I was asked not too long ago about my all time favorite Alabama players. There have been many greats, both in College and in the NFL. Currently, Alabama has 58 players in the NFL. Twelve from this years draft alone.
In a previous blog I had stated that getting to the NFL was a huge recruiting tool for Alabama. I believe the point is made. In no particular order, here are my Top 10 favorite players from the University of Alabama and why.
1. Johnny Musso. This is sort of a funny story. I was a young teen when Musso wore #22 for the Tide. His nick-name was the Italian Stallion and I was just figuring out that boy’s were cute and didn’t have cooties. So, Musso was my first “crush”. It’s embarrassing to admit now…. But it is true. Here is a video of Musso’s induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
2. John Hannah. Hannah’s dad had played as an offensive guard at the University of Alabama. The Hannah’s had made their home in the near-by town of Albertville, AL.- Big John (one of his nicknames) was also a lineman for Bama. John was a consensus All American in 1972. Coach Bear Bryant said that Hannah was the greatest lineman he had ever coached! Wow, what an honor. When I was 16, I started working at the local Woolworth in Albertville. Hog (another nickname) was already playing Pro-ball in New England for the Patriots. Hogs mom was a frequent shopper at our Woolworth. Everyone knew her and she was a delight and of course loved to talk about her family. In 1991 John was inducted into both the College and Pro Hall’s of Fame.
3. Cornelius Bennett. Nothing in the mid 1980’s struck fear in opposing offenses more that the name Cornelius Bennet He played for Bama while Pete was in the US Navy and we were stationed in Virginia and Idaho. So, I didn’t get to see him play very much, but I read everything I could find on him. His Senior year, he won the Lombardi Award. In his years at Bama he had 287 tackles, 21 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries. Bennett was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
4. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. What makes me remember and like this young man. His smile. It seems like every time I see him on TV or see a picture, he is smiling. Yes, he is a brute on the field, but he keeps smiling. Ha Ha was part of the team that won back to back National Championships in 2011 and 2012. He went into the NFL draft after his Junior year and was drafted by my favorite NFL team, the Green Bay, Packers. Ha Ha came back to Alabama and finished his degree in 2017. He continues to play for Green Bay.
5. Landon Collins. One of the most memorable things to happen with this young man was the day he announced his commitment to UA. Landon is from Louisiana and he had narrowed down his possible schools to LSU and UA. On live TV from Louisiana, Landon announced Alabama as his choice. His mother was so upset that he didn’t choose LSU she got up and walked out of the press conference! Collins wasn’t a flashy Safety, but he was one that could be counted on. He played for Bama 2012, 2013 and 2014. He was another that went to the draft his Jr. Season. He was drafted and continues to play for the New York, Giants. Still not flashy, but steady and firm. He is one of the best Safety's ever in my opinion.
6. Ozzie Newsome. WOW!!!!!!! I believe Ozzie was the greatest Tight End to ever play football. I’m not going to get into all his stats, which are amazing, I’ll say this, he had 2,070 receiving yards in his time with Bama. He was fun to watch on TV. He was also known for his exceptional blocking. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994. He was a first round draft pick for the Cleveland Browns. He set all sorts of NFL records during his playing time. He played for the Browns from 1978 to 1990. He became the General Manager for the Baltimore Ravens in 1996 and continued in that position until this year. He stepped down to Assistant General Manager. He was the first African American to hold the position of an NFL GM.
7. Joe Namath. Do I really have to tell anyone about Broadway Joe? Great quarterback and loved to show off. Lol- Coach Bryant loved Joe Namath and Namath loved Coach Bryant. They had a sort of father/son relationship. Between 1962 and 1964 Namath led the team to 29-4 with a National Championship in 1964. Namath got into trouble, went to jail and was suspended from the last two games, which would include the Sugar Bowl game. Namath didn’t ask Coach Bryant to change his mind, he only apologized for his actions. When Namath was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985, he broke down while talking about Coach Bryant (Coach had died in 1983). Namath played for both the AFL and NFL. Joe played professional football for 13 years and had a marked limp through most of them due to knee injuries. Broadway Joe went into acting after his football career ended. He has appeared on stage, film and TV.
8. Courtney Upshaw. Courtney began his College Football career as a Defensive End his Freshman season. He played all 13 games his Freshman Season. As a matter of fact he played in every game for his four years at Alabama. Courtney was another small town kid that did well. In high school he was class 5A Lineman of the Year in 2007. We began watching his career right from the start. He was fun to watch, always very aggressive but played clean. In the 2012 National Championship Game he was named the Defensive MVP. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens and has just signed with the New York Jets.
9. Van Tiffin. I am a big believer in Special Teams. Three points or a PAT has won or lost a lot of games. Van is another home grown Alabama boy that has made the most of his athletic prowess. He holds Alabama’s record for longest field goal with a 57 yarder. Van NEVER missed he was 135 of 135 attempts in the years 1983-1986. It was known in his time at Alabama, if the offense got the ball past the 50, they had at least a sure 3 points. Van only spent one year in the NFL. He came home to Alabama and joined his family in their business "Tiffin Motorhomes" in Muscle Shoals, AL about 3 miles from where we live. Here's a video of "the kick" that won the Iron Bowl.
10. Derrick Henry. The 2015 Heisman Trophy Winner, The Doak Walker Winner, The Maxwell Award Winner and the Walter Camp Award Winner, SEC Offensive Player of the Year and was a Unanimous All American. For the first two years that Derrick was at Bama so was another fantastic back named TJ Yeldon. They were dominating from the back field. Alabama’s ground and pound was definitely working. It was “running” like a well-oiled machine, or two. Derrick rushed for almost 3,600 yards in his three years with Alabama. Derrick left for the NFL Draft but did his studies and graduated in 2018. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans and has been a fantastic running back with over 1,400 yards total in two seasons. One of the things I loved the most about Derrick was watching him break tackles. He goes through tacklers. He got the nick-name “the Little Tractor” during his freshman year at Alabama.
That's it, my all time favorites and why I liked them. They may not have been the best, but they were fun to watch and for the most part, good guys.
Now, you all tell me, who are your favorites of your favorite team, what ever team that may be.
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