Top TWO greatest Longhorn players in your lifetime?

[MikeV73]

Ricky and Vince, enough said.

 

[BudreauReye]

A lot of people don't know that Earl played LB for Texas a couple of times.  It sounds like you were from the same era and if you think Daje should watch Metcalfs films, you surely would like him to watch Jimmy Saxtons films.

You are right on Saxton.  I never saw him play .  I lived up in West Texas and did not become aware of Texas football until I started playing football in the sixth grade.  Saxton played for Texas from when I was in the third through fifth grades.  An interesting aside, at least to me, I got a lot of growth between the second and fifth grades.  I was a tall, gawky, uncoordinated "scholar" who was more interested in playing with dinosaurs at recess than sports.  My football, kick'em in the arse persona did not emerge until the sixth grade - one year after Saxton left Texas.  I did see film of him later, and you are right.  He was a slithery son of a gun - much worthy of Daje's attention.  It is interesting looking back and comparing players of similar skill sets from different eras.

He played in the day when players played both ways and he was an excellent defensive back.  If I remember correctly, he was also a quarterback in the single wing, which was a precursor of sorts to the shotgun with the ball being snapped directly to one of three backs with the quarterback being usually stationed closer to the line that the halfback and fullback.  It was a different time with different skill sets demanded from players, but Saxton would be a good reference for Daje.  His nickname was "Rabbit" and when he got to Texas, it was said that he weighed all of 160 pounds soaking wet.  Ted Koy said it best: “The comment they used to make about him was if you miss him, just stay where you are because he’ll probably come back to where you are. You couldn’t corner him in an alley. That make him one of the most fun guys you got to watch in those days. It was one of the opposing defensive coaches who said, ‘If you think you have him, you don’t have him.’â€

Actually, that description reminds me of another Texas running back that you do not hear much about - Joe Aboussie - who played in 1973 and 1974.  He ran out of the wing-T if I remember correctly.   He kind of wandered about amongst the defenders getting from point A to Point B - he was a smaller ball carrier and you kind of wanted him to move along, but he seemed to have a way of making defenders miss..  Looking at the years he played and how his stats dropped off from the first year to the second makes me think he must have been injured.  I cannot find anything with a quick google.  I do remember him having that slithery quality.  It interesting revisiting some of the older players, though. 

Next thing you know somebody will want to know who that Texas running back was that was found naked in the bushes in somebody's back yard! 

 

[Tlouhorn]

Earl & Vince.... End of story... Ricky was great too but you asked for two...

 

[Etex Horn]

Of course, I submit the great Earl Campbell.  His season of 1977 was one for the ages. Thanksgiving weekend of 1977 I went with a bunch of friends canoeing down some pretty badass whitewater in the canyons of the Rio Grande River.  We got out of the river in mid-afternoon that Saturday. I listened to the UT/A&M game sitting in a beat to shit pickup truck parked on the bank of the river. Campbell rushed for 227 yards and scored 4 tds, one on a 60 yard screen play. Big Earl ripped a pretty salty aggie defense to pieces that day, in a true Heisman clinching performance, as Texas beat a game aggie team 57-28. A great memory, indeed.

My other pick would be Tommy Nobis, best LB ever at UT.  

Seems like Marty Akins deserves mentioning...wasn't he the first Wishbone QB to be named an All American?

 

[Tlouhorn]

Bud, I know who that RB was, should I reveal to the world?

 

[Etex Horn]

In the bushes in somebody's back yard...hope he wasn't nude and confused.

 

[Tlouhorn]

Edwin Simmons, a phenomenal talent who's career was cut short with a knee injury against Arkansas...

 

[Etex Horn]

If Simmons hadn't been injured in 1983, we probably win the Jan. 1 1984 Cotton Bowl against Georgia. I say that because he was a great RB and we were ineffective rushing against Georgia in that game, without him. Considering Nebraska lost that night to Miami...had we won, we would have won the National Championship. Akers was that close to getting one and would be remembered more favorably than he is in Texas football history.    

 

[BudreauReye]

Bud, I know who that RB was, should I reveal to the world?
Edwin Simmons, a phenomenal talent who's career was cut short with a knee injury against Arkansas...

Yes, you should.  It is his shame, not ours, though I am sure that some of us have some equal or greater shame in our lives.  I think it was in the game against Oklahoma that he had a great kickoff return or two.  You know, as a result of the Eric Dickerson phenomenon, I think he was one of those taller, extremely athletic and fast running backs that were popular for a while.  You know put them back ten yards deep with a good blocking back and let them get up a good head of steam before they hit the line of scrimmage.  I think when he played at Texas he was a good 6'-4" and 220 lbs, and he was FAST!

 

[BudreauReye]

In the bushes in somebody's back yard...hope he wasn't nude and confused.

Yes ... I think he was! 

 

[3xhorndad]

1. Earl

2 . Vince

3 Tommy Nobis

4. Bobby Layne

5. Derrick Johnson

6 Ricky Williams

Earl, Vince, and Nobis. Everyone, even the opponents knew. Layne was electric in the pros.

DKR said "When Earl ran, snot flew."

 

[Etex Horn]

It was Simmons' 67 yard run right up the middle that broke OU's back in the 1983 game that I remember. Same game our DB Richard Peavy lit up Marcus DuPree, hit him so hard his helmet went flying straight up into the air...DuPree quit OU the next week, never played for them again. The ultimate embarrasement for OU.

 

[doc longhorn]

"DKR said "When Earl ran, snot flew."

Actually, when asked about the difference between Earl and Ricky, DKR said "When Earl ran, snot flew.  that isn't the case with Ricky."

 

[Duke C #11]

Jimmie Saxton was the player who made me a UT fan.

Tommy Nobis was the best defensive player I've ever seen play for UT.

Steve Worster was the first great fullback I saw at UT.

Rosey Leaks was a MAN.

Earl was the most down to earth SUPERSTAR I've ever encountered.

Kenneth Sims was maybe the most talented d-lineman I've seen at UT.

Johnnie Johnson was as good a DB as I've ever seen at Texas.

Lam Jones was the fastest Horn ever.

Eric Metcalf was the most elusive.

Ricky Williams was a human highlight reel.

Derrick Johnson was the second best linebacker I've seen at Texas.

Vince was just not human.

Asking me to narrow these down to two just ain't right.

 

[texasdobbs]

Earl .... Vince. ..

 

[doc longhorn]

Jimmie Saxton was the player who made me a UT fan.

Tommy Nobis was the best defensive player I've ever seen play for UT.

Steve Worster was the first great fullback I saw at UT.

Rosey Leaks was a MAN.

Earl was the most down to earth SUPERSTAR I've ever encountered.

Kenneth Sims was maybe the most talented d-lineman I've seen at UT.

Johnnie Johnson was as good a DB as I've ever seen at Texas.

Lam Jones was the fastest Horn ever.

Eric Metcalf was the most elusive.

Ricky Williams was a human highlight reel.

Derrick Johnson was the second best linebacker I've seen at Texas.

Vince was just not human.

Asking me to narrow these down to two just ain't right.

LOL!   I know - it's hard.  That is the whole purpose of the thread.  We both could go on and on about the greatest players that ever played at UT, but when it comes down to selecting the two you think were the absolute best of all it gets a little tricky, doesn't it?

I could have set the thread up as the best players by unit - OL, DL, DB, WR, etc. - like you just did,  but that is too easy and gives everyone an out when naming their two favorite players.  (Duke Carlisle ain't a bad choice)

Nay, I wanted some agonizing going on

Here is another thing - would Worster have been as great a fullback had he run in an offense other than the Bone?   All these kinds of things have to be considered.

Earl and Vince could have played in any kind of offense and still be the game changer.

For the youngsters on here that never saw Earl play,  you simply would not believe him.  I don't think he ever carried the ball where he lost yardage.  His film clips just do not do him justice.

I've had the good fortune to have watched all the great UT players play, including Ricky and Earl.  Ricky was great, but he was no Earl Campbell.  Vince Young was the greatest football talent I have ever seen.  He and Earl could have played any position on the field and excelled - including DT.  Try and say that about Manziel.

 

[neillmck]

I totally agree on Earl and Vince, would have to add a third place finisher, and it would be a tie:

3a) Tommy Nobis

For all of his greatness as a MOB and OG, what I remember most is when he intercepted a pass, he would seem to to try to run over every opponent on the field.   His left arm would be pumping up and down like a jack-hammer, and whoever tried to tackle him paid one he'll of a price.

3b) James Street

Slick did not have the physical tools to be on the same page with other three guys, but he had the heart,  the guts, and the leadership skills to make-up for any deficiencies.  After he had the long TD run to get UT back into the game against Arkansas in the Big Shoot-out, a reporter said to DKR that he didn't realize James was that fast.  Darrell replied that wasn't, but on the other hand, he couldn't remember anyone catching him from behind.

 

[Lukus Alderman]

Some old folks in this thread.

The first Longhorn game I remember watching was when Shea Morenz was QB and the Horns took out Colorado a week or so after Cordell Stewart threw that 80 yard Hail Mary to beat some team (I forgot who).

I'm not positive that I'm remembering that correctly, but I do remember Colorado trying to onside it but failing at the end of the game.

 

[echeese]

Since I did not see Tommy Nobis or Bobby Layne play. . . . Hard to argue with the OP, Earl (yes, liked him better than Ricky though Ricky does make one think about it) and Vince.

You can make a good argument for any combo of those 5. . . .

 

[streettopeschel]

Some old folks in this thread.

The first Longhorn game I remember watching was when Shea Morenz was QB and the Horns took out Colorado a week or so after Cordell Stewart threw that 80 yard Hail Mary to beat some team (I forgot who).

I'm not positive that I'm remembering that correctly, but I do remember Colorado trying to onside it but failing at the end of the game.

as one of the old folks it's my duty to tell you morenz  never beat colorado.