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Show yyaAimAND A X7HO are the greatest 12 football players that ever walked on a field? This has nothing to do with all-star or all-time outfits, picked by position. It Is all man by man, regardless of position. I worked out this idea with Steve Owen, head coach of the Giants, and Frank Thomas. , head coach of Ala-1 " 'v bama. This debate I Jy - lasted until a Loulsi- ! ana sun came creep- ' ing in through the SSS'w window. ( With no thought of?? J . any ranking in any J set order, here was ' the list we finally jp-5 agreed upon. I Jim Thorpe, Car- lisle Indians, Canton Sammy Bulldogs. Bm ' Pudge Heffelfinger, Yale, and pro-contests after he had passed 50. Bronko Nagurskl, Minnesota and Chicago Bears. Sammy Bangh, TCU and Washing-ton Washing-ton Redskins. Don Hutson, Alabama and Green Bay. Red Grange, Illinois and Chicago Bears. Mel Heln, Washington State and New York Giants. Wilbur ("Fata") Henry, W. and J., Canton Bulldogs. Ernie Nevers, Stanford, Duluth Eskimos and Chicago Cards. George Gipp, Notre Dame. Bill Hewitt, Michigan and Chicago Bears. Cal Hubbard, Centenary, Geneva, Giants and Green Bay. Facing the Blast This list wiU face quite a blast Hurry-up Yost will be hurt because we left off Willie Heston, who played before the forward pass. Coach Stagg will feel the same way about Walter Eckersall, and Yale men will wonder why Frank Hinkey or Tom Shevlin were ditched. Both were brilliant But there are many points to consider con-sider here. One is length of service. For example, take the case of Mel Heln. Heln was a high school star for three years. He was a college star for three years. After that he Just completed 13 years with the New York Giants, in which time he was picked as all-pro center seven times, an amazing record. Ilein Is one of the greatest linemen that ever played. There could be no argument about such men as Jim Thorpe, who could do everything, every-thing, Bronko Nagurskl, a great tackle, a great end and a great fullback. One of the greatest. The same goes for Don Hutson, one of the most amazing of the entire en-tire crop. A great artist for many years. Certainly no one could leave off Red Grange. "Not only one of the great ball carriers of all time," Steve Owen says, "but also one of the best of all defensive backs. Grange and Battles were the two best ball carriers I ever saw outside out-side of Jim Thorpe." Bo McMillin picks the 260-poond Cal Hubbard as the greatest single football player, tic most valuable star he ever saw. Hubbard was a great end a great tackle and a master at backing up the line where his 260 pounds and his starting start-ing speed made him Invaluable. Frank Thomas threatened to leave our board if we left off George Glpp, who never played pro football "Gipp was a great runner," Thomas said, "a fine passer, a brilliant kicker and a winning gambler on the field. I have known only one Gipp," "Wilbur Henry of W. and J. was to line play what Thorpe was to back-field back-field play." Both Owen and Thomas voted. "Henry Is the greatest line-: line-: man that ever played football." Any-. Any-. way Henry stands out as one of the all-time stars. Heating 11 Nagurskis Bill Hewitt was one of the great ends of all time. There were games j where he figured in practically every ev-ery piny. There are those who be lieve 11 Hewitts could beat 11 Na-gurskis, Na-gurskis, which Is praise enough. I wanted Ken btrong on this ' squad, but they figured that Injuries hsd cut down his top speed. Strong Is still something to remember as a great football player. Naturally there wer many others. But those who had en'eird the pro circuit got the tall. Anyway this Is a llrt that Is open to any chnllenfiers that mirht come in. At least it's an Interesting argument argu-ment with a list sifted from all the thousands who can r alung and starred through so ninny years. Pro vs. College Foothali Those college players who ti.ke up pro football and then get busy telling tell-ing everyone that pro football is the cleaner, harder game, In which the player con have much more fun, are simply lacking in sportsmanship. Any football player with the right spirit should ttlll be for his college and Ihe college game that gave him a chance to turn pro. Professional baseball ran gel along without college col-lege bsirball, although many big league stars are ex-college men. |