Monday, May 30, 2011

Memorial Day



Many college and former college football players have fought for our country and many have made the ultimate sacrifice. Before we focus on barbecues, parades, and traffic today, I wanted us to remember one such player.



Jack Lummus was a two-sport (baseball and football) star at Baylor in the late 1930s, earning honorable mention All America for his fine play at end, before signing on with the New York Giants football team in time for their fine 1941 season. After the Giants lost in the title game, Lummus enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on January 30, 1942. Although most of his service time centered on work here in the States, Lummus more than made up for any missing action once he was given command of Company E's third rifle platoon two weeks after he landed on Iwo Jima. Given an objective on the northern part of that island hell-hole, Lummus soon realized that some defense bunkers were keeping his men pinned down. And so despite wounds incurred from grenade shrapnel, Lummus single-handily knocked out not one but three enemy strongholds and killed countless other members of the enemy who were in single-man defense positions. This action earned Lummus a medal of honor, which sadly was given to his family posthumously as Lummus, while leading his men past up the ridge moments later stepped on a land mine. Although he lost both his legs--legs that allowed him to become a star center fielder and end--Lummus continued to urge his men forward before he was taken away. He then was famously quoted as saying, "Well, doc, the New York Giants lost a mighty good end today." He died that day, aged 29.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

More Hall of Fame Ramblings



I wanted to wrap up my reflections on the latest class of players and coaches elected to the College Football Hall of Fame with some additional coverage of last week's press conference in New York City.



Fourteen players were elected to the Hall including one each from the three Florida-based powers including Deion Sanders from Florida State and Russell Maryland of Miami. With the Florida schools now recognized as national power programs--something that was not true back when Florida inductee Carlos Alvarez played wide receiver for the Gators from 1969 through 1971--their numbers will increase over time. And it is interesting in how the voting works in that Alvarez was helped by his brilliant academic work and subsequently impressive law career, while Sanders, for one, had to be so brilliant as a player that voters overlooked his infamous stoppage of his academic pursuit mid-year when he had reached eligibility for FSU's bowl game. I am not sure if Sanders has subsequently returned to school to get his degree, although I would bet that he did so. As for Maryland, his induction was meant to reward him for his excellent play on the field during the brilliant run by the Canes in the late 1980s, early '90s and, I guess, for his being one of the team's "good guys." Maryland played the "lovable bear of a man" role perfectly at the press conference, getting laughs by recounting his humble beginnings with Miami and for thinking the call from the Hall was a joke by former teammate Cortez Kennedy.



The Big Ten has always been a dominant force with electors, thanks in part to the large numbers of Big Ten grads peppering foundation chapters throughout the Midwest and sunnier places down South. And so three graduates of Big Ten schools, Sandy Stephens of Minnesota, Gene Washington of Michigan State and Eddie George of Ohio State were elected while one of two coaches, Lloyd Carr of Michigan, earned a spot. That that group is not an overwhelming one--sure George is a former Heisman winner but he is getting in before many stars from the 1980s and early '90s--is more proof that it helps to be a Big Ten grad.



That may change a bit when the Hall moves to Atlanta. While I am not accusing the Foundation of fixing anything, it will help attendance to start including more players from the Deep South. In addition to the three Florida players mentioned, Jake Scott of Georgia and Alabama's Marty Lyons are also heading to the Hall--all in time for next fall's enshrinement festivities in...Atlanta.



Hopefully there will be some love that weekend for the others to be enshrined, Doug English of Texas, Bill Enyart as a rare Oregon State inductee, Will Shields of Nebraska (to help welcome them to the Big Ten!), Darryl Talley of West Virginia, Clendon Thomas of OU and Rob Waldrop of Arizona. The other coach elected in was Fisher DeBerry of Air Force. The National Football Foundation always treats its people right and all of the former players and coaches will all feel welcome at the induction ceremonies in New York in December and then at the Enshrinement Festival.

Friday, May 20, 2011

View From Bennett Avenue

This is my 300th post here at SMQs and I would have loved to have written a piece on the importance of college football or something similar in light of the recent National Football Foundation press conference. But then Oklahoma linebacker Austin Box died at 22 and I no longer feel like it. My condolences to the Box family and Sooner nation.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Hall of Fame Announcement Ceremonies

Well another class of college football greats has been voted into the Hall of Fame. The National Football Foundation hosted a nice party Tuesday to make the announcement, even bringing along new inductees Lloyd Carr, Russell Maryland and Marty Lyons. In all 14 players and 2 coaches were voted in with more players and coaches from programs not in the football bowl subdivision to follow.
Deion Sanders is perhaps the biggest name in the class and Deion has been eligible for a few years so he was clearly doing some penance. Remember, this hall is not just about the playing field and Deion's flash did not help him here. He has been aided by his work with youth and that finally outweighed any worry the NFF members had over him.
As much as the Hall is open to players like Sanders, who excelled in the pros, it is an honor reserved to the all-time great regardless of their NFL play. And so for every Will Shields, the great Nebraska and Kansas City Chief guard, gaining membership this year we have former players like Oregon State's Bill Enyart, who excelled as a FB in the 1960s but had a quiet three-year pro career with the Bills and Raiders.
Either way this is a great honor for these men and the fact that big Marty Lyons had to fight back tears Tuesday is a testament to the emotions involved. More to follow.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

View From Bennett Avenue

I am back! Now temper your excitement. It is just a college football-related blog. The latest edition of The USA TODAY College Football Encyclopedia has been put to bed so I have no more excuses. I do need a new name for this blog--feel free to send in suggestions--but for now I will continue plugging away. Today I will head down to Times Square to cover the announcement of another college football Hall of Fame class and will report back to you tonight.