Best Cajun Athlete of the 1980's?

[Turbine]

At his peak, Hollis Conway was the 2nd best high jumper in the world. That is a phenomenal achievement.

Brian Mitchell was the greatest kick returner in NFL history. He is the only athlete I can think of, that we have had, about whom anything remotely like that can be said.

Brian was better than that.

When Brian Mitchell played his last game, he was the NFL's ALL-TIME All-Purpose Yardage-Leader.

Jerry Rice played another year to regain the title.

* See previous post about when some accomplishments occurred.

[CharlieK]

A portion of what some of these 1980's athletes are being given credit for occured in the 1990s

In which decade did they compete for the Cajuns?

[VObserver]

Hollis still holds the American Indoor record in high jump at 2.40 meters, a mark that has stood for 26 years.

He has held the NCAA indoor record of 2.37 meters for 30 years, and the NCAA outdoor record of 2.38 meters for 28 years.

His outdoor American Record was set in 1989, at the NCAA Championships. That record stood until 2007

He was also a near world class triple jumper, with a best of just over 53'.

No other athlete in UL history is anywhere close.

[Cajun90]

Hollis still holds the American Indoor record in high jump at 2.40 meters, a mark that has stood for 26 years.

He has held the NCAA indoor record of 2.37 meters for 30 years, and the NCAA outdoor record of 2.38 meters for 28 years.

His outdoor American Record was set in 1989, at the NCAA Championships. That record stood until 2007

He was also a near world class triple jumper, with a best of just over 53'.

No other athlete in UL history is anywhere close.

I was pitside taking photos of Hollis when all this was happening. Wish I still had some of those original negatives. I'd vote for Hollis but Mitchell and Perot are just millimeters behind.

[CharlieK]

Hollis still holds the American Indoor record in high jump at 2.40 meters, a mark that has stood for 26 years.

He has held the NCAA indoor record of 2.37 meters for 30 years, and the NCAA outdoor record of 2.38 meters for 28 years.

His outdoor American Record was set in 1989, at the NCAA Championships. That record stood until 2007

He was also a near world class triple jumper, with a best of just over 53'.

No other athlete in UL history is anywhere close.

He was definitely an impressive jumper. For a single athletic skill, explosive jumping, I'd rank him first as well.

Category was best athlete. Overall best athlete from UL in the 80s. Brian Mitchell. Stronger, faster, more coordinated, crunch time performer.... had it all.

[CharlieK]

Interesting idea. Say we have an expert (let's call him"boomer") devise a series of events to determine the best overall athlete. Sprinting, endurance, jumping, various skill tests, strength tests, pressure performance tests, etc. Who wins that? My vote is still Mitchell.

[cajun1300]

Interesting idea. Say we have an expert (let's call him"boomer") devise a series of events to determine the best overall athlete. Sprinting, endurance, jumping, various skill tests, strength tests, pressure performance tests, etc. Who wins that? My vote is still Mitchell.

Given those parameters - I'd put my money on Clarence Verdin. He was a lot better athlete than most people realize.

[Just1More]

Given those parameters - I'd put my money on Clarence Verdin. He was a lot better athlete than most people realize.

Damn good addition to the discussion.

Just like CharlieK is suggesting... how are we defining "greatest athlete". Some of the athletes in the 80s might surprise us with their picks. There may have been an "athlete" or two that didn't have the career collegiate or professional accolades of others, that they might select. I've seen gymnasts and basketball players that I'd put ahead of others in pure athleticism. But they didn't, in the public perception, stand out. But they are more "athletic". Questions without qualifiers tend toward popularity contests.

[CharlieK]

Damn good addition to the discussion.

Just like CharlieK is suggesting... how are we defining "greatest athlete". Some of the athletes in the 80s might surprise us with their picks. There may have been an "athlete" or two that didn't have the career collegiate or professional accolades of others, that they might select. I've seen gymnasts and basketball players that I'd put ahead of others in pure athleticism. But they didn't, in the public perception, stand out. But they are more "athletic". Questions without qualifiers tend toward popularity contests.

Granted there may have been (probably was?) some under the radar great athlete that would get overlooked, but given the generally accepted difficulty of playing the QB position well, his obvious natural athletic gifts, and superhuman strength, seeming indestructability, etc....I would still put my cash on Mitchell over the field.

[ULGrad@HOU]

I would have to say it's Brian Mitchell. He had more skills as an athlete, not just running and jumping, and raised the level of an entire team. This is like picking the best flavor of ice cream, no wrong answer.