Professional Football Researchers Association Forum
PFRA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the history of professional football. Formed in 1979, PFRA members include many of the game's foremost historians and writers.
Saban wrote:I hope that Speedie's playing four years in the All-America Conference is not held against him.
It will for some.
At this point I'd think the thing working against him is that he has previously been both a regular (1970, 1972) and a senior candidate (1983) and didn't get in. So he may be worthy, but stuck in that purgatory of always having other guys who are more worthy.
Saban wrote:I hope that Speedie's playing four years in the All-America Conference is not held against him.
It will for some.
At this point I'd think the thing working against him is that he has previously been both a regular (1970, 1972) and a senior candidate (1983) and didn't get in. So he may be worthy, but stuck in that purgatory of always having other guys who are more worthy.
Claude Humphrey was a three-time finalist before being inducted. However, I do see your point.
Ken Crippen wrote:
Speedie is one of the PFRA candidates (Wistert, Dilweg and Slater are the others). However, his chances are slim.
The one thing that worked against him was career length. However, since Dick Stanfel was put up (twice, I believe), that argument does not carry much water if made by a selector. Speedie played in more games than Stanfel. So, if Stanfel's career is long enough and worthy of consideration, so is Speedie's.
Dick Stanfel: 74 Games
Mac Speedie: 86 Games
Wistert and Dilweg have the best shot at induction, followed by Slater. All three face an uphill battle.
Thanks Ken. I hope that Speedie's playing four years in the All-America Conference is not held against him.
It will for some.
I don't know what's sadder...
The fact that some will count Speedie's AAFC contributions against him or that none will count his AAFC contributions in his favor.
JuggernautJ wrote:
I don't know what's sadder...
The fact that some will count Speedie's AAFC contributions against him or that none will count his AAFC contributions in his favor.
Unfortunately, there are still a lot of people who look at the AAFC as an inferior league.
Though I'd be happy (in no particular order) with any of:
Dub
Speedier
Gradishar
Emerson
Karras
Kenny Anderson
Erich Barnes
Dilweg
etc
etc
I have been watching some films of the Giants of the early 1960's lately, and that Barnes was really some player. What a secondary the Giants had with Erich Barnes, Dick Lynch, and Jimmy Patton.