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Started By
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Were Mike Anderson, Bevan, Grezaffi, & Davis really that talented?
Posted on 5/12/13 at 11:25 am
Posted on 5/12/13 at 11:25 am
I was just looking over the era of LSU football from 1951 to 1975, and I was struck by how low some famous LSU players went in the NFL Draft during that period:
Some Notable LSU Players in the Draft
(Selection #, Position, Year of NFL Draft, Name)
184, DB, 1968, Sammy Grezaffi
211, RB, 1975, Brad Davis
216, LB, 1971, Mike Anderson
421, DB, 1970, George Bevan
Then I got to thinking about that old thread of mine from January 2011 about how the HBCUs started totally outclassed LSU in the NFL Drafts from about the spring of '66 to the spring of '74. (Collis Temple Sr. was chosen as a sort of throw-away pick in the late rounds of the spring of 1974, and Mike Williams was taken as the 22nd pick overall in 1975.)
That's when all these guys played, but unlike the LSU star backs of the late 50's and early 60's (Taylor, Cannon, Robinson, Rabb, Stovall, Harris, Gros, Branch, etc.), they didn't seem to be highly regarded by NFL scouts. I'm just trying to figure out why that was.
There were of course legit super-talented stars from that time at LSU (see Tommy Casanova, Bert Jones, and Andy Hamilton), but I'm having a hard time figuring out how to measure Anderson-Bevan-Grezaffi-Davis against former LSU players from the 1950s and early 1960s, like maybe a Dennis Gaubatz--or even a player from the 1970s, like a Bo Harris who was picked 77th in the 1975 NFL Draft.
If anybody has input, comments, suggestions, just let it fly.
Sam Grezaffi, #30
Brad Davis, #48
George Bevan, #42
Mike Anderson, #45
Bo Harris's 1980 Topps card
Some Notable LSU Players in the Draft
(Selection #, Position, Year of NFL Draft, Name)
184, DB, 1968, Sammy Grezaffi
211, RB, 1975, Brad Davis
216, LB, 1971, Mike Anderson
421, DB, 1970, George Bevan
Then I got to thinking about that old thread of mine from January 2011 about how the HBCUs started totally outclassed LSU in the NFL Drafts from about the spring of '66 to the spring of '74. (Collis Temple Sr. was chosen as a sort of throw-away pick in the late rounds of the spring of 1974, and Mike Williams was taken as the 22nd pick overall in 1975.)
That's when all these guys played, but unlike the LSU star backs of the late 50's and early 60's (Taylor, Cannon, Robinson, Rabb, Stovall, Harris, Gros, Branch, etc.), they didn't seem to be highly regarded by NFL scouts. I'm just trying to figure out why that was.
There were of course legit super-talented stars from that time at LSU (see Tommy Casanova, Bert Jones, and Andy Hamilton), but I'm having a hard time figuring out how to measure Anderson-Bevan-Grezaffi-Davis against former LSU players from the 1950s and early 1960s, like maybe a Dennis Gaubatz--or even a player from the 1970s, like a Bo Harris who was picked 77th in the 1975 NFL Draft.
If anybody has input, comments, suggestions, just let it fly.
Sam Grezaffi, #30
Brad Davis, #48
George Bevan, #42
Mike Anderson, #45
Bo Harris's 1980 Topps card
Posted on 5/12/13 at 11:40 am to Doc Fenton
There are some LSU bowl games from the early-mid seventies on youtube, inclucing an Orange Bowl vs Nebraska and I think one against Penn State. Apart from the obvious guys like Casanova, most of the players aren't all that impressive physically. Small and just look unathletic. Same goes for the opponents, BTW. Two or three natural freakish athletes on each team and the rest fairly ordinary looking.
Posted on 5/12/13 at 1:08 pm to Doc Fenton
Really cool thread Doc. I like old discussions like this. Wish I could go back in time and watch some of those old teams
Posted on 5/12/13 at 1:47 pm to Doc Fenton
I recall that a few years after Bevan graduated and went on to law school and finished, he was representing an LSU player (forgot who) that was trying to get on the Houston Oilers (Tenn. Titans). Sports Illustrated carried a short note about Houston's response to the effect that they had no interest in the player he was representing, but they would welcome Bevan for tryout.
When assigned the "two point prevention" against Auburn in '69 (Pat Sullivan/Terry Beasley) when Auburn had scored late in the game to make it 21-20, Bevan saw a gap and shot through to block the extra point and preserve the win for LSU. He was a play-maker.
When assigned the "two point prevention" against Auburn in '69 (Pat Sullivan/Terry Beasley) when Auburn had scored late in the game to make it 21-20, Bevan saw a gap and shot through to block the extra point and preserve the win for LSU. He was a play-maker.
Posted on 5/12/13 at 2:12 pm to Doc Fenton
Anderson blew out his knee in his jr. year. Was drafted by the Steelers with Jack Ham. He failed the physical because of his knee. Played a couple of years of Canadian ball before his knee gave out. Was a hell of a LB before the injury.
Posted on 5/12/13 at 2:14 pm to Doc Fenton
I have no idea about this, but it is very interesting. I'm going to bookmark these 2 threads, as I have the 1926-1950 All-Time LSU Team thread, so I can go back and read them in full, when I have more free time.
I always enjoy reading your posts, Doc.
I always enjoy reading your posts, Doc.
Posted on 5/12/13 at 3:36 pm to Doc Fenton
Bevan tore his Achilles tendon his soph. year. He had everything except the size to be a top pro. Grezaffi was awful small for the times of big backs in the pros. Bevan and Anderson had the talent. Bevan never completely recovered the speed he once had. Before he was hurt he covered the whole field. Maybe one of the best LSU had in that era.
Posted on 5/13/13 at 6:35 am to Doc Fenton
Great thread.
fwiw Bevan was a LB not DB, and Mel Branch was a DL on the Chinese Bandits, not a RB. Branch had a productive career in the start up AFL.
While we're talkin bout athleticism, the name Roy "Moonie" Winston should be included. He played Guard and LB as a two way player for the Tigers, and jumped over to baseball after the FB season ended. He went on to played several outstanding seasons at LB for the Minn Vikings. He was a Tiger in the early 60's.
fwiw Bevan was a LB not DB, and Mel Branch was a DL on the Chinese Bandits, not a RB. Branch had a productive career in the start up AFL.
While we're talkin bout athleticism, the name Roy "Moonie" Winston should be included. He played Guard and LB as a two way player for the Tigers, and jumped over to baseball after the FB season ended. He went on to played several outstanding seasons at LB for the Minn Vikings. He was a Tiger in the early 60's.
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