Those Pesky List by Professor Larry Carlson
Those Pesky Lists by Larry Carlson https://texaslsn.org
Lists of “bests” or even “favorites” can be fun. Also troublesome, in that it’s hard to get people to agree. And I’m not talking politics or religion.
We’re not even taking sides on whether Michael McDonald’s voice killed the sound of the Doobie Brothers…or rejuvenated the band and saved it.
(Trust me: He killed the D Bros. Murder in the first degree….and maybe he founded “Yacht Rock” while committing the dastardly deed.)
Listen to the music of Longhorn football greats https://youtu.be/S3ta4T9tIUM?si=9GSh8fP23ZfoTVTn
So… lists of football superlatives are good for clicks and discussion. Not so good for fostering agreement. And… whether you’re talking about top songs, top movies, top teen idols…we all tend to lean into our own “coming of age,” pretty damn narrow generational picks. That’s why I wasn’t surprised when Austin’s daily newspaper recently listed “the top 20 Longhorn football players,” and I immediately winced at what I thought were several glaring omissions.
And two of the four guys on the panel are gents who are friends of mine. Friendships, though, as we all know, have not a damn thing to do with agreement when it comes to lists.
“The Statesman” had two UT players — Bobby Layne and Hub Bechtol — from the pre-DKR years of 1957-1976.
Eight players from this century were chosen. The rest came from the years in between. Nobody can argue with the obvious picks of Tommy Nobis, Earl Campbell, Ricky Williams, Vince Young, Colt McCoy, Derrick Johnson and such. Others likely on any consensus list include Cedric Benson, Jordan Shipley, at the very least.
Here are the remaining players selected, starting with players from the earliest days: Scott Appleton, Chris Gilbert, James Street, Jerry Sisemore, Steve McMichael, Kenneth Sims, Jerry Gray, Michael Huff, Bijan Robinson and Kelvin Banks. So…you’re not gonna please everybody. Including me.
My first thought?
How on earth can you leave out Steve Worster? He essentially invented the position of fullback in the wishbone formation. Three times all-conference, twice All-America, and would’ve piled up mountains of rushing records had his great teams that won 30 straight needed him as a workhorse.
A remarkable Worster stat: In 457 regular-season carries…zero yards lost.
Zero. Got it? That means two things: He was unstoppable as a north-south locomotive, and he ran behind a hellacious O-line.
That brings me to the next stinging omission. It is just very hard for me to picture leaving out Bobby Wuensch, a dominant, destructive, two-time All-America OT.
I also think that Russell Erxleben’s absence from the list makes no sense.
He is college football’s best punter/placekicker ever and was a three-time All-America choice.
Then again, I’m not saying anybody needs to get tossed away from the newspaper’s list of standout players. The three that I am championing were all players “of my era,” so to speak. We know what we know best. So we think.
So.who are the players you think deserve to be included in any “top 20” UT list?
With a little tongue in cheek and some seriousness: Frank Erwin
He was my stepdad and was always more supportive of all UT sports than any Regent. Ever.
Most make money from the position. He didn’t make a dime.
I do appreciate your publication very much, Will Houston
Thanks Will, Anytime you would like to share a story or two on Frank Erwin, I would love to publish.