Sac Fly: Herschel

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Herschel > Bo x 2

Dude was calling an athlete the Greatest Of All Time. This athlete rushed for 4575 yards in four years of college ball (a decent amount) and 3134 yards in the pros, before suffering a career-ending injury. Batted .250 in MLB, but struck out 35% of the time. GOAT? Hardly.

In college and pro, Bo Jackson played a total of eight years of football. He gained less than half as many yards as Herschel gained in his first 8 years of football. In truth, no football player has ever gained more yards in eight years than Herschel.

4575 Bo college (4 years)
3134 Bo pro (4 years)
7709 Bo total 8 years

07115 Herschel college (3 years)
08682 Herschel pro (1st 5 years)
15797 Herschel total first 8 years

If anyone says USFL stats shouldn't count, Herschel actually gained more yards in his first five NFL seasons than he did in three USFL seasons and his first two NFL seasons.

07115 Herschel college (3 years)
08962 Herschel NFL (first 5 years)
16077 Herschel college & NFL (first 8 years)

Someone mentioned Tony Dorsett, who did have a decent run. Set the NCAA four year rushing record. Then became a star with the Cowboys (until a certain UGA running back sent him packing).

06941 Dorsett college (4 years)
05913 Dorsett pro (first 4 years)
12854 Dorsett total first 8 years

Some say Bo was better because of his baseball feats. He did have many highlights: the leader homer in the MLB all star game, throwing out Harold Reynolds at the plate - from the fence, making spectacular catches in the outfield. But Bo was a career .250 hitter who only hit 30 home runs one time. Bo struck out 35% of the time, once leading the league in strikeouts. Mike Trout he wasn't.

Bo may not have even been Deion Sanders. Prime Time had a long career as the greatest cornerback in NFL history. He also played offense and was a feared punt and kick returner. In baseball he had a higher career batting average than Bo, and only struck out 16% of the time. Not too shabby.

Some say forget the stats, that Bo was better. He was amazing. But no. Both had power and speed. Both ran track. Only Herschel ran against Olympians. But Herschel was better. Better receiver as well. Bo was slowed by injuries in college and the pros. Don't think Bo would ever want to step in the MMA ring with Herschel - then or now.

Almost 40 years later one of Herschel's records (most yards through junior year) was finally broken - though Jonathan Taylor's bowl game stats were counted and Herschel's weren't. When you do the research, you find that Herschel was faster than Bo. I could go on. Heck, Todd Gurley was better in college than Bo. And in the pros.