All-Time Gamecock Team - RB (Poll)

[CockyHoskins]

Alright guys, time for the second position of our All-Gamecock Team. To be fair to George Rogers, I am going to deem him #1, given that he won the Heisman and all. :mrgreen: We know he is going to be #1, so let's have a legitimate poll for who is #2.

So this is for second team. Who is the best of the rest?

All-Time QB Poll (http://www.cockytalk.com/showthread.php?t=1225)
All-Time WR Poll (http://www.cockytalk.com/showthread.php?t=27903)
All-Time RB Poll (http://www.cockytalk.com/showthread.php?t=1233)
All-Time TE Poll (http://www.cockytalk.com/showthread.php?t=1864)
All-Time LB Poll (http://www.cockytalk.com/showthread.php?t=3039)
All-Time DB Poll (http://www.cockytalk.com/showthread.php?t=8537)

[buzzcock]

I have no stats to describe Harold Green running against the likes of Nebraska, FSU or ND in Columbia..........but, I'll take him OR Thom Dendy. they were both GREAT running backs; both slashers.....

Do not underestimate the heart of Rob DeBoer or lil#21 from Ohio (sorry, I've gotten so old I can't remember his name :O the short term memory stinks)
GO COCKS!!!

[CockyHoskins]

DeBoer and Brewer are going to be part of the last poll. You'll see.

[buzzcock]

:happycoc: :happycoc: :happycoc:

[USCKEN]

where is kent haygood? you know you can't have thomas dendy without kent haygood. dendy was the better back. i just had to put a plug in for a former wren hurricane! duce was my pick, but harold and brandon were fun as hell to watch with the ball! just ask them georgia fans!! sept 1st can't get here soon enough!! wr poll will be very interesting!!!!

[snoopcockycock]

all of those guys were excellent backs, and although rogers was fun to watch and a great back, usc has never had a more exciting running back than harold green! this guy was absolutely incredible. he defied physics! he was once flagged for leaping over an erect man! i'd never heard of that rule, but the tv announcers were having a field day with the call. he was really something to watch; poetry in motion!

[RoosterBooster]

I agree Hagood should be on here. Let's not forget about Kevin Long and Clarence Williams. They both rushed for 1000 yards in the same season I think in 1975. Long was also our 1000 yard back in 1974 I think. Can't give Wadiak a fair shake because I never saw him. All that said I still would have voted for Harold although Brandon broke Larry's heart.

[RoosterBooster]

I was surprised to see Duce winning. Duce was a great back. He could cut harder than anyone we have ever had. He was only here a couple years and fought injuries during that time. If he had been here 4 years my opinion may be different. He is obviously one of the best we have had at the next level but I would put Brandon and Harold ahead of him for their days as Gamecocks. NOBODY could go in from 2 yards like Harold. When we got inside the 3 with Harold it was going to be 6 and everybody knew it.

[lockman22]

what about Earl Clary, TheGhost from Gaffney

[buzzcock]

[quote:9c06757545=\"lockman22\"]what about Earl Clary, TheGhost from Gaffney[/quote:9c06757545]

I dated the Galloping Ghost's daughter (Gayle, I think it was) while at Carolina. She never talked much about his exploits. Good point to include him too!

[wincrimson]

I voted for Duce Staley.

[buzzcock]

:twisted: How about Dominique Blasingame? He had the best 'name' of all the running backs. :twisted:

[dshocker]

I think Bennett did more for his team than any of these other names.

[CockyHoskins]

[bump] WR poll coming next

[Crazy_Gamecock]

one of my favorites was Mike Dingle. It was great to watch him jump over the pile. I voted for Duce though because I remember the Kentucky game in Lexington when there were 4 or 5 UK guys on him and he broke out and ran like 60 yds for the TD.

[MDCox]

The website is telling me I already voted, but I did not. So, if I could have voted it would have been for Harold Green. Duce was good, but so full of himself I can't possibly vote for him.

[Cocktane-Man]

Where is the love for Brandon Bennett? Isn't he second all-time behind big George? I like Duce but I think Brandon did more in a gamecock jersey.

[mickeyrivers]

harold green, baby! it was a tough one btwn green and bennett. i'm not old enough to remember some of these names, so i really couldn't be fair to them unfortunately.

[Lil Jerry Seinfeld]

Behind George, I would put Bennett

[CockyHoskins]

Finally, Bennett is getting a little love. IMO, he was the best with the ball (other than Big George & probably Wadiak who I never saw)

[USCKEN]

Could stanley pritchett be in this also? Bennet and pritchett was a good duo!

[CockyHoskins]

Pritchett was good, but I don't think anyone can make a legitimate argument that he is the 2nd best RB we ever had.

[CockyHoskins]

Bennett hopes experience in NFL plays in his favor



Former Riverside High and University of South Carolina running back Brandon Bennett believes that youth is wasted on the young.

After entering the NFL in 1995, Bennett spent six seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played with Tampa Bay briefly last season before signing with the Carolina Panthers in October.

Now a free agent, Bennett, 32, is getting the senior citizen treatment, as teams audition their fresh talent.

"It's a young man's game," Bennett said. "They can get a bunch of rookies and hope that one of them pans out to do something that I do. And they come out so much cheaper."

"Age shouldn't have anything to do with it," Bennett's former Panthers teammate Stephen Davis, 31, said when asked if his age would keep him from returning from a knee injury.

"Thirty is what (the media) has set as the age," he said. "It can still be done. Age is nothing."

Base salary for an NFL rookie is $230,000. The floor raises with each year in the league. A player who has played seven to nine seasons has a base salary of over $600,000.

"Teams are going to see if they can get some productivity out of the younger guys before they start forking out money for the veteran guys," Bennett said. "It's kind of hard. Before, I always knew I was going to be at camp and with the same team. Now, there is no certainty about anything."

Bennett has faith in his agent that he will land a team. Bennett has been with the same agent not only his entire career, but his entire life -- older brother Braylon, an agent for Vortex Sports and Entertainment.

"We've been hearing some positive feedback from people inquiring about his overall health, conditioning, and everything," Braylon Bennett said. "It's also a right place-right time thing. With the salary restraints of him being a tenured veteran, it just takes a little more time for teams to come to grips with their roster and cap space."

Brandon said that having Braylon as an agent has been the best possible situation.

"You get the real scoop," Brandon said. "A lot of agents try to sugar coat everything, because they don't want to hurt the player or lose the player. Whereas, my brother will just tell it like it is. If I need to do something, he'll tell me I need to do it."

The no-nonsense approach has kept Bennett productive. He finished his USC career as one of three Gamecocks to lead the team in rushing all four years. Bennett had to muscle his way into the NFL as an undrafted free agent. In 82 NFL games, he has compiled 4,575 all-purpose yards with eight total touchdowns.

"He came into this league hard," Braylon said. "He didn't come in behind a high draft pick or a pushy rookie contract. He came in the hard way and had to earn every year that he's stayed in the league."

"I've been in the league going on 10 years. That speaks for itself," Brandon said. "It's productivity, longevity, and ability. I've started kickoff, kickoff return and punt return on every team that I was with. Just knowing that I can play on this level -- I've been there."

Although Brandon has received a good word from several teams during the waiting process, there is one word that he hates to hear -- "BUT ..."

"You have to deal with (teams saying), 'Well, Brandon Bennett, he's 32 years old. He's been productive, BUT,'" he said. "Before it was just who is the best player. If you could play, you played. "You run into a lot of mind games that can aggravate you about it. If we could just get out there and play ball, it'll be all good."

http://greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050804/SPORTS/508040312/1002/SPORTS

[morgan n' 7]

:football: Duce Staley was the best I saw in person at USC. Green and Bennett were good, but Staley had that special style, like Sharpe at receiver. You saw him run and you knew he was headed for greatness. I'd put Bennett after Staley, but I'm biased since we went to the same highschool.

[Lil Jerry Seinfeld]

Tom Price, Gamecock historian, wrote in his book "Tales from the Gamecock Roost": "Gamecocks are known for their courage in battle and willingness to fight to the death."

If that statement holds true, Ryan Brewer was destined to wear garnet and black.

Brewer, a native of Troy, Ohio, arrived at Carolina with a list of credentials that included being tabbed as Mr. Football for the state of Ohio. But his 5-foot-10-inch, 210-pound frame didn't impress the home state, nor did it impress his favorite school, Notre Dame.

Brewer didn't get a shot with the Fighting Irish; instead he got a chance to play with one of their legendary leaders.

"It was all about coach Holtz," Brewer said. "I was a big Notre Dame fan. When I heard he was coming here, I didn't know much about South Carolina living in Ohio. I decided to go somewhere where someone wants me."

Brewer's first season was less than sparkling, as USC failed to win a single contest in the infamous 21-loss stretch.

Then came 2000 - and the biggest turnaround in SEC history.

The Gamecocks got back on track while Brewer quietly helped USC along. The running game of Derek Watson and Andrew Pinnock dominated the ground, while Brian Scott and Jermale Kelly took hold of the air attack. Brewer had nice games of more than 50 yards on the ground and through the air but nothing for the "highlight reel."

Then Tennessee came calling.

With the game tied 7-7, quarterback Phil Petty hit Brewer for a 78-yard touchdown pass that would give USC the lead late in the third.

Despite the heroics of the 15th-longest passing play in USC history, the Gamecocks fell to the Vols and ended the season with a 7-4 record and trip to the Outback Bowl to face Ohio State.

Things looked bleak for the Gamecocks, as Watson was suspended from the game for team policy violations, leaving the running game without an experienced back.

Holtz had to implement a new running back alongside Pinnock's bruising power. Brewer stepped up for the job, not only to run the ball, but to prove to his home state they had missed an opportunity.

The rest might as well be legend in USC football lore.

Brewer took hold of the ground game, rushing for 106 yards and two scores, while catching three passes for 92 yards and another score, as USC cruised past the Buckeyes, 24-7.

"The game meant a lot to me playing Ohio State," Brewer said. "It also gave me a chance to play running back. I got a bunch of touches on the ball, and I could actually show what I could do. I figured I might as well take advantage of it. It was exciting being in that limelight for a little bit, against a team I knew I had to prove something to."
The man considered "undersized" by his home state scampered his way to 219 yards and Outback Bowl MVP honors.

Not only did he outplay the Buckeyes, but after being grabbed by the facemask in the fourth quarter, Brewer proceeded to flip a Buckeye player over his head after reaching the end zone.

Brewer shined once again in 2002, as he made an acrobatic snag from Georgia defensive back Bruce Thorton. Thorton had been beaten the year before in Athens, when Scott grabbed a 16-yard touchdown pass from Petty to upset the Bulldogs at home, 14-9.

This time around, Brewer latched on to a 23-yard pass from Corey Jenkins to pull Carolina within striking distance, 13-7. A late-game fumble ended a would-be comeback but left Brewer with 106 yards receiving.

"It seems like every year we give Georgia a run for their money, if not beat them," Brewer said. "He had great coverage on me. It was an out-and-up, Corey decided to throw it up. It was just a 'who-wanted-it-more.' It came down, and I just grabbed the ball. It was one of those surreal things that you don't realize it until it's done."

That game made him one of only three players in Gamecock history to have 100-yard receiving and rushing games.

Brewer left Carolina as the No. 8 receiver all-time, totaling 1,136 yards and five touchdowns on 107 receptions. He came close to tying the legendary Sterling Sharpe for consecutive games with a reception, finishing three shy of the record with 31.

"I just like the fact that you can put me anywhere on the field," Brewer said. "The fact that I can go out and help the team in any way possible is what I wanted to do."

Though an ankle injury slowed him during his senior campaign, Brewer led the Gamecocks in 2002 with 28 catches for 299 yards.

He also stood out on special teams, leading the punt-return category for his fourth-straight season.

Brewer earned Verizon Academic All-America honors and was named to the Hula Bowl in 2002 alongside fellow USC receiver James Adkisson.


The NFL didn't come knocking on draft day, but a free-agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens allowed Brewer a short professional career. The Ravens sent Brewer to NFL Europe in hopes he would be ready for the next season. But Brewer proved that no matter where he goes, he is a winner, as his team won the World Bowl.

"I was with the Baltimore Ravens for the preseason until the last cut," Brewer said. "Ended up going to Europe to the Rein Fire and got traded to Berlin for the last four games. And Berlin won the World Bowl."

With football behind him, Brewer has settled down in Columbia with his wife and started a business. But even with his passion for the game, Brewer says he wouldn't change a thing.

"I met my wife here. I have tons of friends now," Brewer said. "I have no regrets of what I did. I had a great time. That's pretty much all you can ask for."

http://www.dailygamecock.com/media/paper247/news/2005/08/18/Sports/Gamecock.Greats.Ryan.Brewer-967414.shtml

[spur-ier1]

I was also surprised to see duce winning although he was a great back and continues to have great success with the eagles. harold green was the best, but why was rogers not on the list?

[Gaichon]

Read the first post on this thread, Spur-1. This is for every back except #38, the obvious first choice. Kevin Long is my sentimental pick, but I'm going with Bennett.

[cockyPI1]

I liked watching Duce run, he was fast, strong and smart, and he could catch a pass.. plus he had a cool name, on that sounds good when 80,000+ are yelling... :clemcock: :kill: :puke:



the tigers suck

[kickenChicken]

How can we leav tory hambrick off the list

[CockyHoskins]

I was also surprised to see duce winning although he was a great back and continues to have great success with the eagles. harold green was the best, but why was rogers not on the list?

As D-Way said, Rogers is the automatic #1 considering he won the Heisman.

This is for the other spot in a 22-man All-Time Roster.

[bgallup]

Rob Debour and Ryan Brewer may not of had the talent as some of these guys but they had more Heart then all of them combined

[mamacock]

Whatever happened to Boo Williams? He started the oooooooooo's with Boooooooooo which led to the uuuuuuuu's with Duuuuuuuuuuce!

[morgan n' 7]

Whatever happened to Boo Williams? He started the oooooooooo's with Boooooooooo which led to the uuuuuuuu's with Duuuuuuuuuuce! He got into some legal trouble after his playing days. He was a good kick returner too.

[Sea Bass]

Bennett

[SangareeCrew]

I had to go with Dendey.....suprised to see he's not getting more love in this poll!!!

[Dr. Gonzo]

Brandon Bennett kicked a$$ and took names.:thumbsup:

[cht4usc]

No problem here Harold Green.

[Kung Pao]

Quinton Lewis

[IHateOrange]

Duce.... very nice guy I might add

[Scranton Tiger]

I voted for Harold Green. I know that Staley will probably win this poll, and he was and is an outstanding back for sure. I just think Green was just as good receiving as he was running.

[Dietz]

...Rogers. There have been a bunch. So many that I'm sure I forgot a few. Maybe some of you old timers can jog our memories. Anyway, I'll list my top 5 behind Rogers...
1.Duce Stahley
2.Brandon Bennett
3.Stanley Pritchett
4.Thomas Dendy
5.Cory Boyd

[willy]

Stanley Prichard by all means.

[USC67]

What about Harold Green?

Over 3000 yards
33TD's

[LollerCock]

why isn't harold green on there?
he was a big all-purpose back that played in the late 80s early 90s
here are some pro stats from wikipedia:
Career Rushing Stats


124 Games
1,151 Attempts
4,365 Yards
3.8 Avg.
13 Touchdowns Career Receiving Stats


213 Receptions
1,644 Yards
7.7 Avg.
4 Touchdownshe played for cincinatti, st. louis, and atlanta.

and from uscsports.com about his college career:


Green carried the football 702 times during his Carolina career for 3,005 yards, a four-year average of 4.3 yards per rush. His 3,005 yards ranks third on Carolina's all time career list behind Rogers, 1977-80, and Brandon Bennett, 1991-94.
Harold also caught 94 passes for 859 yards. The 94 receptions are 10th on Carolina's all time list. His best receiving day was seven receptions against Louisiana State in 1987 and his longest catch was 56 yards from quarterback Todd Ellis against Nebraska in 1986.
Green rushed for more than 100 yards 10 times during his Carolina career with his best being 172 yards against Wake Forest in 1987. He also had triple digit rushing games against Duke, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Virginia Tech, N. C. State, Miami (Fla.), Clemson and twice against Western Carolina. He topped the 1,000-yard mark in 1987 with 1,022 and ended his collegiate career with 989 yards in 1989. His rushing total as a freshman was 388 yards and he had 606 yards in 1988.

[SNEEZ]

I think Brian Maddox will be on that list in about 5 1/2 years or so

[CockyHoskins]

Pritchett only had 1000 yards rushing and 1000 yards receiving in his entire career. Of course, he was a FB... but so was Big George!

[CockEyes]

Earl Clary the Galloping Ghost from Gaffney High was a good one in the 40s

[willy]

My choices would be Steve Wadiak and George Rogers there are none better.

[scfan2001]

I've always been a fan of Brandon Bennett..that guy soared into the endzone.

[talon]

Bennett isn't even close to Harold Green. If Green had played in the same time period instead of George, he would have won the Heisman. If you never had the chance to see him you really missed someone special.Harold could run inside or outside. A great talent.

[WeHailTheeCarolina]

Voted for Duce, I think Derrick "Squeaky" Watson woulda been up there if he hadn't been... ("smokin' dat good") You should put Brewer on it too.. some younger fans might give him some votes.

[elgincock]

I agree Hagood should be on here. Let's not forget about Kevin Long and Clarence Williams. They both rushed for 1000 yards in the same season I think in 1975. Long was also our 1000 yard back in 1974 I think. Can't give Wadiak a fair shake because I never saw him. All that said I still would have voted for Harold although Brandon broke Larry's heart.
I believe that Wadiak would be the measuring stick if he had not been killed.My dad saw him play and Wadiak was on his way to being a legend.But,I also agree that Harold Green was an awesome player.I was at the game vs Nebraska in 86 or 87, and he caught a screen pass from Ellis, the run after catch was poetry in motion. :bow:

[Dietz]

tough choices all, i would put duce, bennett, and green behind george. straight up tie. the next three, k hagood, dendy and dingle. actually saw hagood in h.s. he played for wren and they (he) rolled all over pickens- also saw ira hillary do the same thing, he was a QB in h.s.

[mickeyrivers]

i went with harold green. i'm sorry to people like wadiak and wright. i never saw them play. green is one of the first rb's i really remember well and he was amazing.

[Stillwearingmyjoehat]

Where'e Warren Muir (ACC Conference Championship team) and Alex Hawkins (Just about single-handedly defeated Texas IN AUSTIN when Darrell Royal was in his prime)?

[BlackMagic84]

Harold Green gets my vote, with Duce Staley a close 3rd.

[rice~is~nice4]

I say Duce.

[APalmetto10]

Harold Green

[SC_Chevelle396]

The Loaded 38, George Rogers.

[Irmo Cock]

I have to go with Harold Green, then Kevin Long (had a good career with the Jets), Duce, and Clarence Williams (played for the Chargers).

[colt19114me]

Pritchett only had 1000 yards rushing and 1000 yards receiving in his entire career. Of course, he was a FB... but so was Big George!

George switched to TB his junior year..when the starting TB, Johnnie Wright, blew a knee...

[greenwoodcock]

I went with Duce. Brandon Bennett would be my second choice, he was a load! I think Harold Green would have been my 3rd. pick.

[stonecutter357]

That was a tough one but I had to go with Harold..:football:

[joshuabatterycreekte]

:clap: Duce Staley

[doccock]

I believe that Wadiak would be the measuring stick if he had not been killed.My dad saw him play and Wadiak was on his way to being a legend.

Wadiak is the measuring stick, but it was a different era and hard for the younger posters to compare with the huge numbers the modern game allows. They played both ways and special teams and spread it around to multiple backs more than happens now.

And just to let you know, his career was over when he was killed in the car wreck. It was after his senior year and before he was to play in the
NFL.




Originally Posted by cockyhoskins
Pritchett only had 1000 yards rushing and 1000 yards receiving in his entire career. Of course, he was a FB... but so was Big George!


George switched to TB his junior year..when the starting TB, Johnnie Wright, blew a knee...


George played in a running offense that always featured him no matter what position you wanted to call him. He was the feature back his whole career.
doc

[horseshoefootball]

i'd take bennet now, but i think Cory will take this spot after an amazing season this year, barring injury.

[CCC]

My vote goes to Duce

http://content.sweetim.com/sim/cpie/emoticons/000200A9.gif (http://www.sweetim.com/s.asp?im=gen&ref=10)

[Spurd&Fthrd]

My vote goes to Duce

http://content.sweetim.com/sim/cpie/emoticons/000200A9.gif (http://www.sweetim.com/s.asp?im=gen&ref=10)
Duce was very good but nobody, since I've been following USC, put the team on their back and carried them like George Rodgers.

[Flameout12]

That was a tough one but I had to go with Harold..:football:
Me too...but Duce, Thomas Dendy & Brandon Bennett were all very close. All good multi-purpose backs that were great playmakers.
If Duce had played 4 years, he'd probably be a solid #2.

[sccock4life]

I went with Duce. He was an awesome back in the two years he was there. I was watching the Georgia game from 96 the other day. There was one run where he broke who knows how many tackle to score a long td. Didn't he have 1000 yds rushing that year in 6 games? I know he was out half the season due to an injury, I think at Vanderbilt that year on the artificial turf. I remember he came back in the Clemson game and had a 100yds rushing. My favorite back was probably Thomas Dendy. I remember the high step against clemson in 84 down the sidelines. I think that was the year.

[Spurley]

Where are Kevin Long and Clarence Williams, our best duo ever? Kevin would be my top pick.

[willy]

Where are Kevin Long and Clarence Williams, our best duo ever? Kevin would be my top pick.



A very wise choice, they were both 1000 yd. gainers.

[dan.man.44]

warren Muir,60,s made the All American team. Im not sure if he was a RB or FB.

[pharmcock]

I would like to vote for everyone as the best. All of them are Gamecocks.
Remember the big first down that Thomas Dendy got against the taters in 84. I will never never never never forget this game.
My wife and two daughters were in the end zone with me to share all the excitement. Cannot wait until sept 1.
Go Gamecocks

[willy]

warren Muir,60,s made the All American team. Im not sure if he was a RB or FB.



Warren was a FB.

[RoosterCall]

where is kent haygood? you know you can't have thomas dendy without kent haygood. dendy was the better back. i just had to put a plug in for a former wren hurricane! duce was my pick, but harold and brandon were fun as hell to watch with the ball! just ask them georgia fans!! sept 1st can't get here soon enough!! wr poll will be very interesting!!!!



I remember watching Kent Haygood and could not wait to play for the Golden hurricanes. Alumni all the way...

[Spurley]

Warren was a FB.

He was not very big for a fullback. I'm a few years (7 or 8?) younger than Warren and played rugby against him a few times when he was with the Olde Grey. I thought he was a God before I saw that he was smaller than I was. Nevertheless, he was certainly one of the all time great Gamecocks at any position and probably deserves to win this pole as much as any other player mentioned if you go on the merits - his stats and awards.

[jaytda4th]

DeBoer and Brewer are going to be part of the last poll. You'll see.


umm.. yeah i don't think they were ever apart of any poll?