Ran into Rueben Mayes this week...

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remember tony elliot? well yeah duh? do you remember the NT before him? derland moore?

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I really just did not remember him. That article was sad.

Absolutely remember Tony Elliott #99...

What is the story?

I sat in the 4th row of a Prince concert at UNO. The first 3 rows, of course, stood up for practically every song.

Tony Elliott and his family sat behind me on the 5th row. Dude practically threatened me to sit down. I told him I can’t see because everybody is standing up in front of me. He told me strongly to sit down again. I sat down.

He still couldn’t see, just like I couldn’t. He got up went to security and told the man to make rows 1-3 sit down. The security guy basically told him to get his arse back to his seat. Eventually, he gave up and I was finally able to stand up and see the Putple One.

The Bayou Bullet!!!


I really loved watching him run. His rookie season was so good, it’s a real shame he couldn’t stay healthy after that.

If he could have played the way he did in 86 in the years after that those Dome Patrol teams may have made some real noise in the playoffs those years.

Legit CSB. Hated that Reuben's career ended so quickly but he was fun to watch when he was with the Saints.

Back in the early 2000's, worked in the area around Sportsbeat Lounge on Ridgelake in Metry. Derland Moore used to hang there sometimes, so I'd talk to him on occasion. He seemed very cool and had good stories as well.

He could get to the edge on a toss to the short side of the field. I loved watching him run!

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What is the story?

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It had to do with Elliott scolding/threatening him for being too talkative with everyone on "both" sides" -rookies/vets/black/white. He said it really caught his attention because Elliott was so big and mean.

Fast forward to Offensive Rookie of the Year and the Pro Bowl - he said that cured all.

He had another one about the mild awkwardness with dealing with Hilliard as a co-rookie in the same backfield - the beloved hometown hero. They were in some kind of meeting and someone in the press asked him about it, and he said "well, we'll have to see how it plays out in practice and on the field". His quote to me: "So then the next day, the Picayune runs a headline 'Controversy at running back'".

I was absolutely tickled pink that he had a great memory of all these things - including pirogues and the Picayune. It's hard to overstate how classy his general bearing is. Just seems like a great guy that has had a great life.

You should read about that town in Saskatchewan he is from. There's a podcast I listen to that had a recent season about the Indians up there and how bad the living conditions are, particularly in North Battleford. Supposedly, it has the highest rate of violent crime in Canada.

He really did. Quick first step but also had a next gear to get to the corner that seemed to come out of nowhere when it seemed like he was at top speed. Smooth as hell.


Googled him out of nostalgia and was actually surprised to see he was voted the #1 Washington State player of all time, and they’ve had some good ones. Surprised anyone could beat out Bledsoe or Leaf.

I knew he was good in college but forgot just how dominant he was, seeing as how we got him in the 3rd round


LINK

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RUEBEN MAYES, who ran his way into Cougar lore in the 1980s, is the greatest Washington State football player of all time, according to the panel of judges the Pac-12 Network enlisted to pick a team of the 12 greatest Cougar football players of all time.

Mayes, who went on to win NFL Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl honors with the New Orleans Saints, was the No. 1 vote getter among the panelists, which included CF.C co-founder Greg Witter. Balloting took place nearly a year ago.

1. RB Rueben Mayes (1981-85) North Battleford, Sask.
All-time WSU leading rusher, two-time All-American and member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Twice named Pac-10 offensive player of the year. Set NCAA single-game record for rushing in one game (357 at Oregon, 1984).

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