Some here want him to carry the rock 20 plus times a game but CM actually is a throwback to what they call the APB (All Purpose Back). Before our time many of the league stars fit that description like Paul Hornung.... was the face of the NFL back then.
A little bit off-topic from Week 2, but a few weeks ago I saw Hornung's career stats and was stunned! Stunned that he basically put up Danny Woodhead type numbers for his career (except with more TD's, but much fewer catches) and made the Hall of Fame and is considered a NFL legend. Perhaps Sports Historian or others can help out, as Hornung played well before my time.
http://www.nfl.com/player/paulhornung/2516822/careerstats
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Although I admit to not liking Hornung much, after he publicly blasted Notre Dame last decade for not having enough blacks. Basically, this fool was going around bashing his Alma-mater, saying the schools "academic standards" were too high, meaning fewer black starters. It was repugnant to me, but ESPN and others turned him into a folk-hero.
By the way, only a fool would believe Notre Dame's (or any school's) are too high for the affletes. Several years back a friend of mine briefly introduced me to a white "goy" that was once a starting lineman/team captain at Yale. Only shook his hand and said hello. I guess he played in 1980's? ... Anyhow, I asked if the ex-Yale Bulldog was a brilliant student in high school, because he didn't seem like a scholarly type at the time I met him ... I was told he scored like an 800 on his SAT's and was never brilliant....so if Yale was letting him in the 1980's, can you imagine how low the standards were at Notre Dame during the 2000's? Yet Hornung still bitched and moaned publicly?
http://articles.latimes.com/2004/apr/01/sports/sp-hornung1
This is a bit off topic so naturally I will pile on--fortunately week 2 is in the books ( tonight's game is a caste fest). I don't know how to cross section replies into new threads so I apologize for talking history here.
Before my time but I am someone who is very interested in sports during the 1950's and 1960's. My avatar is a dead give away. That was a time before the "black plague" if you will, started it's long but consistent charge through history.
Truth is right at first glance Hornung's stats don't stand out. In addition to that Hornung won the Heisman trophy at ND in 1956 despite his team going 2-8. Unheard of to say the least.
Hornung was the virtual Swiss army knife who could do
everything. He could run, block, catch passes, kick ( for four years he was also the field goal kicker) and pass the ball. He was what they call a money player--pun intended. And this Golden Boy was
looked up to in the locker room not just because he was a clutch all around player but he had what the
ladies wanted. See Joe Namath.
Back then certain white men were considered
studs. These days they are generally considered second tier to black "studs."
Hornung ushered in the Packers reign but it took a few years. He was considered clutch and his yards per carry were impressive for that time. I was reading he was in the army reserves for a few years and his practice time was limited.
Hornung won the MVP in 1961 the year the Packers dynasty was just getting underway. He missed the entire 1963 season because of gambling.
Different era and mind set pre caste. In 1952 Lindy Remigino won the 100 M dash at the Olympics. In 1956 it was Bobby Morrow. In 1960 German Armin Hary. And in 1972 Valery Borzov. Hard to believe or digest in this day and age.
As for the 'controversy" over Hornung's statements about the need for black players now that it was mentioned it is all coming back to me. He would later back track but in 2004 that was the mind set and frankly 14 years on it appears to be in place.
As for ND I believe they lowered their standards when Holtz was there and I suspect there is a lot of fancy foot stuff going around in regards to that in most big college football/basketball programs.
