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I have a tendency to be somewhat leery about what players, from the early days of a sport like college football, accomplished. Especially at a position like running back. Of course blacks were excluded from competition for much of the history. Now that demographic comprises over 60 percent of the football population. Virtually 100 percent of elite backs in recent memory have been black. Ponder the immense dilution of talent the 4 Horsemen faced for example. Do they truly transcend their era? I'm skeptical. Today we try to project players to levels based on: burst, speed, shiftiness. They didn't exhibit those attributes in the footage I've seen.
Players like: Bo Jackson, Hershel Walker, and O.J. Simpson (as much as he makes my skin crawl as a human being); transcend any era. They are my picks.
By the way, great piece Jeff.
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