re: art cantrell

I was fortuate enough to watch him as a freshamn in '71. My recollection was that he could out-bench press everyone on the team, including Mike Anderson and all of the other big linemen and linebackers of the late 60's and early 70's....

in college, he probably went at around 5'9 and 190 lbs., but nobody screwed with him....nobody.

He was a quick, tough runner who was hard to bring down, and who'd rather hit you head-on than dodge you....imagine Hester X 2 with a "killer mindset".....then, you might get close to what the guy was like on the field.

One of my partners had 2 of his oldest at LSU in the early 70s. They told him that Cantrelle lost a quarter in the coke machine in the old Tigertown Pharmacy. It was on the corner of Highland and Chimes St. where The Chimes is now. He picked up the machine and tossed it through the window when they told him they would not give him his quarter back. He was mental, no doubt. I have heard that it came from witnessing his fathers suicide when he was young. I hope that is not a true story. Something like that should not happen to anyone.

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in college, he probably went at around 5'9 and 190 lbs

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I always thought he was in the 6'2" range but I don't know. I guess he always seemed larger because he ran pretty damn hard.

Watched that guy when LSU destroyed Ole Miss 61-17 in Archie's senior year. Everytime he got tackled he would slam the ball down, jump up and down. I was a kid but remember the announcers talking about how tough he was. Plus, my aunt dated one of the db's, can't remember his name. He had an interception against Neb. in the 17-12 loss in the Orange Bowl. Name was John something. First time I met him I asked him about Cantrell and Hamilton, he just whistled and shook his head about Cantrell.

the two arthur stories i heard a lot growing up down the bayou:

one day arthur and his brother are playing in the yard and start fighting. they're around 10 years old. their grandpa sees them fighting and yells at them to stop. he goes inside and is washing his hands at the kitchen sink when he looks out the window and see the brother sitting on a stump in the backyard w/ arthur sneaking up behind him with an axe over his head like a cartoon character and ready to swing.

fast forward to arthur at LSU. he goes to an LSU wrestling match (back when there was a team) and proceeds to call 'em queers and sissies, etc all night. they catch up with him later at a bar where he's drinking alone. he says he'll go outside with them to settle it after he finishes his beer. so he orders another one - and this is the old cans you punched a hole in like an oil can. arthur proceeds to chew his way through the can and slurp it down. his lips and gums are sliced to ribbons. he turns around and there's not a swingin' dick left from the wrestlers.

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Oh yeah Art's my sister-in-law's aunt's second cousin, twice removed. We hung out at the mall last weekend and he got a photo taken at one of those little booths. But he didn't like the picture that well so he gave it to me, then he hurled the picture booth like 50 yards.

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Has anybody ever actually gotten killed for a first post when he thought he was just being a smart-arse?

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Oh yeah Art's my sister-in-law's aunt's second cousin, twice removed. We hung out at the mall last weekend and he got a photo taken at one of those little booths. But he didn't like the picture that well so he gave it to me, then he hurled the picture booth like 50 yards.

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What lsupike said is true

Dude settle. I thought it was a pretty quality first post actually. Surely while reading this thread you sensed a certain Norrisesque quality? I'm not saying it ain't true though I've never met the guy. He's obviously a legend and I'm sure for good reason, but you know how legends can be sometimes.

I have heard stories from a distance about Cantrelle for years. He is one player I have thought about through the years as to why he didn't have a bigger impact at LSU. I seem to recall a knee injury. Can anyone shed any light on this?

LSU won an SEC championship with him at RB in 1970, I think.