Best UT Class Ever?

[slowjackrabbit]

True Orange Jerry Scarbrough....good reporter, good newsletter, good guy

 

[dillohorn]

I must not be reading what he said the way you are.

What did he say that was "total crap"?

That year there was no way OSU or PSU would have beaten UT.

 

[jaysebring]

That year there was no way OSU or PSU would have beaten UT.

We don't know whether they could have or not. Can't say that for a fact unless they played. Rex Kern, John Brockington, Jack Tatum and the rest of those super sophs could play and Penn State had Franco Harris and Jack Ham two pro football hall of famers. They both had some talent. We'll never know who would have won. 

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Gosh I loved watching Brockington run. Tatum was about as vicious a hitter as there ever was. Jack Ham was a helluva LB.

 

[Baron]

Gosh I loved watching Brockington run. Tatum was about as vicious a hitter as there ever was. Jack Ham was a helluva LB.

Were they on the team when Penn St beat Texas in the Cotton Bowl?

 

[jaysebring]

Were they on the team when Penn St beat Texas in the Cotton Bowl?

No, they were on the Steelers. The Steelers drafts of about 1970 and 1971 were the stuff of legends. 

 

[dillohorn]

We don't know whether they could have or not. Can't say that for a fact unless they played. Rex Kern, John Brockington, Jack Tatum and the rest of those super sophs could play and Penn State had Franco Harris and Jack Ham two pro football hall of famers. They both had some talent. We'll never know who would have won. 

Trying to prove a negative. I will say that Tascosa High School might have beaten Clemson last season, but we'll never know for sure since they didn't play.

 

[Marvelous Marv]

Define best recruiting class. Is this based on average stars, potential of players, how many championships produced or another metric?

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Define best recruiting class. Is this based on average stars, potential of players, how many championships produced or another metric?

You can't judge them by number of championships. The class you would compare to hasn't even got to campus yet.

I don't know how you rate potential.

I think you'd have to go by stars and the class as a whole. The 2002 class had four 5-star recruits in it, so this class would need to compare favorably by having more 4-stars or some such. The 2002 class had numerous three-stars in it and this one has 1.

Its an interesting comparison and you have to keep out of your mind what they did at UT through 4 years and just compare them prior to their arrival at UT.

 

[Marvelous Marv]

You can't judge them by number of championships. The class you would compare to hasn't even got to campus yet.

I don't know how you rate potential.

I think you'd have to go by stars and the class as a whole. The 2002 class had four 5-star recruits in it, so this class would need to compare favorably by having more 4-stars or some such. The 2002 class had numerous three-stars in it and this one has 1.

Its an interesting comparison and you have to keep out of your mind what they did at UT through 4 years and just compare them prior to their arrival at UT.

I understand your points. One of my points was in reference to the Worster class that won two national championships vs the 2002 class. I would inquire how does the class of J Saxton, Koy or Nobis would rank. Those classes were talented, too. Of course, those classes were very huge. That would be another intangible or layer of onion to peel. Just some thoughts. Thanks.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

I understand your points. One of my points was in reference to the Worster class that won two national championships vs the 2002 class. I would inquire how does the class of J Saxton, Koy or Nobis would rank. Those classes were talented, too. Of course, those classes were very huge. That would be another intangible or layer of onion to peel. Just some thoughts. Thanks.

The Worster class only wins one title if they were playing today. The bowl loss would have dropped them a few spots.

 

[jaysebring]

Trying to prove a negative. I will say that Tascosa High School might have beaten Clemson last season, but we'll never know for sure since they didn't play.

Well, Forest Gump, Tascosa probably couldn't beat a 2A team from New Mexico. 

Is that really the best you've got, Forest? 

 

[Marvelous Marv]

The Worster class only wins one title if they were playing today. The bowl loss would have dropped them a few spots.

Perhaps, but they “realistically” played in two. That is more than the 2002 class.  To my earlier point unless there is a metric that can effectively be used there will always be the debate. 

Speaking of things being different, I know all of you have heard the great Aggie claim of their national championship. That claim was based off of a newspaper. The official recognition cane from another source. The official NCAA champion that year was awarded to USC. Guess where the 1939 national championship trophy is? It’s at USC. Special thanks to Randolph Duke for that information. 

 

[North Texas Golfer]

Sounds like you can either judge a class by results or rankings.

If you do it by results, you eliminate the most current class since they haven't played yet. Plus, you have several classes who have an incomplete grade until they complete their eligibility. 

If you do it by class rankings, you eliminate all the classes prior to when rankings were first started. So a lot of classes are eliminated from the discussion before it even gets started.

Either way, it's a good discussion. 

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Sounds like you can either judge a class by results or rankings.

If you do it by results, you eliminate the most current class since they haven't played yet. Plus, you have several classes who have an incomplete grade until they complete their eligibility. 

If you do it by class rankings, you eliminate all the classes prior to when rankings were first started. So a lot of classes are eliminated from the discussion before it even gets started.

Either way, it's a good discussion. 

Good point. It would be fun to look at that class today and award them stars the same way we do today. 

 

[Marvelous Marv]

On a humorous side, this discussion/debate made me think of those classic and funny Miller Lite commercials: Taste great! Less Filling!

 

[Sirhornsalot]

I found a 1969 Texas roster where the Worster bunch are juniors. Here is that class that year. Have no idea if there were others who dropped out before this.


Achilles, Jim


 57 


C


 5-11, 


204


 Jr-1L


 Spring Branch (SBHS)


Atessis, Bill


 77 


DE 


6-3, 


257


 Jr-1L


 Houston (Jones)


Callison, Bobby


 46 


FB


 5-10, 


190


 Jr-1L


 Abilene (AHS)


Dale, Billy 


22 


HB


 5-10, 


190


 Jr-1L 


Odessa (Permian)


Dean, Mike


 66 


OG 


6-0, 


195


 Jr-1L


 Sherman


Feller, Happy 


5


K S


 5-11, 


185 


Jr-1L


 Fredericksburg


Fontenot, Raymond


 44


 LB 


5-11, 


215


 Jr-TR 


Port Arthur


Henderson, Scott 


61 


LB


 6-1, 


213 


Jr-1L 


Dallas (Hillcrest)


Lee, Tommy 


23 


HB 


5-11, 


174


 Jr-1L


 Amarillo (Tascosa)


Mitchell, Bobby 


64 


OG


 5-11, 


206


 Jr-1L 


Wheatridge, CO


Nabors, Rick


 41


 HB 


6-0


, 169


 Jr-TR 


Austin (McCallum)


Ploetz, Greg


 31 


DT


 5-10, 


205


 Jr-1L


 Sherman


Richardson, David


 34 


LB 


6-0, 


192 


Jr-1L


 Abilene (AHS)


Palmer, Scott 


65 


OT 


6-2, 


224 


Jr-1L


 Houston (Westbury)


Robinson, Johnny


 26 


HB 


6-1, 


177


 Jr-1L 


Plano


Speyrer, Charles


 88 


OE


 5-11


, 169


 Jr-1L


 Port Arthur


Steinmark, Fred


 28 


D-SA


 5-10, 


166


 Jr-1L 


Denver (Wheatridge)


Worster, Steve 


30 


FB


 6-0, 


208


 Jr-1L


 Bridge City


Wuensch, Bobby


 50


 OT 


6-3, 


221


 Jr-1L


 Houston (Jones)


Zapalac, Bill


 80


 DE 


6-4


, 206 


Jr-1L 


Austin (McCallum)

 

[Marvelous Marv]

I hope this year’s class produces a Happy Feller. We sure could use one. For you youngsters, Happy Feller was a good place kicker. 

 

[Royal 60]

My last comment on this -- you judge a class after 4 years based on Results NOT competition --- Before what's his name  gets upset it's just my opinion !

 

[Sirhornsalot]

My last comment on this -- you judge a class after 4 years based on Results NOT competition --- Before what's his name  gets upset it's just my opinion !

How can you consider results, yet ignore the competition? Results are directly tied to competition.

The SWC was Texas' stomping ground back in that day. It wasn't exactly strong once you got past Texas and Arkansas. In recruiting, DKR pretty much got who he wanted and however many he wanted.

I'll agree, judging a class after 4 years is appropriate. But its just one comparison out of several, but one we can't make right now.

My name is Sirhornsalot (or SHA for short) and you can call me that if you're speaking to me. This isn't personal and I hold no animosity toward you. Its just a discussion.