Where I Come From: All Time Favorite Tide Player(s)
by Todd on Jul 8, 2010 7:40 PM CDT
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We're going heavy on the YouTube tonight folks, because picking one all time favorite player is a fool's errand. So instead, I'm breaking it up into four categories based on the different stages of my life/fandom and choosing a player on both offense and defense, because I can.
From My Youth
Growing up in the 80s and really becoming aware of the individual players during the unfortunate Curry years, no two players from that era stand out in my mind more than Bobby Humphrey and Derrick Thomas, Humphrey for being almost impossible to stop and Thomas for pretty much the exact same reason. And since OTS mentioned the Hurricane Bowl earlier, here are some highlights from that game which you might as well consider a Derrick Thomas highlight reel:
And here's an example of why Humphrey made such an impression on my young mind:
From the Stallings Era
Since this is the era when I really started paying attention, things get a little more difficult. On offense, I have to go with Jay Barker. The guy left with a 35-2-1 record as a starter despite not being the most gifted quarterback to ever take a snap, and on top of that he has been nothing but a class act his entire tenure in the public eye. On defense, Antonio Langham. Yeah, he wound up getting us in trouble on Bourbon Street but the dude was just flat out amazing to watch. For example, please fast forward to the 1:08 mark:
Exactly.
From the Lean Times
This group is a little bit harder to choose from since I've found that the hard times are the ones that really shape you as a fan, and the unfortunately rare great moments are that much more special in your memories because of it. So some honorable mentions need to go out to Ken Darby (the greatest crime of the Shula era is that Darby is not the all time rushing leader), Tim Castille, Le'Ron McClain, DeMeco Ryans, Freddie Roach, Jeremy Clark, Wesley Britt, Evan Mathis, Antwan Odom, and Reggie Myles, all of whom were great players that unfortunately came to Alabama at a very difficult time. With that out of the way, on offense I have to go with Shaud Williams. Maybe kind of a weird choice, I know, but think about it this way, he transferred here from Texas Tech because of Francione, "held the rope" when the sanctions came down, and then still played his heart out when Fran bolted. Plus, he apparently is a very, very patient man:
On defense, Roman Harper will always be my favorite part of the great '04 and '05 defenses for one tackle alone:
Still almost brings a tear to my eye...
From The Present
Easiest choice so far, and he counts for both sides of the ball since he played both and is big enough to count as two people. We all owe him our undying allegiance, and don't even think of not naming your first born child after him, be it boy or girl. Ladies and gentlemen, The Legend of Terrence Cody:
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Awesome list....
..but for present times I have to go with Rolando McClain on defense. The man was the heart and soul of that team. The SECCG Gatorade incident and him playing in the BCSCg while needing IV’s at the half and after the game because of a stomach virus seal his legend for me. As for offense..Julio…he has the dropsies every now and then but in my humble and pretty much worthless opinon his signing with us even though we’ve never been considered a “passing team” opened the floodgates for other top recruits to come here.
Auburn-Where almost happens.
As a child in the 90's
My favorite player would be “The Deuce”. He, along with Big Al coming to my elementary school made me a fan from an early age.
On an unrealated note
Being a former track & field athlete I look for results online from time to time. This headline caught my eye.
by Misterswagg on Jul 8, 2010 8:07 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Ok, after the day I’ve had, that was a much needed laugh. Gracias mucho.
Roll Bama Roll - The Champagne of Bama Blogs.
I promise I could run
a longer than 200 meters if I were being overtaken by that!
"Hush now, let it go now. I know it's time to go. Time to let this fall from my hands" VNV Nation, "From My Hands"
by Stuck in the Plains on Jul 9, 2010 5:52 AM CDT up reply actions
Man, I Love this Blog
Kleph has kept our minds occupied with great stuff for the last few months. Now Todd and OTS are starting to get fired up for the upcoming season. It’s goin to be a great year for Bama ond RBR. Kick the damn ball already!
As for players… My heart still goes out to Prothro (tell me I spelled that right). Loved the guy. Playmaker when we desperately needed one.
"Defense"
+1
Ralph Staten was the F’n man.
"Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself." -- Milton Friedman
by outsidethesidelines on Jul 8, 2010 10:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Excellent comp
Derrick Thomas was playing a different game than everyone else, including his own teammates. That poor LT had no chance. And great run by Humphrey, but how about that block by the fullback, 45, taking out 2 guys to spring him? Impressive play all around.
"That rug really tied the room together."
OK, here goes...
My Youth-DT, Corneilius, Walter Lewis and Joey Jones
Stallings Era-Teague and Barker
Lean-Prothro, Bearden, Ryans and Harper
New Era of Dominance-Cody, Javy, Ro and MI.
Auburn and Tennessee fans are a lot like Slinkys...neither are worth much but you do get a sense of satisfaction from pushing them down a flight of stairs
Smart money will say
After this season you’ll have to add Trent, Julio, and hopefully McElroy. W/O question you should add HiTower, Darius, and I hope Upshaw( he’s from my hometown). I do wonder since you’ve already added MI why Julio isn’t already there. Not picking , just wondering.
"Defense"
I like them all but those I listed are my favorites.
It isn’t always just how good they are, for me it is sentimental. Don’t get me wrong, I like all those players but I was narrowing it down to my top few.
Auburn and Tennessee fans are a lot like Slinkys...neither are worth much but you do get a sense of satisfaction from pushing them down a flight of stairs
Toss up between Mount Cody and Roy Upchurch
Upchurch: He wasn’t an all-american, but he sure had his moments. UT in 2008. VT in 2009. And of course, the winning touchdown in last year’s Iron Bowl. But beyond his play on the field, he was an inspiring person off the field.
Cody was just awesome all around. Dominant. Fun to watch. And a personality as big as his body.
What you're seeing is team spirit. It's like the Holy Spirit, but more powerful.
-Hank Hill
We owe Upchurch our allegiance...
….for UT ’08, no doubt about it. I wish he could have stayed healthy, he would have been amazing.
Roll Bama Roll - The Champagne of Bama Blogs.
That aTm video...
had my fav defensive player of the late 80s/early 90s scoring a TD when he played FB. I was a huge Robert Stewart fan. He wasn’t a prolific playmaker, but he was a rock of a noseguard and one of the strongest players in the program’s history.
I remember being a huge Siran Stacey fan, too. As for the last 20 years, there are just too many to name.
Siran Stacy
I’ve been catching up here since I’ve been on the road this week, and while reading through I was afraid Siran wouldn’t get a mention. I don’t remember much specific about him; just that at the start of one season Murray Hill was our number one back and we looked stagnant on offense. Siran got his chance after Hill got sidelined with an injury, and man what a difference he made to the offense.
Siran...
…absolutely killed UT one year….
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 11, 2010 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions
Since the Stallings Era was the early part of my youth
I have to say that it’s Palmer all the way for me. I’ll never forget watching him as a kid and being wowed despite not fully understanding what was going on.
From the Lean Era it’s Shaun Alexander all the way. The two Florida games in 1999 being my main reasoning. He was such a beast.
And from this era, as much as I love Cody and Arenas, I have to say Mark Ingram. That may be the easy answer since he’s won a Heisman, but the kid is special. He has a heart as big as Bryant-Denny stadium and he’s fueled by getting this team more rings.
"But if football were a faith anywhere, it would be here on the Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa, Ala. And now has come a great revival." -- Rick Bragg
First of all... thanks RBR
for keeping the downtime before the season interesting.
My Youth- Marty Lyons and Barry Krauss. Marty for warning PSU they “better pass” and Barry for crushing the RB on 4th down.
Stallings Era- Teague and the two-headed Curry/Copeland monster
Lean- Chris Samuels and Alexander. Honestly everyone knew we would run to the left when we needed yards and they still couldn’t stop it.
New Era of Dominance- Javy and Rolando
If you're gonna go all the way back to Bryant,
then give us your ’80s picks too – you skipped a whole decade! : )
"Let's go be champions, boys!" - Greg McElroy
(Formerly SugarBowl93)
by RememberTheRoseBowl on Jul 8, 2010 10:12 PM CDT up reply actions
just using Todd's criteria
I can’t help it that my “youth” era was a long time ago.
But from the 80s it was definitely be
Bobby Humphrey and Derrick Thomas
For me,
All time – Teague. He was the player that opened my eyes to how exciting football can be. He was also the first player I followed closely.
Lean Era – DeMeco Ryans. He was so smart defensively. If there was a single player I looked forward to seeing play each week, it was him during his time at Alabama. Honorable mention, Prothro. If he’d stayed healthy, I don’t think there is any doubt he’d top the list from those years.
Modern Era – Tie between Cody and Ingram. Both men play with so much heart, and you can tell what the game means to them. And they’re just stinkin’ good at football.
"Let's go be champions, boys!" - Greg McElroy
(Formerly SugarBowl93)
by RememberTheRoseBowl on Jul 8, 2010 10:19 PM CDT reply actions
It's still a thrill to see Antonio Langham
making those plays. We graduated high school together, along with 40 (yes, 40) others. About 20 of us still get together every couple of years. In 2008, we had a cookout at a local park and were clustered around my truck listening to the Ole Miss game.
Fullback Tarrant Lynch also graduated with us. He was as fast as Tonio in high school. Both good guys.
"There's no substitute for guts."
Brodie Croyle...
…Is my favorite player ever.
by Queen of the Universe on Jul 8, 2010 11:41 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Brodie had a lot of guts
too bad we will never really know how good he could have been playing for someone like Saban. I’ll give him credit he picked Bama when we were down and heading toward probation and for that I will always admire him.
As much as I hate Auburn I hate Tenn. that much more.
Or playing...
…with a more durable physique….
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 9, 2010 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Unfairly,
Shaud Williams gets a bad wrap from me simply for having the stench of Franchione on him. It’s not his fault, but it’s just the association.
What you're seeing is team spirit. It's like the Holy Spirit, but more powerful.
-Hank Hill
Unfairly...
…is right. Bart Starr has the stench of ‘Ears’ Whitworth, Derrick Thomas the stench of Bill Curry, Shaun Alexander the stench of Mike Dubose….
My own stench is because I ate a bad wrap at Roly Poly today….
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 8, 2010 11:57 PM CDT up reply actions
A few of my favorite players...
…Walter Lewis, Jon Hand, Mike Shula, Cornelius Bennett, Derrick Thomas, Antonio Langham, George Teague, Chris Samuels, Shaun Alexander, Andrew Zow, DeMeco Ryans, Freddie Roach, Roman Harper, Rashad Johnson, Antoine Caldwell, Rolando McClain, Greg McElroy, Mark Ingram, Julio Jones, Holla McGee, Marquis Maze, Trent Richardson, James Carpenter, Marcell Dareus, Mount Cody, Eryk Anders, Javy, Marquis Johnson, Mark Barron….
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 9, 2010 12:10 AM CDT reply actions
My favorite players
From the Lean Era: DeMeco Ryans, Tyrone Prothro, Roman Harper
From the Present: Mark Ingram, Mark Barron, Greg McElroy, Rolondo McClain
I’m surprised no one said DJ Hall…
Fight on, fight on, fight on men! Remember the Rose Bowl, we’ll win then.
Hall… the guy seemed to be really talented. I was very surprised he didn’t get drafted, and I seem to recall a theory that Saban black-balled him.
What you're seeing is team spirit. It's like the Holy Spirit, but more powerful.
-Hank Hill
Yeah, from what I had heard he was really into the way Shula did things. That is a nice way of saying he was maybe a little rambunctious or maybe lazy (as lazy as a football player can be I guess, which is way more active than I’ll ever be). And of course Saban has not tolerance for those kind of things.
But I agree he was really talented and if he had been groomed correctly from his freshman year he could have been really special, but twas not to be.
Fight on, fight on, fight on men! Remember the Rose Bowl, we’ll win then.
This list begins and ends...
…with Javy Arenas. The undersized special teams specialist who nobody else (not even the coaches who recruited him!) believed would become an elite defensive back until he did; who nearly quit the team but bought back in, thus becoming a vital murder-cog in the championship kill-engine; and who was arguably the best kick returner in the history of the program, which is no lean feat, considering his competition is one David “Greased Owl S#!* On A NASCAR Windshield” Palmer. Javy Arenas: not big, never the fastest-est, hardly a five-star wunderkind, no way no how supposed to be anywhere as legendarily studly as he factually remains. Verily, he was a rolling ball of butcher knives.
good call on evan mathis
that dude is definately on my list. by the time he left wasn’t he basically a bionic man, with all the pins, screws, etc. in his knees. i would say that he gave a lot to our university, and was one tough SOB
Where's the love for Peter Kim
and Van Tiffin?
by SoxStephen on Jul 9, 2010 4:07 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
Given the current unpleasantness...
it’s painful to realize that we used to have kickers who were automatic.
Philip Doyle too.
RollBamaRoll.com - Also check out my music blog: Hear the World, which is exploring the music of BULGARIA in July 2010.
Bloody lip and all.
Man, I loved that kick! Especially, after Stacy Harrison had just blocked their attempt.
Youth Cornelius Bennet, Derrick Thomas, Van Tiffin, John Hand, Mike Shula, John Mangum
Stallings Years The entire 1992 secondary (Langham, Johnson, Shade, Teague), Dwayne Rudd, David Palmer, Shaun Alexander (i’m putting him here, dammit), Dennis Riddle (vastly underrated, imho)
Lean Years Shaud, Brodie, Tyrone-freakin’-Prothro, Lane Bearden, DeMeco Ryans, Chris Samuels, Freddie Roach, Freddie Milons (when his head was screwed on straight), Darby/Castille (a/k/a our entire redzone offense for 3 years).
Re-emergence: Ingram, Javy, Mike Johnson, Hightower, Rashad Johnson, Barron, Ro and a great big soft spot for the Shula guys who stayed, tried, sold-out for the team and are champions because of it (esp. you Terry Grant).
"Hush now, let it go now. I know it's time to go. Time to let this fall from my hands" VNV Nation, "From My Hands"
by Stuck in the Plains on Jul 9, 2010 5:43 AM CDT reply actions
Sorry Cody
I didn’t mean to leave you off, big guy, I was just waxing romantic about DBs…Seriously, I’ve never seen a guy have that much fun play the sport; he single-handedly made a football fan of many a sports’ widow.
"Hush now, let it go now. I know it's time to go. Time to let this fall from my hands" VNV Nation, "From My Hands"
by Stuck in the Plains on Jul 9, 2010 5:45 AM CDT up reply actions
if "from my youth" means...
when i was in college it has to be bennett. i’m from louisiana and had to learn the purer faith that freshman year and watching bennett annihilate beuerline was a big big part of that. finding out how important that hit was in the context of our history with notre dame was part of my learning about the lore and history of the program.
outside of that i find myself more and more interested in players from eras past because the more i learn about them the more i realize how jaw dropping awesome they actually were.
Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.
they don't make them like Biscuit anymore...
Just pure country-ass big and fast, and an absolute terror.
"Hush now, let it go now. I know it's time to go. Time to let this fall from my hands" VNV Nation, "From My Hands"
by Stuck in the Plains on Jul 9, 2010 6:34 AM CDT up reply actions
My List...
My youth: Derrick Thomas
Stallings Era: George Teague, Jay Barker, David Palmer, Eric Curry, John Copeland
Lean Years: Tyrone Prothro, Shaun Alexander, Wesley Britt, Antoine Caldwell (although he gets played for Shula and Saban, he proved himself to me under Shula), Tim Castille
Process Era: Terrance Cody, Mark Ingram, Rolando McClain
Pants! That is all.
I actually have to have 4 Players
My dad used to love telling stories about Lee Roy Jordan in the late 50s early 60s (He was a Cowboys fan as well.
Shaun Alexander was one of the big reason’s I became as die-hard a fan as I am
DeMeco Ryans was simily put the best defensive player I watched in the pre-Saban era
Rolando McClain the centerpiece on the best ’Bama squad in my lifetime.
It's hard to say what's been most impressive. The seamless jump from AA? The ability to hit for average? The ability to hit for power? The 18 walks in 111 trips to the plate? The flair for the dramatic? When you're trying to isolate the most impressive aspect of Jason Heyward's game, there's a lot to choose from, and it's only been a month and a half.
I was born in '84...
…so my youth was the Stallings Era: Teague, Langham, Barker, Lassic, Palmer, Curry & Copeland
Lean: Chris Samuels, Fernando Bryant, Shaun Alexander, Riddle, Michael Myers
Shula: DeMeco Ryans, Brodie Croyle, Tyrone Prothro, Roman Harper, Andre Smith, Mark Anderson, Wallace Gilberry
Saban: Julio Jones, Greg McElroy, Mark Ingram, Dont’a Hightower, Rolando McClain, Cody, Maze, Javy, Peek, Hanks, Marquis Johnson, Rashad Johnson, Trent Richardson, Deaderick and at this point I could list the whole entire team…
Favorites Before My Time: W.T. “Bully” VandeGraaff, Namath, Stabler, Gilmer, Derrick Thomas, Cornelius Bennett, Pat Trammell, Bart Starr, Steve Sloan, Barry Krauss, Don McNeal, Bob Baumhower, Croom, John Hannah, Lee Roy Jordan, Newsome, Major Ogilvie, and of course I would’ve wanted to see Bryant play…
You are right.....
Everyone agrees that there are so many players that you could go on all day and night and never do justice to all the great players who have worn the Tide colors. I could name Joe Namath, Kenny Stabler, Bart Starr, Brodie Croyle and every defensive player on all the great teams. The plays by Antonio Langham to win #12 and what about last years #13 and the defensive plays on every down. What about the plays of Shaun Alexander, Johnny Musso, our present duo at half back? Don’t forget about the kickers and the kick blockers like Terrance Cody and don’t forget about the players who gave their all such as Prothro who made the most unbelievable catch I have ever seen and then had to be carried off and would never play again. Bama Brethren, I say that we salute them all and thank them one and all for their service, sacrifce and love the this school and its tradition. Roll Tide.
No Rashad Johnson love?
He did transition from lean to today. Just a man who walked on and solidified a defense. ’Nuff said.
It's not what you've done but what you are doing that matters.
And the roses in this grand ol' stadium are once again Crimson. - Eli Gold, CTSN Broadcast of the BCS Championship Game at the Rose Bowl, 1-7-2010
About 50 years
of watching Alabama my all time favorites are:
#1. Johnny Musso.
#2. Joe Namath
#3. Kenny Stabler
#4. Ozzie Newsome
#5. Antonio Langham (even though he cost us, he was still great.)
#6. Shaun Alexander
#7. Terrance Cody
#8. Lee Roy Jordan
#9. Jay Barker
#10. Jeremiah Castille
It took me a while to whittle my list down to 10, but these were my favorite guys to watch, not necessarily the best guys we had. It is probably weighted heavily toward my growing up years. I did not list guys still playing for Bama as we don’t know how they will turn out.
As much as I hate Auburn I hate Tenn. that much more.
I hope...
…that Ingram kid turns out alright….
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 9, 2010 11:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Derrick Thomas was the most dominating I remember
Some others I had a great time watching that I don’t hear much about:
Sherman Williams (how many penalty yards would that shake get these days?)
Keith McCants (yeah, my Mobile guys didn’t do so well after football)
Dennis Riddle, some days he was as unstoppable as any I can remember.
Chris Samuels, Dwayne Rudd, and Chris Mangum.
By the looks of things, I'm pretty sure God doesn't care how you do in sports.
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