If we're talking basketball, LSU has three players in the NBA Hall of Fame and all three are on the NBA all-time top 50 list. Bob Pettit -- The NBA all-time leading scorer when he retired Pete Maravich -- set NCAA record that may never be broken Shaquille O'Neal -- Shaq and Wilt Chamberlain are the only big men on the highest tier.
If Pistol played in this age he would have set the siungle season scoring record and than gone pro. It's a shame in a way that we don't think much about the great olinemen that played and had incredible careers, but it is so hard to quantify how good they were. My top player would be Casanova followed by Cannon, Charles Alexander, Kevin Faulk and Josh Reed.
Thanks NCTiger, Yup, Michael Brooks. We had better run stoppers on defense, but I don't remember a better all round linebacker who could blitz, cover the pass, and stop the run. Seems to me Brooks had more speed than most LB's we've had. Edited: I'm glad you brought up Hodson. His soph and jr. seasons, I thought he was a 'can't miss' pro prospect. His sr. season his perf. dropped off a bit. Pro career was a disappointment. As I remember at the time, I think he threw to Wendell Davis soph and jr. seasons, and didn't have Wendell his sr. year. I think Wendell brought more to the combo than anyone knew at the time. Wendell had a good pro career with the Bears, and deserves to be in the best 10 receivers to play for LSU. I'd be interested in anyone elses ideas on Hodson. Hodson was known for his toughness and competitiveness. Anyone remember, I think it was against Kentucky, when he was hit and split his tongue? They took him in the locker room, stiched his tongue, and he played the second half and led the Tigers to a hard fought victory. Gutty performance!!!
Red, I was born in '52, and all I ever saw of Tittle playing was in the late stage of his career with the NY Giants. My Dad made me watch the NFL championship game the Giants lost, the one where this famous picture was taken late in the game, with Tittle sitting on the ground, blood running down his face. The other team won, don't remember who. I loved watching Taylor run with the Packers, HARD runner! But I just don't remember them playing with LSU. I just list players I saw play. Did you see those guys play for LSU?
How about a little love for Johnny Robinson. I watched him with the Chiefs for years, cause my Dad told me he went to LSU. http://johnny-robinson.biography.ms/ Mr. Robinson has some impressive credentials indeed! I hope his recovery is progressing. I heard he was at the top of his age class in tennis prior to is illness. Edited to add: See these draft positions for 1960, compares favorably with the two Auburn running backs drafted this year: 1... Los Angeles Rams..... Billy Cannon... B... LSU 2... Chicago Cardinals..... George Izo... B... Notre Dame 3... Detroit Lions..... Johnny Robinson.. HB... LSU http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1960.jsp Very interesting Robinson was a running back in college and made the AFL hall of fame as a defensive back! Of course Cannon and Robinson both signed with the AFL. The link shows Cannons pro credentials also.