DMN readers' all-time SMU team

[PonyPride]

QUARTERBACK
First team: Don Meredith
Second team: Lance McIlhenny

RUNNING BACK
First team: Doak Walker
Second team: Bobby Wilson

RUNNING BACK
First team: Eric Dickerson
Second team: Kyle Rote

WIDE RECEIVER
First team: Raymond Berry
Second team: John Roderick

WIDE RECEIVER
First team: Jerry Levias
Second team: Emanuel Tolbert

WIDE RECEIVER
First team: Emmanuel Sanders
Second team: Gary Hammond

OFFENSIVE LINE
First team: Forrest Gregg, Ray Schoenke, Dave Richards, Dale Hellestrae, Max Christian
Second team: [deleted] Hightower, Tom Koenig, Clyde Carter, Henry Sheppard, Josh LeRibeus

DEFENSIVE LINE
First team: Jerry Mays, Byron Hunt, Louie Kelcher, Jerry Ball
Second team: Tom Gentry, Taylor Thompson, Michael Carter, John LaGrone

LINEBACKER
First team: Bill Forester, Billy Bob Stewart, Jerry Griffin
Second team: Putt Choate, Chris Bordano, Gary Moten

SECONDARY
First team: CB Russell Carter, CB Jim Livingston, S Wes Hopkins, S Jerry Norton
Second team: CB Rod Jones, CB Donald Mitchell, S Val Joe Walker, S Robert Popelka

COACH
First team: Matty Bell
Second team: Hayden Fry

[SmooBoy]

Michael Carter a 2nd teamer? This nullifies the validity of this list.

[The Q]

That's the risk you run with fan votes. Some don't remember the old guys, and for many, it's just a popularity contest. Then again, the DMN even misspelled some of the names (on their site -- looks like they're fixed here).

I'm shocked Putt Choate and Rod Jones werent 't the first team. Jones was sensational, and Choate is the all-time tackling leader, isn't he?

[SMU 86]

Michael Carter a 2nd teamer? This nullifies the validity of this list.

Almost exactly the same thing I was thinking.

[Digetydog]

Ramon Flanagon was our QB for most of the 90's! How could he not be on the list?

Seriously: I think Chuck Hixson has to be on the list. He lead the nation in passing (before the run and shoot) and won the Sammy Baugh Trophy.

[NavyCrimson]

I, too was looking for Hixson.

[EastStang]

And Mike Livingston led us to the Cotton Bowl. I suspect the fact that Dandy Don was the Cowboys QB influenced that vote. If he'd been QB of the Redskins or Eagles, he'd probably not even be on the list. Hixson, Livingston, Mike Ford (until he got hurt and Wally Pipped by McIlhenny) should be on the list for pure passing yardage. Another name which probably needs to be somewhere like kick/punt return would be Arthur Wittington. He changed games. Also noticably absent is Craig James. He would probably qualify for Punter, although it would be a toss-up. On coaches, I think that's probably the right top two. Other coaches during the death penalty cheating years probably get DQ'd.

[whitwiki]

And Mike Livingston led us to the Cotton Bowl. I suspect the fact that Dandy Don was the Cowboys QB influenced that vote. If he'd been QB of the Redskins or Eagles, he'd probably not even be on the list. Hixson, Livingston, Mike Ford (until he got hurt and Wally Pipped by McIlhenny) should be on the list for pure passing yardage. Another name which probably needs to be somewhere like kick/punt return would be Arthur Wittington. He changed games. Also noticably absent is Craig James. He would probably qualify for Punter, although it would be a toss-up. On coaches, I think that's probably the right top two. Other coaches during the death penalty cheating years probably get DQ'd.

Thomas morestead. Punter.

[TWALV33]

yea Morstead for sure

[Stallion]

John Roderick? Really? Made a big play against Navy-but not all time great
Michael Carter was not the greatest NG/DT while at SMU. I saw most every game those DTs played, I would definitely rate them in following order based on College performance:

Louie Kelcher (All-American)
Harvey Armstrong (All-American on one bad [deleted] defense)
Jerry Ball then
Michael Carter

SMU's 1982 Defense was not near as good as that 1981 Defense and a prime reason was the loss of Armstrong. They just didn't perform at the same level-the offense bailed them out or we could have lost several games. Heck Hutchison at Texas Tech ran for 244 yards against the 1982 Defense-that never would have happened if Armstrong had been around. The 1981 Defense smothered every team it played including the one they lost to Texas 9-7. That was the best defensive by far SMU has had in my lifetime

[PonyFan]

Louie Kelcher (All-American)
Harvey Armstrong (All-American on one bad [deleted] defense)
Jerry Ball then
Michael Carter

That would be my defensive line. Sure, they're all interior guys, but imagine trying to run on that bunch.

[ponyte]

FWIW
I would have LaGrone (all-American) instead of Byron Hunt. I would have Ron Meyer instead of Fry (At least Meyer had defenses). I would not have Raymond Berry. Great Pro but wasn't a huge SMU receiver. Had very little receiver stats including he didn't even lead the Mustangs in receiving any of his years. Great player and man but not a great SMU receiver. Popelka instead of Norton. All in all pretty good summation of greats.

[EastStang]

No tight end position. I'd go with All American Oscar Roan for that.

[mrydel]

FWIW
I would have LaGrone (all-American) instead of Byron Hunt. I would have Ron Meyer instead of Fry (At least Meyer had defenses). I would not have Raymond Berry. Great Pro but wasn't a huge SMU receiver. Had very little receiver stats including he didn't even lead the Mustangs in receiving any of his years. Great player and man but not a great SMU receiver. Popelka instead of Norton. All in all pretty good summation of greats.

I agree with everything you said which says a lot since I was on defense under Fry.
And I am a huge Popelka fan.

[Charleston Pony]

I've been watching SMU football since the early 60's and "Crash" Popelka was the hardest hitting safety I can ever remember watching