It got me to thinking about the subject relative to Alabama football and it really is too deep and too varied over time to do in one lump sum group. So, for the next few days/weeks, I figured I'd cover the "Top 10", if applicable, and weigh in position by position. Then after submission, you can vote as well and I'll keep a running total for prosperity.
So with that, here's the criteria that I go by to rank and weigh the group:
- Championships- Did they win one, or more, in their stay? Was it just an SEC or National Title?
- Did they beat the rivals? If they didn't beat AU, UT, and LSU at least once, they really haven't got a leg to stand on.
- Statistics* The funny thing about this is that most will list older QBs that fall lower on the stat poll, will rank higher in most minds, but also keep in mind that guys in the 60s didn't get to play varsity until their soph. year if they were lucky.
- Win Loss Percentage- What good is throwing for 3000 yards when you win less than 60%?
The List
The candidates are, in chronological order since 1958-1959: (Excluding starters that weren't worth mentioning like Pennington, Guillon and Avalos types)
Pat Trammell- If there ever was a guy that was just pure guts and team all the way around, it was Trammell. His stat lines compared to those down the line are not going to hold up, but he was asked to run more than throw, and in 1961 he eclipsed 1000 yards passing and 279 yards rushing (3rd best on team). He was the QB for Coach Bryant's 1st national title with Alabama, and held a special spot with him. In his career, he was an All-SEC back, QB of the year 1961, 5th on the Heisman ballot, and was the winningest QB in Bama history until Jay Barker. He still holds the school record for fewest interception percentages in a season and career. Pat Trammell died at age 28 from cancer. His impact lived on decades later as Coach Bryant reflected on Pat after his 300th win by saying "Pat Trammell was the favorite person in my entire life."
Joe Willie Namath- If there was anyone unafraid of Trammell's shadow, it was the QB best know as "Joe Willie". He took the reigns in 1962 and did about everything imaginable at the time. He threw for 13 TDs and ran for 4 more. He scored more than his opponents in 1962. That comment probably applied off the field as well, and went a long way towards Coach Bryant's frustration with him at times. As the game has progressed into a more pass happy environment, Namath's stats have fallen down the ranks. He finished his career only losing 3 games and owned most records at UA when he finished. He left the U with a national title and SEC title in 1964. He was elected to the All Century team in 2000.
Steve Sloan- Steve stops in for a cup of coffee in 1965 and does nothing but throw 10 touchdowns, 1400 yards, wins an AP national title. He completed almost 61% of his passes in 65 and had a career 60% completion rate.
Kenny "The Snake" Stabler- Snake was no drop off from the previous 3 by any means. He was gritty, tough, and a heck of a passer. He came into the fold with big shoes to fill and rattled off an 11-0 SEC championship year. The times I have listened to him talk about that year, he still feels robbed of a NC from it. '67 was a slight drop off after Perkins and some other vets were gone. His 1966 performance vs. Ole Miss is still the best for its level. He completed almost 85% of his passes for the game, 10 in a row, and finished his career with a near 60% completion rate. He does hold the record for most INTs in a game with 5 vs. UT in 1967. Even the best have a bad day.
Scott Hunter- You can't pick up a gameday program and flip through the "Most" section without seeing Scott's name for his effort in 1969 vs. Auburn. Hunter was the benchmark of statistical importance until the 1990s and still is 5th all time. (If memory serves, Wilson jumped over him) Scott is the first on the list to not have a National Title on his resume. His legend also comes from his epic showdown with Archie Manning in 1969 where he hit Ranager for the winning touchdown late in the game and went 22-29 300 2 TD (1 rush, 1 pass).
Gary Rutledge- Rutledge started the 1973 year and introduced himself to the world with a 85 yard pass to Joe Dale Harris for a touchdown. He lead the 73 team to the best yards per game and points in school history (480 per). That team, under his lead, rumbled to a perfect regular season, but lost to Notre Dame by 1 and split the national title that year.
Richard Todd- Todd got his turn in 1974, and ran the tables only to find Notre Dame in the way. Todd wasn't a gunslinger while at Alabama, he did get a chance to show that off more in the pros, but he was highly efficient and a winner. He finished his career with 14 TDs and 7 Ints, and 2 SEC championships and a Sugar Bowl win over PSU.
Jeff Rutledge- Unlike his brother, Gary, Jeff did get more chances to win, and did. Jeff's high water mark is his win percentage (87%) and 30TD over 3 years at the helm. He ranked 10th before last year in total yards and passing yards, 4th in total touchdowns (1 ahead of Namath), and is 4th all time in touchdowns thrown. He also left with a bevy of SEC titles and 1 National Title.
Steadman Shealy- Steadman's only crime against Bama history is that he had to wait out his turn for Rutledge. He played from 77-79 (1980 bowl game) and was a bruising runner that Coach Bryant seemed to love to utilize in the wishbone. To be fair, he'd almost be worthy of mention at running back due to his rushing capacities. His passing abilities were not bad. He was accurate and did all you were supposed to in the wishbone, but his stats won't measure to the pack as a passer.
Walter Lewis- Lewis was a member of the 1981 SEC championship, and was a heck of an athlete. His high mark came against PSU in 1983 when he threw for 336 yards and 3 TDs (the "we got robbed" game). For his career, he is 3rd in total offense, 3rd in touchdowns, 6th in yards, and 5th in completion percentage. He also was Coach Bryant's last QB and Perkins' first QB.
Mike Shula- Shula the player was undersized, and overanalyzed due to his last name, but he was a gutsy QB that could win in the clutch. His career started out too early to be honest and the 5-6 tough luck season, but rebounded well to lead Bama to wins over UGA in the final seconds and march the Tide to a winning FG against Auburn. Despite the rough start, he still is one of Bama's winningest QBs with 22 wins and a 72 % winning percentage. He is one of the few up to this point without a SEC or National Title. However, he never beat UT as a player
Gary Hollingsworth- He was the QB that almost never got the shot. Jeff Dunn was the guy that was supposed to carry the load, but he got injured and Gary never let go once he took over. His start and marriage with the teachings of Homer Smith set all sorts of top 10 marks, but after Curry left, Stallings offensive mindset did not result in such fruits. He did beat all 3 rivals that year, and qualified for the discussion due to that.
Jay Barker- He was not supposed to be the starter either, and really wasn't supposed to be there. Curry never offered Jay, and that's why Curry sucks as a coach and evaluator of winners and talent. Stallings took him on and that was probably the best thing he could have done. Danny Woodson was the highly touted starter, but never really got going and was kicked off the team mid-way in the 1991 year. Barker started his first game mid way through the year, and the rest is history. Many will bark because he didn't have eye popping stats until his senior year, when lo and behold Homer Smith returned, but when you go back to 92 and on, he did have a lot of very good games. The Arkansas (where Clinton watched) and Ole Miss (where he couldn't miss all day). He left the university as the winningest QB in school history, 4th in total yards, 3rd in completions and yards(amazing how that happens when you'd think he never threw a pass pre 1994), he holds 3 of the top 10 passing games in school history. He never lost to Auburn, UT, or LSU.
Freddie Kitchens- Freddie's where the list starts to dwindle as far as the criteria are concerned. He didn't win a title, didn't beat UT as the starter, but did beat LSU and Auburn and did lead the team to a West title. His arguement in the conversation is more about his stats and just toughness. Freddie got lit up like a Christmas tree his whole career because the OL sucked that whole period. On a side note, for Fuller to be such a good coach at Jax State, he sure did suck lemons at Alabama. Freddie finished his career 5th in yards, 4th in TDs (30), completed 135 passes without an INT, and still holds the longest pass for a TD in school history.
Andrew Zow- As Kitchens indicates the trickle down, Zow kinda reflects the up and down joy ride the program and Quarterback play that has occured in the last decade or so. Zow has an SEC Title to claim, he has stats galore, but he also has a lot of controversy from fans perspective and a spotty win loss record. Zow flourished under Charlie Stubbs' shotgun offense, and it didn't hurt that he had 2 all americans beside him and 2 exceptional athletes at WR. His statistical marks are all on the top end of the scale- 2nd in yards, completions, attempts, and touchdowns. He also is tied for most interceptions in a career with Hunter and completed around 53% of his passes. He owns wins over AU, UF, LSU, but also owns losses to La Tech, never beat UT or came that close, a nasty one to Va Tech, co-owns another bad one to UCLA and USM (I still can't stand to relive the Arvin Richards pass), has the UCF loss on his belt as well.
Tyler Watts- He's forever tied to the hip with Zow and was about 3 or 4 years before his time. If he were playing now, he's Tim Tebow. I get all sorts of hell for saying this, but I always preferred him over Zow because of the little things he would do and the gritty play he had. Watts was the first quarterback since Walter Lewis to finish his career with over 1000 yards rushing and 3000 passing. He's in the top 10 for completions, yards, and is the record holder for career completion percentage. He has the SEC title with Zow, he has wins over AU, LSU, UT, and UF, but his career was injury filled and he constantly looked behind him for Zow and Croyle.
Brodie Croyle- To put it bluntly, there isn't a stat sheet mark he doesn't own. His win loss numbers aren't as impressive, but there is a lot of probation and bad coaching in the mix. He owns wins over UT, UF, has a bowl win (something that got really rare after Barker) , but never beat Auburn and did not have a winning record until his senior year.
John Parker Wilson- Do we really need to discuss, I mean that was just yesterday.
Who is Top 10?
- Kenny Stabler
- Joe Willie Namath
- Jay Barker
- Pat Trammell
- Jeff Rutledge
- Scott Hunter
- Gary Hollingsworth
- Steve Sloan
- Steadman Shealy
- Brodie Croyle
In the end it is about championships at Alabama, not stats or warm fuzzy stories. Most of the names on the list have that, most of them are folk legends for winning and the plays made in route to those wins. I could be argued out of a few spots, but after the top 5 it gets into a the best and the rest scenario for the most part.
2 comments:
Pretty good list. Factually wrong on some points. Notably, Shula did be UT and Barker did lose to Auburn. Good job as always.
I typically give the starter a pass if they were injured during the game
Post a Comment