PJ the Best Running Back EVER at BG?

[Class of 61]

Preston to me was the best I'd seen till PJ came along...he didn't get the glory of a retired jersey that Miles did, but he was similar to PJ in terms of passcatching out of backfield AND running.

The crazy thing with Preston is that he lead the team in rushing for two NON-CONSECUTIVE seasons. Was he hurt in the middle season? Dan Saleet ran for 1100 yards that season, and seemed to get the bulk of the carries.

Dan Saleet was a RB from Lakewood HS, just west of Cleveland. he was another "taller" type RB as I recall, and was more of a FB type runner than was Preston... Don't honestly remember Preston being hurt, but it's very possible.... remember, we ran mostly either a T formation or occasional I formation, with TWO RB's the standard in those days, unlike the one back offense we use now with the spread.

[TG1996]

remember, we ran mostly either a T formation or occasional I formation, with TWO RB's the standard in those days, unlike the one back offense we use now with the spread.

What makes it curious is that Saleet had almost 200 carries on the year, which was pretty much in line with the number of carries for the other season leaders for the era... These anamolies are part of the reason I love researching this stuff!

[Schadenfreude]

This is sort of off topic, but I've always wondered why they retired Paul Miles jersey -- and only his.

Not, for instance, Dave Preston's.

(or, for that matter, Brian McClure's).

Not knocking Paul. I think I was still a toddler then, and I don't know the answer.

[TG1996]

This is sort of off topic, but I've always wondered why they retired Paul Miles jersey -- and only his.

Not, for instance, Dave Preston's.

(or, for that matter, Brian McClure's).

Not knocking Paul. I think I was still a toddler then, and I don't know the answer.

I've wondered it as well, does anyone know when they retired Miles' number? The only thing I can think is that he had such an outstanding career (third player in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 in three straight years) that they retired his number, but then Preston came along and had a couple 1,000 yard seasons and they didn't know when to draw the line. Maybe roster size increased right after retiring Miles' number and they didn't want to get in the habit of retiring numbers and running short.

It's still a little curious that there's no kind of "Ring of Honor", a way to honor players without taking the number out of circulation, however.

[orangeandbrown]

I always heard he was the second player to rush for 1,000 yards in 3 seasons (Ed Marinaro of Cornell and Hill Street Blues was the other). Since freshmen were not eligible then, it was a major accomplishment.

[TG1996]

I always heard he was the second player to rush for 1,000 yards in 3 seasons (Ed Marinaro of Cornell and Hill Street Blues was the other). Since freshmen were not eligible then, it was a major accomplishment.

Now that you said something, I thought you were right, but the media guide says he was the third:

http://www.collegesports.com/auto_pdf/p ... -tradition (page 2)

[redskins4ever]

Zeb Jackson was a great rb for the falcons in the early 90's.

[Dayons_Den]

Zeb Jackson was a great rb for the falcons in the early 90's.

Zeb was ok, but LeRoy Smith was my favorite from the Blackney era.

I think that LeRoy and Pope are very similar size, toughness and catch passing. Smith might have been a bit more elusive.

I think LeRoy Smith would have put up some very impressive, Pope-like, numbers in the Meyer/Brandon offense.

[FALCON FLIER]

I am old enough to remember both Paul Miles and Dave Preston. It is such a different game that BG plays now. Back then (late 60's early 70's) BG ran the Power I with the tailback being the focal point of the offense but primarily as a running back. There was not pass-catching opportunities that exist today for PJ. Miles was around 190 pounds and more of a finesse runner. Preston was more like 205 or so, and was more of a power back with the speed to get outside. When Preston played, BG had upgraded their schedule and played much better out of conference competition. I recall listening when BG beat Brigham Young in Provo and Preston had a huge game. Also, Preston had a nice NFL career with Denver.

[Tswam]

Dan Saleet played fullback in the I with Preston at tailback in '75. Saleet was a quarterback in high school and went about 6'2"/215 at BG. Preston had some injury problems his junior year and missed at least 1 game and was slowed in some others. BG threw maybe 20 times a game with Mark Miller at qb that season. BG was a typical two wides with a tight end I-formation team back then.

I've watched BG football for a lot of years, and I thought Saleet was as good a back as BG's ever had during that '75 season. He got hurt during the pre-season of his senior year, and took an injury redshirt. He came back in '77, but wasn't the same player he'd been before the injury.

[Schadenfreude]

Falcon Flier, TSwam: I appreciate the posts.

I don't know much about that era, I guess.

[1987alum]

It's tough to compare backs across the decades, given the change in the way the game is played. But, at the very least, P.J. has to be one of the top three backs in BG history. If he has another great year, he could easily claim the top spot.

Freak: That catch against Temple was un-Freaking-believable.

My favorite run was the one against WMU just before the half. I remember telling Noah, "They'll just run the clock out." Noah said, "No, there going to score again." Simple dive play and next thing I know, P.J. is sprinting down the field for a score.

[Flipper]

Bernard White ('83-'85ish) was very versatile. I think he stacked up pretty well against PJ.

[1987alum]

Bernard White ('83-'85ish) was very versatile. I think he stacked up pretty well against PJ.

Flip:

Thanks for bringing up Bernard White. I hate showing my bias for guys who played while I was in school.

Bernard was very much like P.J. in that he could run inside and out, catch the ball out of the backfield (which was rather unusual in the MAC in those days) and was a capable blocker. His career numbers were hindered by a number of nagging injuries his senior year and the fact that Stolz loved to throw the ball even more than Meyer & Brandon.

White was also one of the most entertaining football players I've ever worked with. I still remember him doing a breakdance spin in the end zone against Western Michigan after a touchdown run. He said something like "I just get so excited when I score. Who knows, next time I might jump over the goal post." It was never boring with Bernard, that's for sure.

[factman]

I would agree that Bernard White and P.J Pope are very similar running backs. They both have very good running and receiving skills.