(03-30-2020 09:07 PM)colohank Wrote: No Jumpin' Joe Morrison?
Hank, did you see Morrison play at UC? How would you compare him to a couple others from that era- Dick Goist, Joe Miller Jim Niemann (RB) or even QB Mike Murphy? All those guys were drafted into the NFL. Goist is in the Ring is Honor and had an insane average yard per carry number.
(This post was last modified: 03-31-2020 04:30 AM by CliftonAve.)
What about Al Nelson (played with Brig Owens) 1962-64? Had 13 rushing TD's in 1964. Played 9 years for the Eagles (drafted 3rd round) as a DB. Had a 102 yard return of a missed FG for an NFL record.
Tom Rossley was Greg Cook's #1 receiver. Hed 80 receptions his senior season for almost 1100 yards.
(03-30-2020 09:07 PM)colohank Wrote: No Jumpin' Joe Morrison?
Hank, did you see Morrison play at UC? How would you compare him to a couple others from that era- Dick Goist, Joe Miller Jim Niemann (RB) or even QB Mike Murphy? All those guys were drafted into the NFL. Goist is in the Ring is Honor and had an insane average yard per carry number.
Morrison graduated and was drafted just months before I matriculated in the fall of 1959, but I got to see him play a few times when I was still in high school. He was a utility guy, stepping into various roles as needed -- running back, quarterback, even playing defense. Definitely a presence on the field.
(03-30-2020 09:07 PM)colohank Wrote: No Jumpin' Joe Morrison?
Hank, did you see Morrison play at UC? How would you compare him to a couple others from that era- Dick Goist, Joe Miller Jim Niemann (RB) or even QB Mike Murphy? All those guys were drafted into the NFL. Goist is in the Ring is Honor and had an insane average yard per carry number.
Morrison graduated and was drafted just months before I matriculated in the fall of 1959, but I got to see him play a few times when I was still in high school. He was a utility guy, stepping into various roles as needed -- running back, quarterback, even playing defense. Definitely a presence on the field.
Morrison played in the mid-50's. He was the starting QB on some bad George Blackburn-coached teams, and was shifted to running back when Jackie Lee became the QB. Lee was a more dynamic passer and Morrison was better as a running back and was a capable receiver. Of course, he was drafted by the New York Giants and had a long and successful career in the NFL as a runner and receiver out of the backfield. He would even return kickoffs and punts and generally play where needed. The fact that the Giants were typically at the top of the NFL in those years with Sam Huff and Y.A. Tittle and Roosevelt Grier made Morrison an important cog in the overall success of the team and a reliable and respected pro.
If I recall correctly, Morrison was the great uncle to former UC receiver Max Morrison. Further, unless my memory is further failing, I recall Joe Morrison being at one time the head coach at South Carolina.
(This post was last modified: 03-31-2020 10:51 AM by vabearcat.)
(03-31-2020 09:54 AM)NYCAT Wrote: What about Al Nelson (played with Brig Owens) 1962-64? Had 13 rushing TD's in 1964. Played 9 years for the Eagles (drafted 3rd round) as a DB. Had a 102 yard return of a missed FG for an NFL record.
Tom Rossley was Greg Cook's #1 receiver. Hed 80 receptions his senior season for almost 1100 yards.
Tom Rossley and Jim O'Brien formed an impressive receiving corps for the Bearcats in the last two years of Greg Cook's tenure at UC. Jim O'Brien of course led the nation in scoring that year due to combining both his receiving exploits and his place- kicking. Rossley was more of the possession receiver and had great hands and an uncanny ability to get open 9-12 yards downfield. O'Brien led the nation in yards per catch, benefiting from Cook's rocket arm and deft touch on the long ball. The last two games of the '68 season, both of which I attended as a UC student at the time, including the 60-48 loss to an undefeated and nationally-ranked Ohio U. team and the improbable come-from-behind 23-21 victory over Miami on the O'Brien field goal as time elapsed in the season close-out game are my favorite memories of that long-ago era of Bearcat football.
(03-31-2020 09:54 AM)NYCAT Wrote: What about Al Nelson (played with Brig Owens) 1962-64? Had 13 rushing TD's in 1964. Played 9 years for the Eagles (drafted 3rd round) as a DB. Had a 102 yard return of a missed FG for an NFL record.
Tom Rossley was Greg Cook's #1 receiver. Hed 80 receptions his senior season for almost 1100 yards.
Al Nelson was a fantastic Bearcat. Possibly the fastest UC player ever, Nelson came out of Taft High School and had been both a football and track star, running the 100 yard dash in a sub-10 second time at the state track & field championships. As noted, Nelson had a long and successful career in the NFL as a DB.
Possibly the most ballyhood UC recruit of late 1960's era was Clem Turner, a running back out of Woodward High School. Turner was recruited by everyone, including as I recall by Ohio State. Clem was a fun-loving and magnetic personality who never reached his potential as a Bearcat, likely because he just was never motivated enough to stay away from junk food and the party circuit. He would always be around the pool room in the basement of the Student Union building. I remember one game, however, where he broke the school single-game rushing record with about 237 yards. I recall Clem leaving school and latching on with the Bengals, where he enjoyed some brief success before becoming injured and subsequently released. I think Clem died some years ago. Guy always had a smile on his face but he was a football enigma.
(03-31-2020 09:54 AM)NYCAT Wrote: What about Al Nelson (played with Brig Owens) 1962-64? Had 13 rushing TD's in 1964. Played 9 years for the Eagles (drafted 3rd round) as a DB. Had a 102 yard return of a missed FG for an NFL record.
Tom Rossley was Greg Cook's #1 receiver. Hed 80 receptions his senior season for almost 1100 yards.
Al Nelson was a fantastic Bearcat. Possibly the fastest UC player ever, Nelson came out of Taft High School and had been both a football and track star, running the 100 yard dash in a sub-10 second time at the state track & field championships. As noted, Nelson had a long and successful career in the NFL as a DB.
Possibly the most ballyhood UC recruit of late 1960's era was Clem Turner, a running back out of Woodward High School. Turner was recruited by everyone, including as I recall by Ohio State. Clem was a fun-loving and magnetic personality who never reached his potential as a Bearcat, likely because he just was never motivated enough to stay away from junk food and the party circuit. He would always be around the pool room in the basement of the Student Union building. I remember one game, however, where he broke the school single-game rushing record with about 237 yards. I recall Clem leaving school and latching on with the Bengals, where he enjoyed some brief success before becoming injured and subsequently released. I think Clem died some years ago. Guy always had a smile on his face but he was a football enigma.
According to Clem's obituary, he also did WWA wrestling after football. Here's a youtube video of him in the ring:
(03-31-2020 09:54 AM)NYCAT Wrote: What about Al Nelson (played with Brig Owens) 1962-64? Had 13 rushing TD's in 1964. Played 9 years for the Eagles (drafted 3rd round) as a DB. Had a 102 yard return of a missed FG for an NFL record.
Tom Rossley was Greg Cook's #1 receiver. Hed 80 receptions his senior season for almost 1100 yards.
Al Nelson was a fantastic Bearcat. Possibly the fastest UC player ever, Nelson came out of Taft High School and had been both a football and track star, running the 100 yard dash in a sub-10 second time at the state track & field championships. As noted, Nelson had a long and successful career in the NFL as a DB.
Possibly the most ballyhood UC recruit of late 1960's era was Clem Turner, a running back out of Woodward High School. Turner was recruited by everyone, including as I recall by Ohio State. Clem was a fun-loving and magnetic personality who never reached his potential as a Bearcat, likely because he just was never motivated enough to stay away from junk food and the party circuit. He would always be around the pool room in the basement of the Student Union building. I remember one game, however, where he broke the school single-game rushing record with about 237 yards. I recall Clem leaving school and latching on with the Bengals, where he enjoyed some brief success before becoming injured and subsequently released. I think Clem died some years ago. Guy always had a smile on his face but he was a football enigma.
He played for the Bengals and the Denver Broncos. Spent a few years playing in the CFL and WFL. He then became a professional wrestler for several years.
(03-30-2020 09:07 PM)colohank Wrote: No Jumpin' Joe Morrison?
Hank, did you see Morrison play at UC? How would you compare him to a couple others from that era- Dick Goist, Joe Miller Jim Niemann (RB) or even QB Mike Murphy? All those guys were drafted into the NFL. Goist is in the Ring is Honor and had an insane average yard per carry number.
Morrison graduated and was drafted just months before I matriculated in the fall of 1959, but I got to see him play a few times when I was still in high school. He was a utility guy, stepping into various roles as needed -- running back, quarterback, even playing defense. Definitely a presence on the field.
Morrison played in the mid-50's. He was the starting QB on some bad George Blackburn-coached teams, and was shifted to running back when Jackie Lee became the QB. Lee was a more dynamic passer and Morrison was better as a running back and was a capable receiver. Of course, he was drafted by the New York Giants and had a long and successful career in the NFL as a runner and receiver out of the backfield. He would even return kickoffs and punts and generally play where needed. The fact that the Giants were typically at the top of the NFL in those years with Sam Huff and Y.A. Tittle and Roosevelt Grier made Morrison an important cog in the overall success of the team and a reliable and respected pro.
If I recall correctly, Morrison was the great uncle to former UC receiver Max Morrison. Further, unless my memory is further failing, I recall Joe Morrison being at one time the head coach at South Carolina.
Correct on both. Morrison served as the head football coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from 1973 to 1979, at the University of New Mexico from 1980 to 1982, and at the University of South Carolina from 1983 to 1988, compiling a career college football coach record of 101–72–7. Never spent a day as an Assistant Coach. Died way too young at age 51.
Trent Cole? We moved him along the line while at UC but the guy had freakish talent as demonstrated during his career in the NFL. Still he posted solid numbers and was a factor at UC.
To the earlier comments on Reggie Taylor, I am all in on him as the best RB at UC. Pound for pound one of the best runners we have had. I remember even top rated Miami (FL) struggling to handle him.[/i]
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Bearcat Football All Time Team
