You have 250 pounds centers and 250 pounds guards. I graduated in 1984 and was 220 pounds. I wasn't an offensive lineman.
You have 250 pounds centers and 250 pounds guards. I graduated in 1984 and was 220 pounds. I wasn't an offensive lineman.
And lineman certainly weren't 6'5" or 6'6" (or more) like so many are now.
If my memory is correct, Herschel was bigger than a couple of his offensive lineman.
Stan Black in the early '70's wasn't very big, but he'd check your oil for you.
Yeah, players were smaller in some areas but in others they were still some big dudes. Johnnie Cooks, Billy Jackson, Tyrone Keys, Glen Collins could have played in an era as could many others Mardy McDole, etc.
The 90s though brought some meat with JWS teams. He had some athletes big time.
Stan was my cousin, our mother's were sisters. I didn't know him that well but it's still nice to see others still remembering him.
Thanks
Kent Hull in his first game was right at 200 lbs...
remember it was mid-80s before a OLineman could use his hands . That to me was 1 main reason for bigger linemen. Back then you actually had to block some body-not hold them.
I saw guys from the 91-92 team often back in the day. Anyway, a few were tall but not many. But all linemen but thick.
Btw, I saw Phil Fulmer in Stuttgart. He is about 6ft but about 6ft Wide and has hands like catchers mits. Not tall but a Big dude.
I think the strength and conditioning has progressed to the point where they can almost make super-athletes out of giant people. Not all necessarily. But with training you can definitely become bigger, faster, stronger and more athletic. Then it's about having the God given measurables. I think football at some positions is become more and more about length at some positions like wide receiver and also about being big enough to take punishment while at the same time being athletic to perform at an elite level.
Knew Matt Edwards who played guard in 79/80 and would be a LB size today.
All those linemen had to be able to run also. That is one reason they were not huge. They had to be able to pull and run down the field in Bullard's offense.
Fred Collins was bigger than Bill Bell. Fred and Bill are still the same size today.