MarkInAustin

Jeff, you are too young to have seen the amazing Raymond Clayborn. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Clayborn In 1976, on a team that included juniors Earl Campbell and Brad Shearer, he was the team's MVP and a unanimous All American. Although he thrilled us with his TD KO and punt returns at Texas the only film of him I can find is from his rookie year in the NFL when he returned one over a hundred yards on national TV - his third KO return TD of the year. He and his teammate Lam Jones ran on the 440 relay together and he was an All American as a track star on the 1600M relay. I will add this: watching Jonah Williams play baseball as a freshman his fluidity reminded me immediately of Clayborn, which for me was high praise. Jonah is bigger than Raymond was, but he moved with that same gliding grace, as if his feet weren't actually touching the ground. That perception has had me wanting to see Jonah play DB and return man ever since.

Good news.

Smart never hurt a safety.

Can't say "Saban or Briles" in the same sentence. Really can't say "Saban or anyone else" in the same sentence. Frankly, the best coaching job in the B12 for a run of several years was by the 40 year old man [I'm a man] with the mullet. The most successful coach was the chinless one at our rival. There were a dozen better choices than Charlie apparent to the naked eye. None of them were Saban, who wasn't coming. None of them were Bob Stoops. None of them were the mullet. All of them would have likely been more successful than Charlie; maybe even very successful. Patterson was the wrong choice as AD. Leave it at that.

I am going to assume that Cryer is the inside LB. TS missed Spring, came in amazingly light - and that contrasts with Cryer, who had 7 tackles against 'Bama last fall and was FSU's statistical leader on defense for the entire season in only 8 games. We have read nothing but good news about Cryer. Knowing that Texas has Spence who can play Edge and LB eases my concerns about depth at LB, because as good as Spence is he won't likely often be needed at Edge, while he often may be needed at LB. And he is a football player Muschamp could have invented. Just a thought. YMMV.

Also, in 1950, Whitey Ford, age 21, called up from the minors, went 9 and 1. Spent the next two years in the military, but came back in 1953 and went 18 and 6, proving it was no fluke. A seasonal debut, not a first game effort, but it was pretty amazing when it happened.

Best since Bo Belinski won his first four major league games, including a no-hitter. And maybe better than that one, depending on context.

I would have placed Justin Blalock 7th and Casey Hampton 6th after agreeing on 1-5.

I had just left the law school and turned on the AM radio in my beater Ford Falcon. Neal Spelce was reporting. The next hours were terrifying. That night, afterward, we were at Scholz's. Law students, friends, girl friends, wives. Joanne Weeks, Terry Weeks' wife, had been pinned to the floor of their old black Mercedes Benz parked on the Drag. She knew there was shooting and panic and thought it was a riot. It must have been 115 degrees in the car. Fred Helms, then an Air Force Captain and grad student, ducked behind the hedge at the foot of the Tower next to the stairwell. After persons were shot on the south stairs, when Whitman would circle the Tower, Fred would time it and pull wounded victims in under the hedge with him, bandage them if possible. There were so many stories that day. So much fear, so much panic. One of the later revelations: Whitman had told a UT Health Service Psychiatrist, a good one, by the way, that he had thoughts of shooting people from the Tower. Of course it was not known during Whitman's life that he had a tumor.

Despite the fact that he is a long time hoops fan who should know better he won't respect others at this website and he will not back away from his apparent obsession. However, there is a remedy that will not interfere with Harvey's self indulgence and yet will make your reading of hoops threads more enjoyable. There is an "ignore" function available to you.

John Clark did have a fine HS career until his injury. I am looking forward to his being a presence on both ends of the floor as a rotational BIG.

Jeffcoat tore an upper body muscle, IIRC. Probably weightlifting?

https://www.chron.com/sports/college-football/article/ut-s-pittman-dies-in-car-accident-2002693.php Just made me sad to read Cole Pittman's name again.

I remember watching Collins play too. He was part of Royal's first great backfield with Cotten, Poage, and Saxton. Later I "knew" him as one of the bankers at Austin National Bank. He wasn't my firm's banker but we occasionally dealt with him, and I retain the memory of him as cordial and helpful.

Are we talking 1st, 2d, and honorable mention? Given all three categories the depth of talent should show up across the platoons.

Cosby played quite a bit in the season and in the USC game, in my recall. David Thomas was so good as a receiver and Ramonce was often a slot as a practical matter so there were no shortage of targets for Vince. If you don't remember how that was the best OL ever at Texas just watch the two point conversion at the end of the USC game. Robison and Crowder were the best pair of Edges Texas ever had. Robison was a Pro Bowler. The FB had a decent NFL career, one of the RBs led the NFL in rushing, another had a good career, and a third one played DE in the League. And then there was the tragedy of Ramonce. That team was astonishing. 70-3 in the Big 12 Champ game. Ask Joel Klatt. And I didn't mention the QB. If this team goes 16-0 and floods the NFL with the ROY and several Pro Bowlers over time let me know.

CJ, have you broken down film on Thornton as well?

I remember when Timmy left money on the table for the Spurs. I do think it adds to the aura of leadership when teammates know part of their pay essentially came from their on the playing surface captain [or QB]..

You make a compelling argument and I think you SHOULD be correct. I continue to share the concern that the committee will favor spreading the wealth and not recognizing the gap from SEC-B1G-ND to everyone else. There are half a dozen teams with the talent, depth, and coaching to win it all, but I think all six are in the SEC-B1G-ND grouping. On paper, ND should have the best record going into the playoff, but all the SEC-B1G teams will have been far more tested at that time. Of course, last season Clemson was a preseason lock to be one of the half dozen contenders. So I am only suggesting, not predicting.

Caleb is a funny motormouth - Swain seems reserved and thoughtful, like a patient older brother. Their hoody on the river conversation is a case in point.

Right back at y'all! At dessert, six of us in family will read the Declaration of Independence in assigned parts around the table and then have blueberries, strawberries and whipped cream, our traditional red, white, and blue dessert. We have tried to do this most years when we were at home. We have needed four or more of us together to make this a fun effort. The reading has always been thought provoking, except for the year when one of our neighbors who had been invited made a mockery of his reading either because he was drunk or because he actually despised the document, or both. What do y'all do, including swimming and grilling, when you aren't visiting family away on the 4th?

CA could solve a Rubik's cube behind his back. I never understood the Rubik's cube trick.

In 1966 I was in Law School and lived downstairs in a two story duplex located on the area now occupied by the LBJ School. Frank Ryan's sister, a grad student, lived upstairs. By that coincidence I met Frank Ryan. He was both the Cleveland Browns QB and an adjunct math prof at Rice in the Spring. This is the same Larry Stephens the Browns traded to LA for Ryan, who went on to win an NFL title next to Jim Brown with Cleveland. I looked up Stephens because I had never heard of him before this morning.

It would not necessarily show up here in a weight room video but do they work hand grip springs? In baseball in HS we were tested on grip strength. Seems to me skill players in football should work hand grip springs. If they don't - please pass the thought on to the staff.

A note - Underwood became an attorney in Houston. He died recently. He was my age, I think. As a DE [but like Nobis he played both ways] at Texas he was a strong contributor to the Natty team and the team that beat Namath. Was a LB in the League. ... As I have written before Neil was my all time favorite OL at Texas until Justin Blaylock.