Most Intense Mustangs?

[Stallion]

PonyTe's post got me thinking-who were the most intense pre-game guys you personally remember. I'm not really talking on the Field. I'll go back to Mark Gibson back in the 1980s. Those guys usually make great special teams players-go knock em out.

[mrydel]

Bruce Portillo

[ponyte]

Jim Duggan
Joe Bays
Lance Pederson
Lee Spivey against Tulane in 1980 but I think he was hopped up on something that game.

The way we were divided pre game it is hard for me to gauge the Defensive players

And I will admit I feel a bit like it is pregame for me a well. That intense nervousness. The difference is I don't have any plays, situations, alignments and assignments to go over and over in my head.

Amazing what winning and being in a position to actually have meaningful post season games changes one's intensity.

[ponyscott]

No question ...Putt Choate. He has a career SMU record 649 tackles! He had to do that when SMU didn't have their best teams and he was all over the field and dominated at Linebacker.....the next closest is way behind that total....

as below from 90 Greatest Moments in SMU History:.....


When coaches are looking for players to put at linebacker there are certain characteristics they want in a player. First, they want someone who embodies true strength that can fight off even the biggest opponents. Second, they want a player who is blessed with good speed and quickness so that they can run all over the field. And probably most important of all, they seek someone who is smart, knowledgeable and loves to play the game with the desire to make every tackle. Thus, we have just described one of the greatest linebackers in the history of SMU, Putt Choate. Putt Choate finished his career as the leading tackler in Mustang history. By finishing his career with an astounding 649 tackles, Putt Choate takes his place on our list of the 90 Greatest Moments in SMU Football History.

From 1975 to 1978, Putt Choate was a force to be reckoned with on the Mustang defense. As a freshman, Choate was able to get used to playing at the college level and made 60 tackles in the process. In 1976, even though he was only a sophomore, first year head coach Ron Meyer asked Choate to be the backbone of the defense. Choate responded by leading the team in tackles with 150. In 1977, Choate once again led the team in tackles, this time racking up 186. However great he had been in his first three seasons, Choate saved his best for his final season on the Hilltop.

During his senior season, Choate spearheaded the Mustangs defense through one of the toughest schedules in school history with three consecutive road games at Florida, Penn State, and Ohio State. He was instrumental in helping SMU push Penn State to the limit. In the end, SMU fell to the Nittany Lions 26-21. Penn State finished the 1978 season No. 1 in the nation with a perfect 11-0 before falling to eventual national champion Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. The following week, he led the Mustangs to a 35-35 tie at Ohio State in front of 87,721 fans, the largest crowd to ever see an SMU game.

His senior season ended with a school record 253 tackles. In his four years, Choate amassed 649 tackles. The closest other Mustang to that total is Gary Moten, who comes in a distant second with 455. Choate has three of the top five seasons for tackles in school history as well as three of the top four single game tackles with a career high of 31 against A&M in 1976. He was honored following his junior and senior seasons as an All-SWC selection.

Putt Choate has gone on to find success after football on the Hilltop. He has become the President and CEO of Choate Irrigation USA, the largest residential and commercial irrigation contractor in the United States. SMU is proud of players like Putt Choate, and hope other players will find similar success. For his efforts as the anchor of the Mustang defense, Putt Choate takes his place on our list of the 90 Greatest Moments in SMU Football History

[Charleston Pony]

Robert "Crash" Popelka

[mrydel]

Robert "Crash" Popelka

Actually my memories of Popalick as we called him was very calm and quiet. But a killer on the field.

[Charleston Pony]

I assumed we were talking about "on the field". I always thought he took too many helmets which mellowed him off the field.

[mrydel]

I assumed we were talking about "on the field". I always thought he took too many helmets which mellowed him off the field.

He was meek on and off the field until one day at practice he just clicked on and became one of the best I ever watched.

[panhandle_pony]

Agree with Portillo, but I think mrydel cast this vote just to appease his fellow banker - you know ,those guys with all the TARP money under their mattress.

[mrydel]

Agree with Portillo, but I think mrydel cast this vote just to appease his fellow banker - you know ,those guys with all the TARP money under their mattress.

My company was the first in the country to throw the TRAP money back at Washington when they changed the rules. We just bought what I believe are our 6th and 7th banks in the last year (big Florida banks) and our stock went up over 20% last week.

I say all of that even though it has nothing to do with Portillo's intensity. But it made me feel good.

[panhandle_pony]

Good for you mryde ! I'm in Florida - what banks and where are they located ?

[mrydel]

Good for you mryde ! I'm in Florida - what banks and where are they located ?

Orion Bank of Naples and Century Bank of Sarasota.

[ponyscott]

Hey guys C'mon give the great Putt some credit...look at his stats his senior year against tough teams..give him some props.....
I am happy for your banks ( really am!) and the progressfor you but we all know the Florida Panhandle including the 30A stretch has been down for years and is still struggling and I do hope that the new Panama City Airport kicks off that area big time. The fact that SW Air is signed up for next May with 5-6 flights daily is a huge hit for a tough area of our country.

[mrydel]

The question was most intense pre game. I never saw Putt Choat in the pre game locker room. I did witness Portillo and I stand by my opinion. It is a question to which there cannot be a final answer.

[ponyscott]

ok.....right but wanted to give Putt some credo's as he NEVER has recieved proper credit for what he did when he was here.