Is running back McGuire UL's greatest offensive player?

[CharlieK]

No excuses, just don't care that you are ensuating that McGuire isn't tough. What's harder? to play healthy or play hurt? There is never anyway to accurately compare different eras, coaches, systems etc. You Gabe no way of knowing how they would perform if they swapped places. They are both incredible athletes, both tough and play different positions. It's funny though that the new guy is never as good as the guy from back in the day...never in any discussion no matter who is being discussed or discussing it.

Sometimes people do credit older players too much. Not in this case. UL has played football for 100 years. Mitchell had 80 years of competitors before him. Nobody is on here saying Roy Henry is the greatest just cause he was great before Mitchell. They are saying Mitchell was the greatest because he was a damn super hero on the football field. One day, god willing, we will have a better player. But it ain't happened yet.

[VObserver]

---------juxtaposition the 2 and I don't know the faster-----McGuire is more elusive and Mitchell had more power in his running----Mitchell threw passes and McGuire is as good of a receiver as I have ever seen at UL!!!

Let's not get carried away, Boomer. McGuire is a good receiver, but he ain't no Brandon Stokley.

[Turbine]

Sometimes people do credit older players too much. Not in this case. UL has played football for 100 years. Mitchell had 80 years of competitors before him. Nobody is on here saying Roy Henry is the greatest just cause he was great before Mitchell. They are saying Mitchell was the greatest because he was a damn super hero on the football field. One day, god willing, we will have a better player. But it ain't happened yet.

Pop Warner said Chris Cagle was "best backfield player he has seen on either side of the continent."

[CharlieK]

Pop Warner said Chris Cagle was "best backfield player he has seen on either side of the continent."

You old guys and your ways....

[Just1More]

honestly, read the sequence of post again and see what I was saying. Or anywhere that I said anyone was better than anyone. I wasn't the one who brought up staying healthy... the person that did has hundreds of post about HUD using Eli wrong but now he doesn't remember that.

I intentially put down the health/injury aspect. I'm arguing your insinuation that people that have seen both athletes play, as adult fans in both cases, are biased toward the past. I've seen that happen numerous times. It happens about as often as younger fans desire to exaggerate the here and now. There is one distinction. Those that have seen both athletes, as adult fans, are uniquely qualified to make comparisons. Brian Mitchell is the chairman of the board for UL football... and that is very unlikely to ever change. I'm open to see it happen... but I highly doubt it will happen. Brian is one of, if not the greatest, all-purpose NFLers. That comes from the NFL... not Ragin Pagin.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Let's look at the title of this thread. Best offense player of all time. Mitchell was that because he did two tasks, was in on virtually every offensive play. Never saw him looking at coach tapping his pads. He was the first player in NCAA history to run for three thousand and pass for four thousand.

Toughest player ever. Sprained his ankle va TooLame but still beat them. Never played SBC teams like GaSt, N Texas, USA. yea he had some 1AA games. But in there still had BAMA,and multiple P5 teams a season. Lots of elite G5 teams of the time. USM lead by Farbe. Yea, he won that in Hattiesburg, Rice SWC,ECU.

What has Eli done since Harris left? Very good to OK, I'd say. Yes we get back to durability.

Eli backers, don't think I'm trashing him, or Fenroy as runner ups. How could Mitchell be the GOAT if they were not great.

[Hark Mudspeth]

I intentially put down the health/injury aspect. I'm arguing your insinuation that people that have seen both athletes play, as adult fans in both cases, are biased toward the past. I've seen that happen numerous times. It happens about as often as younger fans desire to exaggerate the here and now. There is one distinction. Those that have seen both athletes, as adult fans, are uniquely qualified to make comparisons. Brian Mitchell is the chairman of the board for UL football... and that is very unlikely to ever change. I'm open to see it happen... but I highly doubt it will happen. Brian is one of, if not the greatest, all-purpose NFLers. That comes from the NFL... not Ragin Pagin.

I know Brian is, he definitely had the most success but I think Eli has similar ability to have done similar things, they weren't in the same situation that's all I'm saying. Another coach in another system could have done similar things with Eli, just like A different coach in a different system could have used Brian wrong and he would have had less impact but doesn't take away from the talent he was. I credit Eli for playing hurt a lot...to me that takes a special kinda guy that has the mindset to be out there for his team no
Matter what, they don't make many like that anymore...especially today.

[Just1More]

I know Brian is, he definitely had the most success but I think Eli has similar ability to have done similar things, they weren't in the same situation that's all I'm saying. Another coach in another system could have done similar things with Eli, just like A different coach in a different system could have used Brian wrong and he would have had less impact but doesn't take away from the talent he was. I credit Eli for playing hurt a lot...to me that takes a special kinda guy that has the mindset to be out there for his team no
Matter what, they don't make many like that anymore...especially today.

It's great to place Eli up there, not just because of the numbers, with the best in UL history. But no one comes close in both the actual success, or the theoretical success... to Brian Mitchell. For a reporter or a coach to try to say otherwise... is pure foolishness. It's setting up that offensive player for a stiff second place ribbon... at best. Of course, time will try its best to diminish Brian. But as long as engaged, lucid fans are still around... that saw him in person... and his challengers... reality will quickly come to the forefront.

And make no mistake... coming in second to Brian Mitchell is a monsterously lofty ambition. But no coach or reporter should be talking "greatest UL offensive player ever" if they did not personally watch Brian Mitchell. They come very close to making fools of themselves. And with both parties in question trying to keep their own legacy at UL from becoming tarnished... they should ask more questions of others than making bold public statements.

[ULGrad@HOU]

B. Mitchell by far. Eli is an excellent player, although I was expecting better performances in his last 2 years here. The coaching failure has a lot to do with it and lack of a productive QB hasn't helped along with a weak OL. Too many issues for Eli to overcome and shine.

[Boomer]

Let's not get carried away, Boomer. McGuire is a good receiver, but he ain't no Brandon Stokley.

---I think he could be better---MCG is bigger and stronger and faster---he has better elevation---he cuts better---should block better because of his size---has no fear like Stoke ---hands are as good---would have better yardage after catch---could run reverses better and throws better!!!

[VObserver]

---I think he could be better---MCG is bigger and stronger and faster---he has better elevation---he cuts better---should block better because of his size---has no fear like Stoke ---hands are as good---would have better yardage after catch---could run reverses better and throws better!!!

Boomer, you DO know that Brandon ran a certified 4.35 and was the fastest player on every NFL team he played for, don't You? Eli's body of work is nowhere near large enough to say his hands are as good as the guy Peyton Manning called the best slot receiver in the NFL. And McGuire is NOT faster than Stokely.

[Just1More]

Boomer, you DO know that Brandon ran a certified 4.35 and was the fastest player on every NFL team he played for, don't You? Eli's body of work is nowhere near large enough to say his hands are as good as the guy Peyton Manning called the best slot receiver in the NFL. And McGuire is NOT faster than Stokely.

I can almost give Hud a pass for talking up his best NFL prospect... especially being that Eli didn't enter the draft and gave Hud another year. As for Brandon, people need to realize who he competed against (for the WR slot position) over his career. The NFL didn't give a rats ___ that his dad was the coach here. Brandon was a tremendous slot receiver. I had a guy at work laugh at me right before the Seahawks played the Saints. He clowned with me for being a Cajuns homer. Then he watched the game. Then he read what both Manning and Hasselbeck said (greatest slot receiver ever). Brandon fought massive injury in the NFL. No one comes back from shredding their Achilles' tendon and then gets back in and wins their job back. The dude is gifted. I hope and pray Eli is an NFL player that has as many say as much about him. But until that day comes, people need to temper their comments. But again... Hud probably gets a pass. Eli has taken bullets for Hud. Hud should jump on a grenade for Eli.