Is Tommy Casanova the greatest LSU player ever?

What do you guys think?

His biography from wikipedia:

After high school, Casanova went to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where he became one of the greatest LSU football players in the history of the institution. He played three seasons for LSU: 1969, 1970, and 1971. At LSU, Casanova did it all, playing running back, punt returner, kick returner, and defensive back. During each of his three years at LSU, he was selected as a member of the College Football All-America Team (Casanova is the only three-time All-American in LSU history). In the September 13, 1971 issue of Sports Illustrated, the magazine featured Casanova on the front cover, with the headline: "Tommy Casanova of LSU, Best Player in the Nation." In 2000, the Walter Camp Football Foundation selected Casanova for their All-Century team [1] (honoring the best college football players of the 20th century). Major games from Casanova's time at LSU include #9 LSU's 21-20 victory over #14 Auburn in 1969 (televised on ABC), #14 LSU's 17-9 victory at #6 Auburn in 1970, #11 LSU's 14-9 victory at #19 Alabama in 1970 (televised on ABC), #8 LSU's 61-17 victory over #16 Ole Miss in 1970 (televised on ABC), and #14 LSU's 28-8 victory over #7 Notre Dame in 1971 (televised on ABC).

 

Picking an all time best player is like picking a best team, it's so subjective.

IMHO, and that's all it is, opinion, Billy Cannon is still the best LSU player.

6-1, 210 12 pounds off the olympic record in the clean and jerk, and ran a 9.4 hundred in 1959.

 

yes he is

 

And the few times he went in on offense, he was great there too.

 

Evolution of the athlete has occurred at an alarming rate. In today's game, I would bet that neither Cassanova nor Cannon would even be a starter at LSU.

In their subjective eras and judged against the competition of the day, they were both above and beyond...but the best?

In fifty years, will people be talking about LSU football and asking the same question of Dorsey? Maybe even JR (if nobody breaks his passing records)?

 

Yes, until someone tops his feat of being selected 3 times for All-American.

I believe Glen Dorsey came close with all his awards last year, but you are comparing apples and oranges there, and they are of different eras.

Billy Cannon, Y.A. Tittle, and many, many more. The old war skule has many legends, all seen there when you visit them at campus.

 

If he ain't, he's on a real short list!

Cannon (Heisman), Jerry Stovall (runner up for Heisman, should have won it), Casanova, and Dorsey. Glen at his health best dominated every play like nobody I've seen at his position. Great combo of strength, size, agility and quickness. I'll have to watch some Chiefs games this year.

It seems like a fruitless exercise for me to try to pick the best, but that's my short list. Only going by guys playing while I could watch.

I have Russell over Jones as my all time :lsup: QB, but not up with the others as far as greatest player ever. He played two seasons, as an inexperienced soph who was learning the game, and a moderately accomplished Jr. with outstanding physical tools, but not the greatest focus on the game the first half of the season. If he had played his Sr. year, with the focus he had the second half of his Jr. season, he would be the 5th guy on my list.

 

didn't Bolt run it in 9.69 to break the world record?

 

100 yard dash not meters. That's what they used to run in the old school track days.