🏈 How good was Bo Jackson?

[Bo]

Bo was one of the most amazing atheletes I've ever saw.
I would have loved to have seen what he could have accomplished in football and baseball if he hadn't had the hip problem.

 

[gumboman]

He was the best runningback that I have ever seen or probably, will ever see in my lifetime. He had an extra gear that I have only seen in Deion Sanders. But Sanders was a defensive back. As far as Emmit Smith is concerned, it was two different styles of runningback. Emmit was a slasher, with no break-away speed. Emmitt could not hold Bo's jock. They should not be in the same conversation. Herschel was the closest, but he was not nearly as fast as Bo. Herschel also topped out at fourth gear. Bo had fifth gear.

 

[psychojoe]

He was the best runningback that I have ever seen or probably, will ever see in my lifetime. He had an extra gear that I have only seen in Deion Sanders. But Sanders was a defensive back. As far as Emmit Smith is concerned, it was two different styles of runningback. Emmit was a slasher, with no break-away speed. Emmitt could not hold Bo's jock. They should not be in the same conversation. Herschel was the closest, but he was not nearly as fast as Bo. Herschel also topped out at fourth gear. Bo had fifth gear.

That is a great point. No one in the lifetime that I've been watching football can compare with Bo in the combination of size, speed and all around athletic ability. I heard my dad mention Jim Thorpe, the legend from leather helmet days who also won Olympic gold and played minor league baseball. Perhaps he was Bo's equal.

 

[psychojoe]

http://www.answers.com/topic/jim-thorpe

Here is a bio on Jim Thorpe. He's about the only one you could use as a comparison to Bo.

 

[Undertaker]

The best athlete i have ever seen. Period.

 

[reger60]

Bo Jackson was as fun to watch as any player I've ever seen. I would have loved to have seen how great a baseball player he could have become.

Interesting point about how Auburn forums would pay respects to a former Bama player. If I wasn't so lazy, I'd start a thread over there about Derrick Thomas or Shaun Alexander and see how many haters would chime in. I'm sure it would be predictably sickening.

Bottom line? Bo was probably too good for Auburn.

 

[arigold]

Was unreal and would still dominate in todays game.

 

[Duder]

Bo Jackson was as fun to watch as any player I've ever seen. I would have loved to have seen how great a baseball player he could have become.

Interesting point about how Auburn forums would pay respects to a former Bama player. If I wasn't so lazy, I'd start a thread over there about Derrick Thomas or Shaun Alexander and see how many haters would chime in. I'm sure it would be predictably sickening.

Bottom line? Bo was probably too good for Auburn.

To answer the primary question--Bo was unmatched in athletic ability. Had he focused on one sport it would have been scary.

As for AU fans paying tribute to Bama players I honestly think it would be a toss up--depends on the player I suppose. I'm an Auburn fan that had the opportunity to spend some time with DT at Cornelius Bennett's football camp when I was in high school. Great guy, great football player with scary speed and an uncanny nose for the ball.

I think Shaun was a great football player but lost a ton of respect for him when he whined about being kept out of a game and accused the coach of trying to keep him from getting a bonus. Still a great player