[quote="Stallion"]You know SMU has tried this at least two other times with World Class Track(Shotput/Discus) guys over the last 25 years or so. Unfortunately, neither kid got on the field. I remember a Robert Weir kid in the 1980s but we had better players back then too. It would help if he had strengths that translated to specific skills-like a 3rd down pass rush specialist. Pretty hard to teach the entire set of skills need to play a position to a kid w/o Football background especially if he hasn't even played high school football.[/quote]
Robert Weir's brother Raymond was an offensive lineman on the SMU football team, but never played. He was big, strong and fast, but not a good football player.
Robert Weir was never on the football team at SMU, but was All-American in track (Discus and Hammer), and later competed for Great Britain at the Olympics. He was offered a free agent tryout by the Miami Dolphins after impressing scouts during Senior Day at SMU, and he made it through all of preseason without being cut from the roster, but spent the season on injured reserve after breaking his foot in practice. After that I dont think he played football again, he just concentrated on track.
I think this is all insane. You do not take a world class athlete who has a chance to compete in the Olympics and professional (yes, professional) track tour making big $$$$ and subject him to the chance of injury in football. Injury particularly to knees and shoulders which are the essence of his sport. I think he probably needs financial help at this time to continue training away from home and this is the way they could help him out. Probably found an old endowed track scholarship and gave it to him and indicated a football connection as justification. I will be shocked if he actually tries to do anything football related.
PoconoPony wrote:I think this is all insane. You do not take a world class athlete who has a chance to compete in the Olympics and professional (yes, professional) track tour making big $$$$ and subject him to the chance of injury in football. Injury particularly to knees and shoulders which are the essence of his sport. I think he probably needs financial help at this time to continue training away from home and this is the way they could help him out. Probably found an old endowed track scholarship and gave it to him and indicated a football connection as justification. I will be shocked if he actually tries to do anything football related.
Or he watched the football games, liked them, and wanted to try it himself. Not everything has to be a conspiracy, sometimes they just want to play football.
Talk about track guys not making it in football. Does anyone remember some shot put kid named Michael Carter? Did he ever make it anywhere.... say to the 49ers.
PoconoPony wrote:I think this is all insane. You do not take a world class athlete who has a chance to compete in the Olympics and professional (yes, professional) track tour making big $$$$ and subject him to the chance of injury in football. Injury particularly to knees and shoulders which are the essence of his sport. I think he probably needs financial help at this time to continue training away from home and this is the way they could help him out. Probably found an old endowed track scholarship and gave it to him and indicated a football connection as justification. I will be shocked if he actually tries to do anything football related.
Or he watched the football games, liked them, and wanted to try it himself. Not everything has to be a conspiracy, sometimes they just want to play football.
I'm guessing that he figured out exactly how much tang a Texas College football player could get and BAM game over, no contest. You can keep all the track and field money... you have to go for the gold in triangle!
good example of track athlete who couldn't play football was Alexander Wright, he of the 4.13 40...couldn't catch, cut, block, move laterally
i always wondered if courtney ireland, former smu thrower extraordinaire, could have played. he grew up playing rugby and graduated early so he could try to make the NZ All Blacks
Not that it matters at all, because they're in different leagues from an athletic standpoint, but Paulius Ritter came out for football a few years back....
He definitely had the size, athleticism, frame, and muscle to play football and he wasn't even a good scout teamer.
