Poll Of The Decade's Best: Running Backs
by 5th Year Senior on Dec 14, 2009 2:50 PM EST
in Mountaineer Football
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PrintLord knows we are all tired of discussing the greatness of Bill Stewart. So, with only a few weeks remaining in the aughts, it is time to discuss one of the best decades in Mountaineer sports history.
Thus, over the next few weeks, The Smoking Musket will feature polls that will allow you to choose and discuss your favorite players, victories and teams of the last ten years.
We start our series of polls by asking: Who was the best WVU running back of the decade? Remember, after you vote, please explain your rationale in the comment section.
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I though about including Jason Gwaltney but I wanted the poll to be close. I think we all agree that he was the best in school history!
Leave no doubt tonight! Leave no doubt tonight! No doubt! They shouldn't of played the Old Gold'n Blue.
by 5th Year Senior on Dec 14, 2009 3:11 PM EST reply actions
Apperently its not going to be as close as you thought
Players who should be in the Hall of Fame
DIck Lebeau, Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel and Chris Carter
by WVPiratesfan on Dec 14, 2009 3:15 PM EST up reply actions
And no Jason Colson?
I would think his legendary performance in the 2005 Syracuse game alone would win it for him!
What about Cooper Rego?
Leave no doubt tonight! Leave no doubt tonight! No doubt! They shouldn't of played the Old Gold'n Blue.
by 5th Year Senior on Dec 14, 2009 3:39 PM EST up reply actions
Steve Slaton
I really wanted to vote for Avon. He is WVU’s all-time leading rusher and 3rd in rushing TD’s but Steve Slaton’s talent cannot be denied. Sorry Avon.
Leave no doubt tonight! Leave no doubt tonight! No doubt! They shouldn't of played the Old Gold'n Blue.
by 5th Year Senior on Dec 14, 2009 3:41 PM EST reply actions
I tried to find a way to not vote for Slaton
but I couldn’t justify it. His 2006 numbers are ridiculous.
DEVINE HAS MY VOTE
DEVINE HAS DONE IT WITH TWO INFERIOR OFFENSIVE LINES (THIS YEAR AND LAST) AND NO PAT WHITE, OWEN SCHMIDT OR STEVE SLATON.
I Went With Avon, Too...
…just because of the numbers, and his consistency.
Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.
And Where Is Amos?
I think I would have left KJ out, and put Amos in, 5th.
Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.
I Should Read More Closely...
…you said of the decade! Not all time. Sorry…
Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.
IDIOT!
Leave no doubt tonight! Leave no doubt tonight! No doubt! They shouldn't of played the Old Gold'n Blue.
by 5th Year Senior on Dec 15, 2009 9:38 AM EST up reply actions
Givin' the edge to Noel
This one’s really a toss-up between Slaton and Noel. To me, Noel seems to try and create more once he gets the ball (which is not often enough) which is both good and bad (50/50). Also, Noel is performing this well in a system where the running game is NOT the focal point of the offense, but defenses still prefer to key on him. Slaton had Pat to take some (you could argue a majority) of the defenses’ attention. A lot of games in 06 and 07 it seemed that the goal was to stop Pat and let the rest of the chips fall where they may (e.g. Slaton is not the priority). Noel doesn’t have that, honestly and without disrespect, who gameplans around Jarret Brown?? Lastly, the O-line Steve had helped him a little. Basically, I just switch them, let Noel be the back in 06 and 07, and let Slaton be the back that last two years and imagine whose production and influence is more changed??
Devine's TD numbers...
Would be a lot better had it not been for Slaton and Clarke. Devine would bust huge runs only to have Slaton and Clarke get the carries at the goal line. Look at the Maryland game his freshmen year. He rushed for almost 140 yards but scored 0 TD’s. Slaton had 3 TD’s, two of which were 1 yard runs, if my memory serves me correctly.
Leave no doubt tonight! Leave no doubt tonight! No doubt! They shouldn't of played the Old Gold'n Blue.
by 5th Year Senior on Dec 14, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions
I have and always will
love Quincy Wilson. There’s just something about a power back with speed that’s just poetry in motion.
I voted for Slaton....
but, had Zereoue come along a couple years later, he would have had my vote.
Poor Kay-Jay not getting any love for that 330-some yard game against ECU.
So tough
I wish I could split my vote. It would be Slaton and Wilson. Devine is great to watch, but his body of work is not done (we can hope). When it’s done, then it’s easier to compare him.
That all said, I went with Slaton, more because of what he and his backfield did together. I vote like a AP writer. Wilson and his play against Miami would get my vote for play of the decade.
Good Poll. Look forward to more.
by BurghMountaineer on Dec 14, 2009 4:47 PM EST reply actions
Avon Cobourne
is the best RB of the 2000’s. He is our school’s all-time leading rusher and perhaps one of the Top 5 “Most Beloved” Mountaineers ever. He has always shown professionalism in college and the pro’s (w/ the Alouettes) and handled the transition from Nehlen to Rodriguez seemlessly.
Steve Slaton was the best, from talent perspective, no doubt, but he’s not the Best Running Back of the 2000s. #1: he only attended WVU for 3 years (one less season of being a Mountaineer) and it could be argued that he progressively underperformed as his Mountaineer career progressed. His frosh year easily was most impressive w/ the Louisville and Georgia games being his gold standards.
Quincy Wilson would be the winner of the “Highlight Play of the Decade” but not best RB, and Noel Devine is well on his way w/ competing w/ Avon, but likely won’t stick around to do so.
Another note about Avon: I still remember the ECU game when we put up 500 rushing yards and the crowd chanting, “Avon, Avon, Avon” as loud as the stadium gets when it chants “Let’s Gooo, Mountaineers”.
Avon Cobourne : WVU, Jerome Bettis : Pittsburgh Steelers
As good of a player Avon was on the field, he was just a good of guy off of it, so I am certainly biased but still think he was the best RB of the 2000s, just like Zereoue was best RB of the 90’s.
Amazing
I read through this entire post without even realizing who posted it. When I read that it’s by Cbus, I thought to myself, “hmm, there’s got to be something in there I can vehemently disagree with,” but alas, there is not.
It’s refreshing to get back to more friendly discussions about the aspects of WVU we can all enjoy.
by Country Roads on Dec 14, 2009 7:38 PM EST up reply actions
Seriously, I Had The Same Feeling...
…something I wholeheartedly agree with CBus on?
Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.
I voted for Slaton
But I had to stop and think about Avon as well. He simply had a fantastic career and essentially carried us through the transition to Rod.
I wonder if Kay Jay would be higher on the list if he had been healthy (and maybe inspired?) his whole time here. When he was “on” he was ridiculous, primarily against VT in 2003 and ECU in 2004. His performance in the Gator Bowl that year was impressive too against a prett good FSU defense.
Avon Cobourne
As much fun as I had watching Slaton, and as much talent as he had (no one could hit a gap at the speed he did) I couldn’t help but think he was always coming up hurt in really big games. (Louisville 06, Gator 07, Fiesta 08)
Noel could have ranked higher on my list if he’d have gotten more touches. I know that’s not his fault, but it does color the results.
I love them all. They were all wonderful. But it begins and ends with slaton. Dude averaged 7 yards a carry in 06. He scored 55 Tds in 3 years. I mean seriously. No one does that. He never ever was caught from behind buy was strong enough to score on the goal line. His first lost fumble in his career was game 8 his sophomore year against Louisville. He didn’t have the most power or best jukes, but he was the fastest of these backs and his production proves he was the best.
by The 25314 on Dec 14, 2009 8:50 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I guess..
Kay-Jay and his mom read the blog.
Leave no doubt tonight! Leave no doubt tonight! No doubt! They shouldn't of played the Old Gold'n Blue.
by 5th Year Senior on Dec 15, 2009 9:00 AM EST up reply actions
Stat Boy...
The median average-yards-per-carry throughout history hovers arounds 3. Most BCS teams average around 4.5 to 5 YPC, and that includes sacks being factored in as lost running yardage in college. Assuming that the definitive statisitc for measuring running backs is average-yards-per-carry, here is how the above nominees (plus Amos, for fun…I know, he’s from the 90’s) figure:
Avon: 4.9
Slaton: 5.9
The Q: 5.5
Noel: 6.4
Kay-Jay: 5.8
Amos: 5.2
So, holy shit…I can see why you put Kay-Jay in there, but upon further review, its got to be between Noel and Superman…
Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.
And I Said I Went With Avon Because Of The Numbers...
I guess it pays to look at them first!
Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.
Don’t sell yourself short. YPC is only one, the very important stat. Don’t over look carries per game. Avon was a work horse and there is something to be said for that.
by The 25314 on Dec 15, 2009 1:10 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
And His Workload...
…no doubt had an effect on his YPC, which is still excellent, by the way. Just not as glamorous as the others on that list. Also, I think it would be fair to say that Avon didn’t have as many breakaway runs as Q, Slaton, or Devine…
…my gut response when I say the question though, was Avon. He was a favorite of mine.
Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.
I voted for Slaton.....
being the best, but Q was my favorite. Hometown WV boy!
by cabincreekzeke on Dec 15, 2009 10:30 AM EST reply actions
same here. Voted for Slaton because he is the most talented. We went from having a solid running game with KJ when he was healthy in 2004, to being nearly unstoppable in 2005. Slaton was half of that equation.
Quincy will always be my favorite RB, and if not for Owen he’d be my favorite player ever.
I vote for Avon
Avon was super-consistent, tough, and played on some so-so teams. Slaton is the easy pick, but he thrived when the spread was “new” and tough to defend, and benefitted from having PW with him. Slaton was/is injury and fumble prone. Avon was Mr. Reliable.
Quincy Wilson
Miami game…greatest run in Mountaineer history (even though we lost because of that damned Winslow)
by Oregon Mountaineer on Dec 15, 2009 9:19 PM EST reply actions
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