re: Louisiana's best football player ever

quote:

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Billy Cannon.

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Here's my problem with Cannon as the best in LSU history.

He won the UPI player of the Year Award twice in 1958 and 1959, so in that sense, that's very unique and you could probably say he deserves it right there (I don't think anyone in LSU history could really be the considered the best player in the country for two years).

But, at the same time, when you look at the stats, Cannon barely scratches any of LSU's rushing records. I think Herb Tyler has more career rushing TDs, for example.

Is he really better than Faulk or Charles Alexander? The punt return vs Ole Miss, but did he ever carry a team on his back the way that Faulk did against Houston or the way that Alexander did when Coach Mac gave him 500 carries against Stanford? Or even the way Josh Reed did in that legendary game 293-yards of receiving game against Alabama?

One thing I didn't realize is that Cannon was moved to tight end when he played for the Oakland Raiders and scored most of his pro touchdowns from that positions. That's impressive.