[NU Sports] Something to argue over

[Dennis W. Brandt]

>I do agree with Dennis' premise that the players from earlier years (not 
>sure exactly how early )just can't compare with today's athlete.  They were 
>smaller and slower so their stats would have been worse against today's 
>competition.  The only sport category where you can definitively see that 
>is track and field where todays athletes run faster and jump higher than 
>they did in yesteryear.
>
> How fast could a 220 pounder do the 40 yarder in 1960 ?
>
> Not to mention in many schools the competition was limited to the white 
> race only well into to 1960's and early 70's.  When you limit the field of 
> potential players against you, your numbers look better .

The best example of that is looking back at the famous Vince Lombardi, 
virtually impossible to stop power sweep.  Jerry Kramer led it from his 
offensive guard position, and he only weighed about 260 lbs, about 60 lbs. 
underweight for today's teams.  Alex Karras was an all-pro defensive tackle, 
and he likewise only weighed about 260 lbs.  Today, there are quarterbacks 
who weigh that much.  And I believe Boyd Dowler, the Packers' tight end, ran 
a 5-something in the 40.  Lombardi won because he got his team into a 
physical condition that was unusual for that day.  And believe it or not, 
Dick Butkus said that he never lifted weights until after his career had 
ended.  Many pro football players then had real jobs in the off-season and 
didn't spend their time making themselves into physical specimens.