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Which SEC team has the best crop of all-time top athletes?

Posted on 4/13/14 at 6:41 pm
Posted by tylerdurden24
Member since Sep 2009
46734 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 6:41 pm
Criteria:
- Pick the Top 4 Male and Female athletes (Total of 8) from your respective school and list their accomplishments (both college and pro can be accepted).
-There can only be 1 representative per sport, per gender (so, no more than 1 football player, 1 men's basketball player, etc.)
- If it's close for you, you can toss out 1 Honorable mention for each gender.

UGA

Men
1 Herschel Walker (Football) - 1982 Heisman Trophy Winner, 3x All American, 3 SEC titles, 1 National Title, 3 National Title appearances
2 Gordon Beckham (Baseball) - 2008 Golden Spike Runner-up, NCAA POTY Runner-up, 2008 SECPOTY, CWS Runner-up, Multi UGA baseball record holder (including HRs in a season and in a career), 8th overall in 2008 MLB Draft, Starts for Chicago White Sox
3 Dominique Wilkins (Basketball) - The end-all, be-all of UGA basketball, 9x NBA All Star, NBA Hall of Famer, considered to be one of the greatest dunkers in basketball history)
4 Bubba Watson (Golf) - 2001 SEC Champion, 2x Masters Champion
Honorable Mention: John Isner (Tennis)

Women
1 Teresa Edwards (Basketball) - 2x All American, 4x US Olympian
2 Corrine Wright (Gymnastics) - 2x US National Team, 2x National Champion, 8x All American, 2x All SEC
3 Allison Schmitt (Swimming) - 10 individual national titles, helped UGA win the 2013 national team title, 3-time gold Olympic medalist, as well as 1 silver medal, and 2 bronze medals.
(submitted by PNW)
4 Angela Lettiere (Tennis) - Singles National Champion, 3x ITA Grand Slam Finals, 1994 National Player of the Year and SEC Player of the Year
Honorable Mention: Courtney Shealy (Swimming)

--------------------------------------------------

Auburn

Men
1 Bo Jackson (Football) greatest athlete in history
2 Frank Thomas (Baseball) trumps Gordan Beckham x200
3 Charles Barkley (Basketball) 10x all star, HOF'er, was good at shite other than dunking, way better than Wilkins
4 Rowdy Gaines (Swimming) - 5 NCAA championships, at one time held 11 WR's, 3 time gold medalist even though the Olympics in his prime (1980 Moscow) were boycotted
Honorable Mention: Cesar Cielo (Swimming)

Women
1 Kirsty Coventry: 2 golds, 4 silvers, 1 bronze in 2 Olympics
2 Ruthie Bolten (Basketball) led the USA to gold medals in 1996 and 2000 olympics, WNBA HOF'er

--------------------------------------------------

UF

Men
1 Emmitt Smith (football) - this is probably the hardest, but he is the NFL's all time leading rusher, an NFL MVP and hall of famer with 3 Super Bowl Rings
2 Ryan Lochte (swimmer) - 4 Golds, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze medals in 2008 and 2012 Olympics; 2 time NCAA swimmer of the year; 7 time NCAA champion; 7 time SEC champion; 24 time All American
3 Brad Wilkerson (Baseball) - 3 time 1st Team All American, led UF to 2 CWS; became first player in NCAA history to hit 20 home runs, steal 20 bases, and win 10 games as a pitcher in a single season; UF leader in batting average, slugging percentage, walks and on base percentage; during MLB career, hit for the cycle 2 times

Women
1 Dara Torres (swimmer) - 12 Olympic medals [4 Gold, 4 Silver, 4 Bronze]; 9 SEC championships, 3 NCAA championships and 28 All American honors
2 Abby Wambach (soccer) - highest all time goal scorer in US team history and holds the international record for goals for both men and women; 2 time Olympic gold medalist; led UF to first women's soccer title

--------------------------------------------------

LSU

Men
1 Billy Cannon (Football) - #1 Overall Draft Pick (1960), Heisman Trophy Winner, 1959 National Champion
2 Shaquille O'Neil (Basketball) - #1 Overall Draft Pick (1992), 4× NBA champion (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006), 3× NBA Finals MVP (2000–2002), NBA Most Valuable Player (2000), 15× NBA All-Star (1993–1998, 2000–2007, 2009), 3× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2000, 2004, 2009), 8× All-NBA First Team (1998, 2000–2006), 2× All-NBA Second Team (1995, 1999), 4× All-NBA Third Team (1994, 1996–1997, 2009), 3× All-Defensive Second Team (2000–2001, 2003), NBA Rookie of the Year (1993), NBA All-Rookie First Team (1993), 2× NBA scoring champion (1995, 2000), No. 34 retired by Los Angeles Lakers, FIBA World Championship MVP (1994), USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (1994), College national player of the year (1992), 2× Consensus first team All-American (1991–1992), 2× SEC Player of the Year (1991–1992), McDonald's All-American MVP (1989)
3 Ben McDonald (Baseball) - #1 Overall Draft Pick (1989), 1989 Golden Spikes Award, 2x All-American, 1988 Gold Olympic Games
4 David Toms (Golf) - 1 PGA Championship (2001), Payne Stewart Award (2011), 2x Nike Tour Wins, Masters Tournament (T6, 1998), U.S. Open (T4, 2012), The Open Championship (T4, 2000)
Honorable Mention: "Pistol" Pete Maravich (Basketball)

Women
1 Lolo Jones (Track) - 3x Gold 60 m hurdle (USA), 1 Silver 100 m hurdle (USA)
2 Seimone Augustus (Womens Basketball) - #1 Overall WNBA Draft Pick (2006), 2x Olympic gold (2008, 2012), Bronze, World Championship (2006), SEC Player of the Year (2005, 2006), Wade Trophy (2005, 2006), Naismith Award (2005, 2006), Wooden Award (2005, 2006), WNBA All-Rookie Team (2006), WNBA Rookie of the Year (2006), First Team All-WNBA (2012), 4× Second Team All-WNBA (2006, 2007, 2011, 2013), 4× WNBA All-Star (2006, 2007, 2011, 2013), 2× WNBA Champion (2011, 2013), WNBA Finals MVP (2011), EuroCup Champion (2008-09), EuroCup MVP (2008-09)
3 Britni Sneed (Softball) - Finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, NFCA First-Team All-American, Career strikeout record of 1,370 (Ranked second in NCAA history), SEC Pitcher of the Year, SEC Tournament MVP, First-Team All-SEC

--------------------------------------------------

Arkansas

MEN
1 Lance Alworth (Football): 3 time Academic All American; Consensus All American; 7x AFL All Star; 1963 AFL Player of the year; Holds pro football record with 200 WR yards in 5 games in a season; #19 retired with San Diego Charger; Pro Football Hall of Fame
2 Corliss Williamson (Basketball): 2x SEC Player of the Year; 2x All American; NCAA National Champion and NBA World Champion; NBA 6th man of year 2002; NCAA Final Four MVP
3 Cliff Lee (Baseball): 4x All Star; 2008 Cy Young winner; AL ERA leader 2008
4 John Daly (Golf): 1991 PGA Rookie of the Year; 1995 British Open Champion; 1991 PGA Champion; 19 professional tourney wins
Honorable Mention: Tom Pagnozzi (Baseball) - 3x Gold Glove winner; 1992 All Star

WOMEN
1 Veronica Campbell-Brown (Track) 2007-2009 Worlds Fastest Woman; 7 Olympic Medals; 3x Gold Winner; 25 Gold Medals won in Olympics/World Championships;
2 Stacy Lewis (Golf): #2 Player in World; 8 LPGA Tour wins; 2013 British Open Champion; 2011 Kraft Nabisco Champion; 2012 LPGA Player of Year

--------------------------------------------------

Alabama

Men
1. Derrick Thomas. (Football) Pro football hall of famer. Single season and career collegiate sack record. Single game NFL sack record
2. Khirani James (track) 2012 Olympic 400m gold medalist.
3. Dave Magadan (baseball) career .288 hitter in the majors. 2x World Series champ. 1983 golden spikes award winner with a .525 batting average. Collegiate career hit .439, an sec record.
4. Robert Horry (basketball) 7x NBA champion. 11th overall pick in the NBA draft. Holds the record for 3's made in the nba finals.
This post was edited on 4/14/14 at 10:13 am
Posted by PNW
Northern Rockies
Member since Mar 2014
6193 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 6:46 pm to
What about Allison Schmitt? She has 10 individual national titles, helped UGA win the 2013 national team title, 3-time gold Olympic medalist, as well as 1 silver medal, and 2 bronze medals.
This post was edited on 4/13/14 at 6:50 pm
Posted by theGarnetWay
Washington, D.C.
Member since Mar 2010
25922 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 6:46 pm to
quote:


- Bubba Watson (Golf) - 2001 SEC Champion, 2x Masters Champion


This amuses me. 'Bama doesn't win in the SEC in football but wins the national title, same goes for UGA in Equestrian this year, now Bubba has won more Master's than SEC titles.

As Spurrier said "It's harder to win the SEC than it is the national title" Looks like that holds true for a few sports.
Posted by beaver
The 755 Club
Member since Sep 2009
46861 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 6:50 pm to
Men:

Bo Jackson: greatest athlete in history

Frank Thomas: trumps Gordan Beckham x200

Charles Barkley: 10x all star, HOF'er, was good at shite other than dunking, way better than Wilkins

Cesar Cielo: current WR holder for 100m and 50m freestyle aka the fastest swimmer in the world, Olympic gold medalist

EDIT: or Rowdy Gaines - 5 NCAA championships, at one time held 11 WR's, 3 time gold medalist even though the Olympics in his prime (1980 Moscow) were boycotted

Women:

Kirsty Coventry: 2 golds, 4 silvers, 1 bronze in 2 Olympics

Ruthie Bolten: led the USA to gold medals in 1996 and 2000 olympics, WNBA HOF'er

I give up from here on out anyone else can finish I just dont give a frick about womens athletics
This post was edited on 4/13/14 at 7:05 pm
Posted by WG_Dawg
Hoover
Member since Jun 2004
86624 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 6:51 pm to
It wouldn't be Courtney kupets for gymnastics?
Posted by No
Westside
Member since Feb 2014
395 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 6:52 pm to
You have too much fricking time on your hands
Posted by Phat Phil
Krispy Kreme
Member since May 2010
7375 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 6:53 pm to
Bama has Trent Richardson and Mark Ingram excelling in the NFL.
Posted by Weagle25
THE Football State.
Member since Oct 2011
46277 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 7:17 pm to
If you want to know the true answer to this:
quote:

Which SEC team has the best crop of all-time top athletes?

You have to take out your criteria.
Posted by Tiger n Miami AU83
Miami
Member since Oct 2007
45656 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 7:24 pm to
It this is a contest, AU wins and it isn't close.

At least in the men's department.
Posted by Hawgeye
tFlagship Brothel
Member since Jun 2009
31106 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 7:28 pm to
Arkansas

MEN

Lance Alworth: 3 time Academic All American; Consensus All American; 7x AFL All Star; 1963 AFL Player of the year; Holds pro football record with 200 WR yards in 5 games in a season; #19 retired with San Diego Charger; Pro Football Hall of Fame

Corliss Williamson: 2x SEC Player of the Year; 2x All American; NCAA National Champion and NBA World Champion; NBA 6th man of year 2002; NCAA Final Four MVP

(Tie)Cliff Lee: 4x All Star; 2008 Cy Young winner; AL ERA leader 2008

(Tie)Tom Pagnozzi: 3x Gold Glove winner; 1992 All Star

John Daly: 1991 PGA Rookie of the Year; 1995 British Open Champion; 1991 PGA Champion; 19 professional tourney wins

Mike Conley; 1992 Gold Medalist; 1984 Silver Medalist; 3x World Champion; 16 NCAA event titles; Member of National Track Hall of Fame

WOMEN

Veronica Campbell-Brown: 2007-2009 Worlds Fastest Woman; 7 Olympic Medals; 3x Gold Winner; 25 Gold Medals won in Olympics/World Championships;

Stacy Lewis: #2 Player in World; 8 LPGA Tour wins; 2013 British Open Champion; 2011 Kraft Nabisco Champion; 2012 LPGA Player of Year;
Posted by GeorgiaFan
Taco bell, Guatemala
Member since Jan 2014
136 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 8:11 pm to
quote:

Which SEC team has the best crop of all-time top athletes?

quote:

Bubba Watson (Golf)




This post was edited on 4/13/14 at 8:12 pm
Posted by Cmlsu5618
Destin, FL
Member since Sep 2010
3763 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 8:49 pm to
LSU: Pete Maravich
Posted by NorthEndZone
Member since Dec 2008
11600 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 9:24 pm to
quote:

LSU

Men
1 Billy Cannon (Football) - #1 Overall Draft Pick (1960), Heisman Trophy Winner, 1959 National Champion

2 Shaquille O'Neil (Basketball) - #1 Overall Draft Pick (1992), 4× NBA champion (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006), 3× NBA Finals MVP (2000–2002), NBA Most Valuable Player (2000), 15× NBA All-Star (1993–1998, 2000–2007, 2009), 3× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2000, 2004, 2009), 8× All-NBA First Team (1998, 2000–2006), 2× All-NBA Second Team (1995, 1999), 4× All-NBA Third Team (1994, 1996–1997, 2009), 3× All-Defensive Second Team (2000–2001, 2003), NBA Rookie of the Year (1993), NBA All-Rookie First Team (1993), 2× NBA scoring champion (1995, 2000), No. 34 retired by Los Angeles Lakers, FIBA World Championship MVP (1994), USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (1994), College national player of the year (1992), 2× Consensus first team All-American (1991–1992), 2× SEC Player of the Year (1991–1992), McDonald's All-American MVP (1989)
3 Ben McDonald (Baseball) - #1 Overall Draft Pick (1989), 1989 Golden Spikes Award, 2x All-American, 1988 Gold Olympic Games
4 David Toms (Golf) - 1 PGA Championship (2001), Payne Stewart Award (2011), 2x Nike Tour Wins, Masters Tournament (T6, 1998), U.S. Open (T4, 2012), The Open Championship (T4, 2000)

Women
1 Lolo Jones (Track) - 3x Gold 60 m hurdle (USA), 1 Silver 100 m hurdle (USA)


Add these to the LSU women's list:

Seimone Augustus (basketball)

Awards and honors
SEC Player of the Year (2005, 2006)
Wade Trophy (2005, 2006)
Naismith Award (2005, 2006)
Wooden Award (2005, 2006)
WNBA All-Rookie Team (2006)
WNBA Rookie of the Year (2006)
First Team All-WNBA (2012)
4× Second Team All-WNBA (2006, 2007, 2011, 2013)
4× WNBA All-Star (2006, 2007, 2011, 2013)
2× WNBA Champion (2011, 2013)
WNBA Finals MVP (2011)
EuroCup Champion (2008-09)
EuroCup MVP (2008-09

Britni Sneed (softball)

She holds SEC career records for wins, ERA, opponents' batting average (.147), shutouts, strikeouts and strikeouts per seven innings (9.82).

Her career strikeout total of 1,370 ranks second in NCAA history.
Posted by UFownstSECsince1950
Member since Dec 2009
32624 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 9:27 pm to
quote:

1 Lolo Jones (Track) - 3x Gold 60 m hurdle (USA), 1 Silver 100 m hurdle (USA)
Posted by wadewilson
Member since Sep 2009
36789 posts
Posted on 4/14/14 at 1:12 am to
This is a well thought-out, researched thread.


I expect you'll get no recognition here, but good work.
Posted by cas4t
Member since Jan 2010
70989 posts
Posted on 4/14/14 at 7:52 am to
LSU has Seimone Augusta in women's sports

pretty sure I spelled her name wrong, but whatever it's women's bball
This post was edited on 4/14/14 at 7:56 am
Posted by OceanMan
Member since Mar 2010
20086 posts
Posted on 4/14/14 at 7:56 am to
Lol at shaqs resume.
Posted by Maximus
Member since Feb 2004
81266 posts
Posted on 4/14/14 at 10:33 am to
Jimmy Taylor >>>> Billy Cannon by a mile.


NCAA

AP / UPI First Team All-SEC (1957)
FWAA First Team All-American (1957)
Senior Bowl MVP (1958)
NFL

5× Pro Bowl selection (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964)
AP First-Team All-Pro (1962)
2× AP Second-Team All-Pro (1960, 1963)
4× NFL champion (1961, 1962, 1965, 1966)
Super Bowl champion (I)
1962 NFL MVP (AP, NEA)
NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
New Orleans Saints #31 retired
Packers Hall of Fame inductee
Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee
2nd most rushing TDs in NFL history at time of retirement.

Same goes for Steve Van Buren over Cannon

5× AP First-Team All-Pro (1944, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949)
2× NFL champion (1948, 1949)
4× NFL Rushing champion (1945, 1947, 1948, 1949)
NFL 1940s All-Decade Team
NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
Philadelphia Eagles #15 retired
Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1965)
Eagles Hall of Fame inductee (1987)
Retired as NFL all-time leader in rushing yards and rushing TDs

Albert Belle over Ben McDonald by a mile too. Bob Pettit would also be most other schools #1 in hoops by a mile if not for Shaq.
This post was edited on 4/14/14 at 10:36 am
Posted by Chestah
Member since Apr 2014
80 posts
Posted on 4/14/14 at 2:01 pm to
bama
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