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Show VXHO 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 Alabama. Ala-bama. This debate lasted until a Louisiana Louisi-ana sun came creeping creep-ing in through the window. With no thought of any ranking in any set order, here was the list we finally agreed upon. Jim Thorpe, Car- lisle Indians, Canton Sammy Bulldogs. Baugh Pudge Heffelfinger, Tale, and pro-contests after he had passed 50. Bronko Nagurski, Minnesota and Chicago Bears. ' . Sammy Baugh, TCTJ and Washing- ton Redskins. Don Hutson, Alabama and Green Bay. Red Grange, Illinois and Chicago Bears. Mel Hein, Washington State and New York Giants. ' Wilbur ("Fats") 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 will 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 : I Hein. Hein 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. Hein 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 Nagurski, 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 en-tire 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-pound Cal Hubbard as the greatest single football player, the 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 start-' start-' Ing speed made him invaluable. Frank Thomas threatened to leave our board if we left off George Gipp, 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 lineman line-man that ever played football." Anyway Any-way Henry stands out as one of the all-time stars. . Beating 11 Nagurskis Bill Hewitt was one of the great ends of all time. There were games where he figured in practically every ev-ery play. There are those who believe be-lieve 11 Hewitts could beat 11 Nagurskis, Na-gurskis, which is praise enough. I wanted Ken Strong on this squad, but they figured that injuries had cut down his top speed. Strong is1 still something to remember as a great football player. Naturally there were many others. But those who had entered the pro r circuit got the call. Anyway this is a list that is open to any challengers that might come in. At least it's an interesting argument argu-ment with a list sifted from all the thousands who came along and starred through so many years. Pro vs. College Football Those college players who take up pro football and then get busy telling tell-ing everyone that pro football is the cleaner, harder game, in which the player can have much more fun, are simply lacking in sportsmanship. Any football player with the right spirit should still be for his college " and the college game that gave him a chance to turn pro. Professional baseball can get along without college col-lege baseball, although many big league stars are ex-college men. |