Crimson Red Sports

Alabama has had many great running backing and it is hard to only limit the list to five.

Who did you vote for and why?

Who should be on this list that is missing?

Open discussion is encourged.

I didn't have the privileged of seeing Musso and Nathan play.  I will go with Ingram, though a strong case could be made for Shaun.  I do think Ingram was more consistent and better all-around back than Alexander though.

To clarify, is this drawn on a player's lifetime acheivements, or solely his performance while at U of A?

Lifetime: Shaun Alexander
U of A: HTWMI
To be determined: BATR
Fullback: Johnny Davis
Fun to watch: Touchdown Tony
Before my time: Musso

What, no Kenneth Darby? I kid. HTWMI. Nuff said.

Excellant comments.  #+

I had forgot about Johnny Davis. He was a good one. I went to high school and was friends with Steve Whitman.

Musso was the best college back I have ever seen.

I think I showed my age in picking the five that I did. In your era what five would you put on a list?

I've seen them all play, but still don't know which to choose.  Musso did more with his potential than anyone.  He didn't even look like a back.  Decide later...

Being a Tide fan and "in the right" is timeless.

I guess my choice is obvious. I watched Johnny Musso run so hard he knocked his on breath out. I know Mark was great here and a HTW, but Musso beat Auburn every year I think. Please help me out here if he didn't.  RTR!

Musso was 1-2 against the barn. Freshman could not play in those days. In 69 we lost 49-26, in 70 we lost again 33-28. In 71 Coach Bryant put in the wishbone and we won big 31-7.

Thanks so much pmull. I have to work up a cred for ya. I couldn't remember but I knew he was a great rB. I know Frosh couldn't play they use ot Jr. Varsity games and that was so cool. They were great games to watch. RTR!

Most of us don't work up a cred, we just click the applaud button. What kind of cred of you giving?  :o

Johnny Musso gets my vote for Best All Time Running Back
Mark Ingram and Shaun Alexander would would be my top 2 and 3.

pmull, I don't know I thought applaud was an e-cred. See how sharp I am, I am not the sharpest tool in the shed so don't follow me. I guess it was one to many PLF's on my head. RTR!

I hesitated on this one for a while before picking Mark. Just the fact he is our first Heisman winner, plus I love the way he plays the game. An extremely close second was the Stallion. He may not have been the fastest or most talented back we have ever had, but that man just oozed grit and determination (and probably should have won the Heisman himself).

Hey Musso only had one reason he didn't win the Heisman, because he was from Alabama. He had played at OSU or ND or USC he would have been a 2-time winner. RTR!

I had such a crush on Johnny Musso. Every newspaper article, every picture I could find. All put into a book... Of course then we moved and it somehow disappeared. I would love to have that book though.
He was just such a hard worker - very worthy of the name "Italian Stallion" :)

I'm with Chech .. hard to pick just one


but from the hip ...
#37 ... the game at LSU he was awesome just to name one game
I was like .. WHO IS THIS GUY  ? he is awesome !
and I don't think he got the PT like he should have either

tough choice ... let me rest on it

XBAMA I like the way you said that. Let Me Rest On It. RTR!

Shaun turned out to be a great one for us, but his lack of playing time in his first couple years was due to he and Coach Stallings not quite seeing eye to eye on work ethic.

I have heard that Doc , just didn't know the details , thanks !
they had me always screaming "PUT IN #37 YA'LL !"
but I won't second guess Coach Stallings
it is what it is ...

check my memory ... SA's first year he didn't wear #37 ?
did he ?

He's listed in the rosters as #37 every year, starting in '95.

My recollection about his lack of playing time was his lack of blocking ability, not attitude.  Coach Stallings wanted complete football players, and SA was a RUNNING back.  But I don't know any insider info about it.

I think I'll have to vote for Musso.  He got more out of what talent he had.  He was just a medium-sized athlete.  I had a class with him (Algebra or Trig, forgot which), and sat next to him.  He was probably the best downfield blocker we ever had.

Like Chech I recall the lack of playing time was due to his blocking, in particular he had trouble picking up a blitzing LB. He worked through that and became a great running back for us. He was very unselfish when he bypassed the pro draft and came back for his senior year. I voted for Musso but Ingram and Alexander made it a tough choice.

there was one of our backs that switched numbers
I wasn't sure if it was SA or not ...
but I remember one of them switching (oldshimerzers)
may be a good triva question ?

thanks for all the input , good stuff !

I still haven't voted ... maybe tonight   :-\