[Spiny_Norman]

[quote author=teejers1 link=topic=6730.msg50324#msg50324 date=1351020761]
(BTW, I'm equally content saying that Elway, Luck and Nelson are the best football players ever to wear a Stanford uni).

I love those guys, but to be taken seriously, maybe you should qualify that statement a little further.... with "best players I've seen" or something.
"Ever to wear a Stanford uni" includes a lot of legendary players, including the best college player of the first half of the century, Ernie Nevers (as named by SI) and our lone Voldemort winner and Rose Bowl champ (which none of those you named managed to achieve), Jim Plunkett.
[/quote]

In fact Stanford has "retired" only two numbers - 1 for Ernie Nevers and 16 for Jim Plunkett.  Any discussion of all time greats should start (but not end) with these legends.

[Spiny_Norman]

[quote author=teejers1 link=topic=6730.msg50324#msg50324 date=1351020761]
(BTW, I'm equally content saying that Elway, Luck and Nelson are the best football players ever to wear a Stanford uni).

I love those guys, but to be taken seriously, maybe you should qualify that statement a little further.... with "best players I've seen" or something.
"Ever to wear a Stanford uni" includes a lot of legendary players, including the best college player of the first half of the century, Ernie Nevers (as named by SI) and our lone Voldemort winner and Rose Bowl champ (which none of those you named managed to achieve), Jim Plunkett.
[/quote]

In fact Stanford has "retired" only two numbers - 1 for Ernie Nevers and 16 for Jim Plunkett.  Any discussion of all time greats should start (but not end) with these legends.

[Spiny_Norman]

[quote author=teejers1 link=topic=6730.msg50324#msg50324 date=1351020761]
(BTW, I'm equally content saying that Elway, Luck and Nelson are the best football players ever to wear a Stanford uni).

I love those guys, but to be taken seriously, maybe you should qualify that statement a little further.... with "best players I've seen" or something.
"Ever to wear a Stanford uni" includes a lot of legendary players, including the best college player of the first half of the century, Ernie Nevers (as named by SI) and our lone Voldemort winner and Rose Bowl champ (which none of those you named managed to achieve), Jim Plunkett.
[/quote]

In fact Stanford has "retired" only two numbers - 1 for Ernie Nevers and 16 for Jim Plunkett.  Any discussion of all time greats should start (but not end) with these legends.

[Spiny_Norman]

[quote author=teejers1 link=topic=6730.msg50324#msg50324 date=1351020761]
(BTW, I'm equally content saying that Elway, Luck and Nelson are the best football players ever to wear a Stanford uni).

I love those guys, but to be taken seriously, maybe you should qualify that statement a little further.... with "best players I've seen" or something.
"Ever to wear a Stanford uni" includes a lot of legendary players, including the best college player of the first half of the century, Ernie Nevers (as named by SI) and our lone Voldemort winner and Rose Bowl champ (which none of those you named managed to achieve), Jim Plunkett.
[/quote]

In fact Stanford has "retired" only two numbers - 1 for Ernie Nevers and 16 for Jim Plunkett.  Any discussion of all time greats should start (but not end) with these legends.

[Oasis]

[size=12pt]At a time when Stanford was physically not the equal of the better teams we played, Nelson was a superior athlete to most defenders.  So if Stanford could get the ball to him out in the open (or "in space" as they say now)he was very likely to make a single tackler miss.  And he was very fast and strong for his size.  A lot of fun to watch.

[Oasis]

[size=12pt]At a time when Stanford was physically not the equal of the better teams we played, Nelson was a superior athlete to most defenders.  So if Stanford could get the ball to him out in the open (or "in space" as they say now)he was very likely to make a single tackler miss.  And he was very fast and strong for his size.  A lot of fun to watch.

[Oasis]

[size=12pt]At a time when Stanford was physically not the equal of the better teams we played, Nelson was a superior athlete to most defenders.  So if Stanford could get the ball to him out in the open (or "in space" as they say now)he was very likely to make a single tackler miss.  And he was very fast and strong for his size.  A lot of fun to watch.

[Oasis]

[size=12pt]At a time when Stanford was physically not the equal of the better teams we played, Nelson was a superior athlete to most defenders.  So if Stanford could get the ball to him out in the open (or "in space" as they say now)he was very likely to make a single tackler miss.  And he was very fast and strong for his size.  A lot of fun to watch.

[Griffins78]

I agree that Darrin Nelson was the best Stanford player I have seen.

He had the best most amazing cut up field of anyone I've ever seen. He would start out running horizontally towards the sides and then his cut back up field was so quick, so elusive, but even more, it was balletic. He didn't just barrel up field. He would slice up field, between defenders as Nan3cy described, through the narrowest of cracks and the defenders would just miss.

He was so thrilling to watch.

[Griffins78]

I agree that Darrin Nelson was the best Stanford player I have seen.

He had the best most amazing cut up field of anyone I've ever seen. He would start out running horizontally towards the sides and then his cut back up field was so quick, so elusive, but even more, it was balletic. He didn't just barrel up field. He would slice up field, between defenders as Nan3cy described, through the narrowest of cracks and the defenders would just miss.

He was so thrilling to watch.

[Griffins78]

I agree that Darrin Nelson was the best Stanford player I have seen.

He had the best most amazing cut up field of anyone I've ever seen. He would start out running horizontally towards the sides and then his cut back up field was so quick, so elusive, but even more, it was balletic. He didn't just barrel up field. He would slice up field, between defenders as Nan3cy described, through the narrowest of cracks and the defenders would just miss.

He was so thrilling to watch.

[Griffins78]

I agree that Darrin Nelson was the best Stanford player I have seen.

He had the best most amazing cut up field of anyone I've ever seen. He would start out running horizontally towards the sides and then his cut back up field was so quick, so elusive, but even more, it was balletic. He didn't just barrel up field. He would slice up field, between defenders as Nan3cy described, through the narrowest of cracks and the defenders would just miss.

He was so thrilling to watch.

[FarmBoy]

From today's SFGate article on Stanford's prep for WSU:

Shaw was asked: If you needed 5 yards on a play and had Taylor and his predecessors, Toby Gerhart, Tommy Vardell, Nelson and Glyn Milburn, which one would you choose? "If we've got them all, we're up by 20 points," he said with a laugh, ducking the question. "We're kneeling on it."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/arti...z2ADehVfkv

I thought that was a pretty effective evasive maneuver by Coach Shaw. I don't think he could answer with a straight face that he'd pick Taylor.

But who would you pick? Having not seen Nelson at Stanford, I'd have to go with Gerhart.

[FarmBoy]

From today's SFGate article on Stanford's prep for WSU:

Shaw was asked: If you needed 5 yards on a play and had Taylor and his predecessors, Toby Gerhart, Tommy Vardell, Nelson and Glyn Milburn, which one would you choose? "If we've got them all, we're up by 20 points," he said with a laugh, ducking the question. "We're kneeling on it."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/arti...z2ADehVfkv

I thought that was a pretty effective evasive maneuver by Coach Shaw. I don't think he could answer with a straight face that he'd pick Taylor.

But who would you pick? Having not seen Nelson at Stanford, I'd have to go with Gerhart.

[FarmBoy]

From today's SFGate article on Stanford's prep for WSU:

Shaw was asked: If you needed 5 yards on a play and had Taylor and his predecessors, Toby Gerhart, Tommy Vardell, Nelson and Glyn Milburn, which one would you choose? "If we've got them all, we're up by 20 points," he said with a laugh, ducking the question. "We're kneeling on it."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/arti...z2ADehVfkv

I thought that was a pretty effective evasive maneuver by Coach Shaw. I don't think he could answer with a straight face that he'd pick Taylor.

But who would you pick? Having not seen Nelson at Stanford, I'd have to go with Gerhart.

[FarmBoy]

From today's SFGate article on Stanford's prep for WSU:

Shaw was asked: If you needed 5 yards on a play and had Taylor and his predecessors, Toby Gerhart, Tommy Vardell, Nelson and Glyn Milburn, which one would you choose? "If we've got them all, we're up by 20 points," he said with a laugh, ducking the question. "We're kneeling on it."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/arti...z2ADehVfkv

I thought that was a pretty effective evasive maneuver by Coach Shaw. I don't think he could answer with a straight face that he'd pick Taylor.

But who would you pick? Having not seen Nelson at Stanford, I'd have to go with Gerhart.

[ATLCard]

<5 yds Gerhart/Taylor (tie is the easy way out, but in my eyes Taylor is playing at Gerhart level now -- with stacked boxes and questionable QB/playcalling, he is a consistent beast)

>5 yds Nelson (higher beta back; truly one-of-a-kind who defied the laws of physics.  Too bad he was pre-digital because it would be great to replay some of his "how did he do that" runs)

[ATLCard]

<5 yds Gerhart/Taylor (tie is the easy way out, but in my eyes Taylor is playing at Gerhart level now -- with stacked boxes and questionable QB/playcalling, he is a consistent beast)

>5 yds Nelson (higher beta back; truly one-of-a-kind who defied the laws of physics.  Too bad he was pre-digital because it would be great to replay some of his "how did he do that" runs)

[ATLCard]

<5 yds Gerhart/Taylor (tie is the easy way out, but in my eyes Taylor is playing at Gerhart level now -- with stacked boxes and questionable QB/playcalling, he is a consistent beast)

>5 yds Nelson (higher beta back; truly one-of-a-kind who defied the laws of physics.  Too bad he was pre-digital because it would be great to replay some of his "how did he do that" runs)

[ATLCard]

<5 yds Gerhart/Taylor (tie is the easy way out, but in my eyes Taylor is playing at Gerhart level now -- with stacked boxes and questionable QB/playcalling, he is a consistent beast)

>5 yds Nelson (higher beta back; truly one-of-a-kind who defied the laws of physics.  Too bad he was pre-digital because it would be great to replay some of his "how did he do that" runs)

[Renaissance Man]

If I am remembering correctly, Brad Muster had positive yardage on every carry at Stanford. I know who I am going with if we need a yard--followed by a Toby and Tommy toss-up.

[Renaissance Man]

If I am remembering correctly, Brad Muster had positive yardage on every carry at Stanford. I know who I am going with if we need a yard--followed by a Toby and Tommy toss-up.

[Renaissance Man]

If I am remembering correctly, Brad Muster had positive yardage on every carry at Stanford. I know who I am going with if we need a yard--followed by a Toby and Tommy toss-up.

[Renaissance Man]

If I am remembering correctly, Brad Muster had positive yardage on every carry at Stanford. I know who I am going with if we need a yard--followed by a Toby and Tommy toss-up.

[Spiny_Norman]

My answer to the question - would not matter as much who was carrying the ball if I could get Bob Whitfield and David DeCastro leading the way.

[Spiny_Norman]

My answer to the question - would not matter as much who was carrying the ball if I could get Bob Whitfield and David DeCastro leading the way.

[ATLCard]

Hmmm, best answer yet on the subject.  Reminds me that when Elway started out he had Darrin Nelson at running back and the combo couldn't win enough to get to a bowl game together.  The beauty of the current era is the studs in the trenches on both sides.

[ATLCard]

Hmmm, best answer yet on the subject.  Reminds me that when Elway started out he had Darrin Nelson at running back and the combo couldn't win enough to get to a bowl game together.  The beauty of the current era is the studs in the trenches on both sides.