Sharon, Pope and Jacobs

[BGSU2005]

For those of you who think McClure is better than Jacobs, why is that? This is a serious question because I truly don't know much about him or his career at BG.

[San Diego Falcon]

How about Ron Heard for WR from the late 80's?

[Dayons_Den]

For those of you who think McClure is better than Jacobs, why is that? This is a serious question because I truly don't know much about him or his career at BG.

Maybe Hammb can explain what IT is, but Brian McClure had IT. (Hammb often says that J5 had IT while we have yet to see IT from Omar.)

McClure had such a presence, he would head out on the field and be in total control. Omar has a chance to surpass him in numbers passing- making it to and winning bowl games- but Omar doesn't quite have IT . . . yet.

Here is a copy and paste of something I copied to tell you more about McClure and what he meant to BG football and to this debate.

BRIAN McCLURE- Probably the best football player to come out of BGSU.

"The arrival of a skinny, much heralded quarterback from Ravenna, Ohio, in 1982 signaled the beginning of an 11-year period in which the Falcons would make 4 bowl appearances.

The quarterback was Brian McClure and all he would do in the next four seasons was lead the Falcons to a 34-12 record, a 19-1 record at home, two bowl games, and become only the second quarterback in NCAA history to pass for over 10,000 yards.

He became the starter in the third game of his freshman season, and despite missing the last two games of the regular season, he became the first freshman to be named the first team all-league quarterback.

He would rewrite the BG and MAC record books before his career was over, setting fivee NCAA records as well. McClure still holds numerous school and league records and in his senior season finished in the top ten in the Heisman Trophy voting, the only BG player to ever receive votes for college football's top award.

Starting so early and become THE MAN early and throughout his career sets him apart from Omar . . .for now.

[1987alum]

For those of you who think McClure is better than Jacobs, why is that? This is a serious question because I truly don't know much about him or his career at BG.

It's so tough to compare the two, given the immense change in the game since the mid-80s. McClure was putting up incredible stats when most of college football was fascinated by the Power I and running off tackle.

When Doug Flutie won the Heisman in 1984, he was the first non-RB to win in 13 years; translation - college football valued the running game above all else.

During that era, the MAC was bound and determined to be the Little Big Ten, attempting to emulate the four yards and cloud of dust mentalitiy in that conference.

So McClure stood out and not just because he was 6-7 or 6-8, depending on that mop of curly hair. He broke into the starting lineup as a freshman and didn't stop lighting up the scoreboard until the team left for its last bowl game of the decade. Oh, and BG came out of two years at the I-AA level when he arrived on the scene.

[Bleeding Orange]

Oh, and BG came out of two years at the I-AA level when he arrived on the scene.

Call me stupid and young if you like, but BG was at I-AA in the Eighties? I have tried my best to read A LOT about BG football history, and I have NEVER come across that little tidbit...

[Schadenfreude]

For those of you who think McClure is better than Jacobs, why is that? This is a serious question because I truly don't know much about him or his career at BG.

First, I think Omar is better.

The argument for McClure goes something like this:

Players need to be measured against their eras. Ty Cobb was every bit the baseball player Babe Ruth was. Cobb wasn't a deep threat, but he played in a different era.

When McClure left BGSU, he left as the second-leading career passer in Division I-A history (maybe Division I, period), behind only Doug Flutie. He was only the second quarterback at his level to pass for more than 10,000 career yards. And (I assume) he did it using mostly conventional pro sets.

So, he was stellar. A freak. He was getting some of the same kind of hype Omar is now -- and the fact that a lot of quarterbacks (e.g., that Chang kid from Hawaii) have put up video game numbers since doesn't diminish that, because offenses have gotten increasingly whacky.

Finally, he led Bowling Green to two MAC titles. Some people think that's extremely important. For others, it's less of a factor. Still, it's worth pointing out.

My response:

-- McClure threw a lot of interceptions. I never saw him play, but statistically, he didn't seem have the touch Omar has.
-- McClure had a terrible pro career. Bring his name up in Buffalo, and old timers still giggle. Apparently, he played in a scab game for the Bills on a Monday night and just stunk up the joint for the whole country to see.

McClure is one of the great names in Falcon football, one of the true legends, right up there with Doyt Perry. We should remember him for as long as we talk about Falcon football.

But I think Omar is better.

[UK Peregrine]

Oh, and BG came out of two years at the I-AA level when he arrived on the scene.

Call me stupid and young if you like, but BG was at I-AA in the Eighties? I have tried my best to read A LOT about BG football history, and I have NEVER come across that little tidbit...

I always thought we only had a one year hiatus to 1AA in 1982, along with many a MAC school (Miami, Ohio, Ball State, NIU, EMU). Was it in fact two?

[hammb]

Maybe Hammb can explain what IT is, but Brian McClure had IT. (Hammb often says that J5 had IT while we have yet to see IT from Omar.)

IT is leadership. The ability to take over a game when it's most needed. The ability to put the team on your back and will them to victory. IT is a presence & command on the field that makes everyone around you play better just by being near you.

IT is scrambling to the left under heavy pressure on 4th & long to lob a pass into the endzone that only your man can get to. (Purdue, '03)

IT is playing on a messed up knee but still running for 96 yards, including 4 carries in 5 OT plays to score the game winning TD in OT (WMU '02).

IT is doing everything for your team: running, passing, and receiving for 88% of your team's offense in a tough game against your bitter rival in terrible conditions. (UT '03).

IT is leading your team on an 11 play 5:50 drive to score the go ahead TD in the 4th quarter of a bowl game (MCB '03).

IT is very difficult to describe, you just have to feel it, and you know it's something special. Omar is a great physical talent. He's got all the tools you want in a QB: strong arm, mobile, quick reads, accurate as heck, tall. I have still not seen him put the team on his back when he needs to play the way Josh did. I just cannot put my finger on it, but those that watched Josh know waht I'm talking about, I hope. He had this air about him on the field that if we were down late in the game, it didn't matter. We were going to score and it didn't matter if Josh was going to be bucking LBs himself or tossing the rock downfield, he was going to make it happen. Watching Harris you got the impression that he would've went out and played LB when we were on defense if the coaches would've let him; whatever it took to get the win.

Omar runs the offense more efficiently than Josh. Omar's offenses put up just as many, if not more, points as Josh's did. Omar doesn't commit nearly the turnovers that Josh created, and he completes a higher % of his passes. Omar is the superior QB in almost every way...except Josh had IT; and because of that I think that '02 & '03 team were way more fun to watch than '04 was and '05 is shaping up to be. Maybe Omar has IT, but hasn't been put in the situation to show it, I don't know, but I just don't get that same feeling with him that I had about Harris. Though I didn't see McClure play, I have heard enough tales to know that he likely had the same quality as Josh.

[BGSU2005]

Thanks a lot for the responses and info (and quickly too!). I had always heard his name but never knew much about him and defintely didn't know the type of stats he put up.

[Schadenfreude]

Oh, and BG came out of two years at the I-AA level when he arrived on the scene.

Call me stupid and young if you like, but BG was at I-AA in the Eighties? I have tried my best to read A LOT about BG football history, and I have NEVER come across that little tidbit...

I believe Division I was split around 1978. Some conferences chose I-AA voluntarily; others went kicking and screaming.

The kicking and screaming started around 1981, when several years of attendance records were in and it was clear some fairly decent leagues would not make the I-A cut (e.g., the Missouri Valley, which played football at the time; the Southern may have also went unwillingly).

Most MAC teams missed the cut, too.

So, for 1982, most of our teams were listed as I-AA, with only the teams that did manage to meet attendance requirements still listed as I-A.

The response: We ignored the I-AA playoffs -- opting for the California Bowl. We didn't publicize our I-AA national rankings (three MAC teams were ranked, including Bowling Green) and we didn't brag about our I-AA All-Americans (Martin Bayless was one, I think).

But I-AA was the level, techinically, we played at that season.

I guess several MAC teams got their act together in '82 and managed to meet requirements -- and I think as more than half the league met them, the MAC as a whole was okay.

So, by 1983, the whole MAC was back at I-A.

[1987alum]

Schade:

I think Omar will, eventually, stake that claim. I hesitate to place any player who's played basically 1 year plus two games at the top of an all-time list. If Omar stays on the field through the end of this season, he will no doubt deserve the top spot.

For now, McClure's individual numbers (interceptions notwithstanding) speak for themselves, not to mention an undefeated regular season (1985), two bowl trips, a win against a now-BCS school coming off of two consecutive bowl trips (Kentucky) and two MAC championships.

[BGSU2005]

It's crazy to think about McClure putting up 10,000+ yards (and as you all noted, was one of the first to do so in Division I history) and played basically every game of his career. Whereas, Omar will most likely put up 8,000+ yards in two years. Granted, very different game than when McClure played. I would love to see what he would do if he played his third year, but unfortunately unless he bombs this season, we won't get the pleasure of seeing it.

[tekekini]

Hmmm....that is an interesting point. Statistically, Sharon could be the best ever.

Best hands ever? My vote goes to one of three players....

Mark Schzlachic, Kurt Gerling or Cole Magner. We've had a lot of great WR's over the years.

I remember Kurt Gerling...He was the man

[Tswam]

MAC teams were I-AA for the 1982 season only (McClure was a true freshman and became a starter early that season). The MAC wasn't I-AA before '82 and wasn't I-AA after. MAC teams weren't eligible for the I-AA playoffs in '82. Andre Young was a I-AA first team All-American DT (at about 220 lbs) that season.

Maybe I'm showing my age, but I'd have to rate Jeff Groth as one of the top receivers. He was Cole Magner with a little more speed and quicks. Played several seasons in the NFL with the Oilers and Saints (where he was a starting wr). Also was an excellent outfielder on the baseball team.

[Flipper]

I'll take Omar and Josh over McClure. I think McClure goes into a group with White and Miller. All three of them were VERY good MAC QB's, but athletically Josh and Omar have an edge on them.

So far as WR's go... in 1983 Greg Meehan started the season as the top rated WR in the nation IIRC. He then tore up a knee. He eventually came back, but he didn't have the speed he did prior to the injury. The pre injury Greg Meehan had the great speed to match the hands.

We've been lucky here at BGSU. Miller, Wright, McClure, Dackin, White, Henry, Harris and Omar. I defy you to name a school in the MAC with that kind of talent at QB over the past 30 years or so. (Cheaters don't count)

We've always had some WR's too... Groth, Meehan, Hunter, Heard, Thornton, Schzlachic, Redd, Gerling, Sharon, Magner and Sanders. That's a heck of a group and I know I've probably missed a few....