Best dual sport (track/football) athlete of all-time

[Charles Howe]

For football/track (LJ), there was James McAlister:

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/ ... /index.htm

Didn't quite live up to SI's glowing profile, but . . .

WRT to Thorpe's football prowess, this is a fine article:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/w ... index.html

I patiently await the T & FN vault.

[Marlow]

JOE MONTANA was a 6'10" High Jumper which is OK

TAFNY!

[dj]

JOE MONTANA was a

6'10" High Jumper which is OK but his football status elevates his combo

Unless Montana competed in track at Notre Dame, he was no 6-10 high jumper. In fact, he didn't clear 6-6 or higher while at Ringgold High School in Donora, Pa.

[bijanc]

FB/T&F

Thorpe, J. Robinson, Hayes, Matson and M. Carter

[balzonia]

JONATHON OGDEN was a

65'+ SP, NCAA Champion and maybe the greatest Left Tackle of the last 25 years

HENRY ELLARD was a

55' triple jumper / many time all pro wide receiver for the Rams

JOE MONTANA was a

6'10" High Jumper which is OK but his football status elevates his combo

BRIAN ROBISON was a

big time HS and College thrower and plays for the Vikings. He may elevate his combo status in the coming years

[billthedog]

Mathias

Bob Mathias has been referred to but not as a candidate for the honor that this thread started with -- best combination track/football athlete. Why not? In 1951 he scored two touchdowns, including a 96-yard kickoff return, to help beat SC and take Stanford to the Rose Bowl. Not in the top five, to be sure, but surely as worthy of mention as many of those who have been mentioned,

[john george]

[quote="dukehjsteve"]I have to disagree with:

Thorpe being 1st. Talent pool was immeasurably smaller then. How can he possibly be above Hayes ?

Nehemiah's football career was not a success.

Hayes, Carter and Matson are very worthy however. I give them 1, 3, 2, with Thorpe 4.[/quote

People have to be judged during the time they competed. Thorpe was BY FAR the greatest all-around athlete that ever lived. He was even an excellent ice skater and archer. His vertical leap was exceptional, and there was no better running back and defensive back during his time. Of course track buffs know he won the dec and pent by large margins, and placed 4th and 7th in long jump & high jump in addition. John George

[parkerrclay]

Skeets vs OJ

Skeets was the #1 high hurdler ever, OJ was a top 10 running back ever

What did OJ accomplish a track runner besides a 4x100m wr? Did he win any titles? Skeets was not great but he did play 4 years in the NFL.

[tandfman]

He might have been able to make a better living as a hurdler.

[Dizzy]

I'll go with parkerrcaly's original Top 5...except substitute OJ for Nehemiah...c'mon, Skeets was NOT a football player.

RN, if you're out there please forgive my negativity...woulda been nice to see you in LA84, but hey...a guy's gotta make a living, no?

[tandfman]

And, according to jimthorpe.org, his bowling average was over 200!

[runforlife]

I give Thorpe full credit for being the clear better of the two in track and football.

He was also a national ballroom dancing champion.

[jhc68]

Not one of the top five, but Dennis Smith deserves to be part of the conversation.

[trackstar]

Re: Best dual sports (track/football) athletes of all time

Also, don't forget two long-jumpers who were star wide receivers: Lynn Swan and James Lofton.

Lofton apparently really loves the LJ. Back in his playing days, he told a football magazine that he fantasized about running with the ball to the 10-yard line, leaping over a tackler, and landing in the end zone — and thus becoming the world's first 30-foot long jumper.

(I'm thinking that football in his hand would have thrown off his form a bit. Not to mention the crazed safety trying to rip his head off.)

[Old Miler]

Best dual sports (track/football) athletes of all time

Note that Willie Gault has returned to track as a Master, and is a 100/200 m age group record holder.

Also, don't forget two long-jumpers who were star wide receivers: Lynn Swan and James Lofton.