Who are you voting for?

[kalebschumann]

Sounds like the punter debate is going to need its own thread.

[SilverEagle]

I'm very disappointed that my favorite TE, Louis Silva, was not on the ballot. Louis Silva ALWAYS got it done in the clutch. Just ask Mitch Maher.

Oh well.

[greenjoe]

I never saw a QB tougher than Jordan Case. He would appear near death unable to practice all week. On game day he would come alive and he and Hayden Fry would run a terrific offense.

I was a huge fan of Scott DAVIS while he was here. I got to know his Dad and we even invited him to our home for pizza. My sons were in little boy football heaven (this was probably a violation of some NCAA rule, by the way). As long as Scott DAVIS was in the game, I always felt NT had a chance to win.

I saw JaMario Thomas play his first game at Colorado and later that season at Baylor. I've never seen a better back than Thomas at Colorado. Ralphie and the rest of the Colorado fans were silent and #20 put on a show the first half. Same thing in Waco until Thomas hurt his hamstring. Ironically, despite a huge performance, we lost both games.

Wins that never were.

GO MEAN GREEN

[SilverEagle]

Here's my ballot. Granted, I did not see most of these guys play, but there's a reason why they're in the HOF right??

QB: Maher

RB: Cobbs, Dunbar, Haynes

WR: Love, Shanklin

TE: Blount (I didn't think Waters was that great of a TE while he was here, was he? He was just before my time.)

OL: Bishop, Brewster, Carrico, Eagle, Holloway

DL: W.Chapman, Greene, Hardeman, Kennedy

LB: Gross, Kassell, Robertson, White

DB: Brashier, Buckles, Lockhart, Reece (would have voted for J.T. Smith here, but... you'll see)

P: Gowin

K: Baz

Return: Smith (I dunno. Was he a great returner?)

Coach: Write-in for Ron Mendoza. (Kidding. Mitchell)

Yes, he was great at returns. He (#44 on your program) was a ball hawking safety, who could hit almost as hard as Buckles. When he got an int, there was always a danger that it would be a pic-6. Every time he got an int, it always brought be to my feet, because I knew that the best part of the play was about to happen.

He was the punt return leader all three years that he started. His senior year (1976), he averaged 10.7 yards per return.....on 36 returns! Stats like that tell me two things. 1. this guy is a great returner, and 2. He played on a defense that was dominating enough that it forced that many punts.

Another example is Bernie Barbour. His senior year (1969) he also had 36 returns, and his average was 10.3. The previous two years (68 and 67) he returned 30 and 28 punts respectively. Let's see, who was playing on those defenses back then?

And most recently. Ja'mel Branch returned 29 punts (7.9 average) in 2002. Seems like I remember something about us having a great defense that year.........

Edited February 6, 2013 by SilverEagle

[MeanGreenTexan]

Yes, he was a great at returns. He (#44 on your program) was a ball hawking safety, who could hit almost as hard as Buckles. When he got an int, there was always a danger that it would be a pic-6. Every time he got an int, it always brought be to my feet, because I knew that the best part of the play was about to happen.

He was the punt return leader all three years that he started. His senior year (1976), he averaged 10.7 yards per return.....on 36 returns! Stats like that tell me two things. 1. this guy is a great returner, and 2. He played on a defense that was dominating enough that it forced that many punts.

Another example is Bernie Barbour. His senior year (1969) he also had 36 returns, and his average was 10.3. The previous two years (68 and 67) he returned 30 and 28 punts respectively. Let's see, who was playing on those defenses back then?

And most recently. Ja'mel Branch returned 29 punts (7.9 average) in 2002. Seems like I remember something about us having a great defense that year.........

Awesome. Thanks for the education Silver!

I felt like I could put him in at returner, and allow my vote for Reece in the D-backfield.

[Cr1028]

My list.

*1. Quarterback (select one): Steve Ramsey (1967-69)

*2. Running Back (select three): Patrick Cobbs (2001-04) | Abner Haynes (1957-59) | Ray Renfro (1949-50)

*3. Receiver (select two): Johnny Quinn (2003-06) | Ron Shanklin (1967-69)

*4. Tight End (select one): Andy Blount (2001-04)

*5. Offensive Line (select five): Scott Bowles (1987-90) | Glen Holloway (1967-69) | J.R. Randle (1999-2002) | Felton Whitlow (1945-47) | write-in (add name in the box at bottom of the ballot)

*6. Defensive Line (select four): Adrian Awasom (2001-04) | Walter Chapman (1973-77) | Joe Greene (!966-68) | Brandon Kennedy (2000-03)

*7. Linebacker (select four): Byron Gross (1987-90) | Brad Kassell (1998-2001) | Craig Robertson (2007-2010) | Burks Washington (1975-78)

*8. Defensive Back (select four): Bill Brashier (1949-50) | Jonas Buckles (2001-04) | Leonard Dunlap (1969-70) | Craig Jones (2000-03)

*9. Punter (select one): John Baker (1997-99)

*10. Place Kicker (select one): Garrett Courtney (1997-98)

*11. Return Specialist (select one): Broderick McGrew (1996-99)

*12. Coach (select one): Hayden Fry (1973-78)

13. Write-In (optional): Cyril Lemon

[Mean Green 93-98]

13. Write-In (optional): Cyril Lemon

Now that's pretty bold.

[Cr1028]

Now that's pretty bold.

[GrandGreen]

Here are my current choices, tried to balance the ones I have actually seen with some of the old time greats which is a lot easier for us that have been following NT for a long time.

QB: Steve Ramsey - I don't think anyone else is close
RB: Abner Haynes, Ray Renfro, Jamario Thomas (no one has had a better one year) A strong position for NT
WR: Ron Shanklin, John Love ( they should have had 3 named here, and Fitzgerald would have been my third choice)
TE: Jeff Muenchow, a relative weak position for NT, my choice was not even on the ballot: Luis Silva (Waters was not an exceptional college player, who became a great pro at a position he never played at NT.
OL: Bill Carrico, Glen Hollaway, Willie Parker, Bill Bishop and Quincy Armstrong
DL: Joe Greene, Cedric Hardman, Booger Kennedy, Walter Chapman (to me these 4 players are way above the rest)
LB: Byron Gross, Burks Washington, Brad Kassel
DB: Chuck Beatty, Lenard Dunlap , Bill Brashier, Beasley Reese (I think in general the nominating comittee did a good job, but Anothey Bridges: All American at Louisville but I don't remember him doing anything much here)
Punter: John Baker ( lots of great punters)
K: Iseed Kroury
Returner: Abner Haynes (J. T. Smith best I've seen)
Coach: Hayden Fry

[rws69]

Even at that... look at W-L record [22-6-1] and who Ramsey's opponents were... not Southland teams. They almost beat Arkansas which had lost 1? game and it was to a great UT team. NT was near the goal and winning when time ran out...

That game against Arkansas in 1968 .. we had what looked like a touchdown Ramsey to Shanklin called back because official says Shanklin trapped a low pass. My seat was low and I didn't see the ball hit the ground, but we were not going to get that call against a team in the hunt for a national championship that year. Still think the 66-67-68 teams were our best ever, with wins against quality opponents.

[rws69]

My votes, not yet cast and subject to change...

QB: Steve Ramsey, 22-6-1 record, three-time all conference, most TD passes

RB: Cobbs, Dunbar, Haynes

TE: Muenchow (no strong opinion here)

WR: Quinn, Shanklin, which I could name a couple more

OL: Bishop, Carrico, Holloway, Parker, Randle

DL: Greene, Hardeman, Kennedy easy top three, plus Awasom makes four

LB: Gross, Kassell, Robertson, Washington - too early to vote for Zach Orr

DB: Beatty, Dunlap, Lockhart, Smith

P: Went with Baker based on three-time all conference and stats, Gowin would be second, and wanted to vote for Will Atterberry

K: Chapman

Return: Haynes, one of the best ever Why even punt to a guy who averages 39.3 yards on return???

Coach: Mitchell

[KRAM1]

That game against Arkansas in 1968 .. we had what looked like a touchdown Ramsey to Shanklin called back because official says Shanklin trapped a low pass. My seat was low and I didn't see the ball hit the ground, but we were not going to get that call against a team in the hunt for a national championship that year. Still think the 66-67-68 teams were our best ever, with wins against quality opponents.

Great memories...thanks for this...yes, I know...bad call, but looking back on it now...great UNT memories and yes, against "quality" opponents.

[GrayEagle]

QB Steve Ramsey

RB Abner Haynes, Ray Renfro, Lance Dunbar

WR Ron Shanklin, Johnny Quinn

TE Luis Silva (I had to write that one in)

OL Quincy Armstrong, Bill Carrico, Dylan Lineberry, Felton Whitlow, Nick Zuniga

DL Walter Chapman, Joe Greene, Cedric Hardeman, Brandon Kennedy

LB Byron Gross, Brad Kassell, Craig Robertson, Burks Washington

DB Jonas Buckles, Leonard Dunlap, Carl Lockhart, J T Smith

P John Baker

PK Iseed Khoury

HC Hayden Fry

I thought that the selection committee did a good job overall. Some positions must have been very close calls. I did think that Luis Silva at TE and Barry Moore at Receiver should have been on the ballot and that there should have been more than two choices at Receiver. Other than that, good job.

Brian Waters probably should have been on this team as a 'utility'. I believe that he played three different positions in three years because he played where needed and was effective at each one. Then again, he might have to compete with J T Smith, my all-around favorite. Smith could have been all-pro as a receiver (he was), a defensive back, or a return specialist.

[Graddean]

DB's: Beatty, Reece, Lockhart, and Dunlap. All made the NFL, and Dunlap was a first round draft choice by the old Baltimore Colts.