.asp?Cntry=BEL&PlayerID=30217

[Alaric]

I'm calling [deleted] on Bo Jackson-he was a great runner no doubt but in fact he never came close to Dickerson in performance Dickerson almost had more yards in one season than Jackson did in a 4 year NFL career. And in his prime-the year he rushed for the NFL record Dickerson averaged 5.6 yards per carry-and that's what I am referring to-his prime.


In his four seasons in the NFL, Jackson rushed for 2,782 yards and 16 touchdowns with an average yards per carry of 5.4.

Jackson averaged 5.4 ypc for his career, he simply didn't have as many attempts because he was playing baseball and splitting time with Marcus Allen who got playing time, at the end of his career, as deference to his greatness even though he was in decline...no big deal, we're talking SMU, not Bo Jackson but like ponyte said, this can't be proven because of Bo's injury (and him playing football part time)

[Alaric]

wow...just wasting time since my business model doesn't work and saw this on youtube. over and over he runs over a LB and outruns a DB who has an angle on him

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxnf5Tq-AcY

[panhandle_pony]

Can anyone imagine a better SMU "showing" than the 1958 Greatest Game (Colts and Giants), with Berry as the Colts star receiver and Rote as captain of the Giants ?

[Alaric]

wow...just wasting time since my business model doesn't work anymore and saw this on youtube. over and over he runs over a LB and outruns a DB who has an angle on him

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxnf5Tq-AcY

[PoconoPony]

Steve Lunquist with world records and Olympic gold metals same with Jerry Heidenreich. What about Michael Carter many years All-Pro with the 49ers, Olympic Silver medal in the shot and still HS record holder for the shot.

[mrydel]

Steve Lunquist with world records and Olympic gold metals same with Jerry Heidenreich. What about Michael Carter many years All-Pro with the 49ers, Olympic Silver medal in the shot and still HS record holder for the shot.

I thought about Jerry, may he rest in peace, but did not consider him a professional in his sport. Had not Mark Spitz been born, Michael Phelps could have been breaking Jerry H's records this past Olympics.

[EastStang]

The question was professional athlete. Clearly in swimming and diving and coaching, we had some greats, Steve Lundquist, Lars Froehlander, Cindy Potter, Jerry Heidenreich, Martina Morascova, and many others who won medals in the Olympics. If you add in coaches, Coaches Mac and Quick, and Bryan (I can't remember his last name).