They had (2) of the best RBs in the Country with Dickerson & James, but the Offense really exploded when Meyer, then Collins put Lance McIlhaney in at QB to run that option attack. That made the Ponies even more dangerous. There have been a lot of outstanding Option QBs, numerous ones at Oklahoma, Thomas Lott, JC Watts, Jamelle Holloway, etc. and at Nebraska with Turner Gill, Tommie Frazier, etc. and know doubt all of them were faster. However, I think McIlhaney may have been the absolute best at reading the option and waiting to the last possible second to pitch it out to Dickerson or James.
@@traceyscott909 There's a listing of the top 100 high school players of 1979 on the web. Google USC football recruits 1979 and it will pull it up. The list was topped by Dickerson with Elway third. Marino is on the list about 75. SMU had 7-8 of the top 100. James was 12. Just pulled it up. SMU had 8. USC had 12.
I lived in Dallas for three years and never saw SMU. I hung out in Greenville Ave often to. It wasn’t until I came back and was visiting a friend did I see the campus. Got off on the wrong exit across Central Expressway. It is literally two buildings in a small park.
Dickerson could make it look so ridiculously easy and you can do that when you are blessed with such a physique and ability. He was a Super Freak among Freaks!
I looked up the record of SMU football before, during, and after Eric. A couple of years before they were 1-10. Not a football school. With Eric they improved to 10-1 and 11-0 one year. After him, back to around 1-10 again.
After him they were hit with another round of sanctions and then next year the Death penalty. Thing is, it wasn't Dickerson and James class that got SMU in so much trouble. It was the 83 class that started going to the press. I fully believe that before 83 SMU was no more cheating than anyone else. Beginning in 83 they just went too far. The NCAA had always looked the other way with 100 dollar handshakes, maybe a car or two, finding a thousand dollars in your pants pocket but SMU put guys on salary.
My favorite running back of all times. SMU was banned from 📺 so you really didn't see them. My first time seeing them theyhey played Arkansas on ABC and loss to Lou Holz
They didn't lose to Arkansas if you are referring to either 81 or 82. SMU won in 81 and they tied late in the season in 82. The tie cost SMU the national title. No way they would have jumped a once beaten Penn State over a 12-0 SMU.
Here's my question, at the time just how did both Graig James & Eric Dickerson both felt when the NCAA drop the death penalty on SMU? What I mean the moment when it happen that is. Follow up do both gentlemen still hold a grudge towards the NCAA to this day? Thank you for your time.
@@chrissams6230 Yes he was very effortless he was a high school sprint champion (1-A) 100 Yd Dash 9.4 shocked that he never ran track while at SMU he would have faced Carl Lewis every weekend.
@@dwightlove3704 Yeah I had to google it. I had a tops football card that had him listed at 6 feet....however he was only 200lbs but could squat over 700lbs. He was taller and lighter than most rbs of the day.
Had a classmate who wore a Craig James jersey #32 SMU in high school that was a rival high school of James who went to Stratford!! This classmate was told by a group of seniors " You will either take this jersey off and never wear it again or we're kicking your ass!!"
That 1982 SMU team was as good as any. I don't believe Penn St could have stopped Dickerson or James. People forget PSU lost to Bama 42-21 that season and Bama ran for like 300 yds. Bobby Collins should have tried to win that Arky game with couple throws to the end zone. He had to have known a tie was gonna be looked at as a loss.
Dickerson is still the biggest liar to deny ever being offered a dime from SMU. Hey Dickerson, you helped get SMU the Death Penalty for various reasons...
Gosh, I love this man. Never knew anything about him. And his mom! Love his mom.
That woman did not allow anyone to take advantage of him in his early years.She obviously didn't trust Barry Switzer.
Viewer, Craig James and Eric Dickerson duo was one of the greatest college football backfields of the late 20th century! I kid you not. Incredible.
It was as if they could both go pro.
@@DexterHaven Yes
Exactly, both were top 10 Running Backs coming out of High School and choose SMU
They had (2) of the best RBs in the Country with Dickerson & James, but the Offense really exploded when Meyer, then Collins put Lance McIlhaney in at QB to run that option attack. That made the Ponies even more dangerous.
There have been a lot of outstanding Option QBs, numerous ones at Oklahoma, Thomas Lott, JC Watts, Jamelle Holloway, etc. and at Nebraska with Turner Gill, Tommie Frazier, etc. and know doubt all of them were faster. However, I think McIlhaney may have been the absolute best at reading the option and waiting to the last possible second to pitch it out to Dickerson or James.
And they had ' Rapid' Reggie Dupard backing them up.
@@traceyscott909 There's a listing of the top 100 high school players of 1979 on the web. Google USC football recruits 1979 and it will pull it up. The list was topped by Dickerson with Elway third. Marino is on the list about 75. SMU had 7-8 of the top 100. James was 12. Just pulled it up. SMU had 8. USC had 12.
SMU was ahead of their time...$$$
It’s Craig James not Greg. If your going to do this, make sure you’re right.
What the heck Who the F is Greg??
Right? It's so bad to make that mistake, that I'm not even going to watch the video. The internet is just one big trash can.
I could listen to Eric Dickerson read a phone book for an hour.
What that means really, is you have a really pathetic life. So glad not to be you!
@@johnjuarez8005 Trust me, my life is pathetic for many reasons beyond that.
Eric Dickerson was a legit 220 lb ballerina in cleets!!!!!!
Everybody talks about what a great Quarterback class it was but I always felt like the running backs was just as good. Maybe better.
Elway, Marino and Kelly vs Dickerson, Warner and ?. Who was another running back in the class after the top 2?
@@ckobo84 Kelvin Bryant and Craig James Roger Craig Gary Anderson Michael Haddix. Anything else?
It's Craig James not Greg! He was an awesome back for SMU and the New England Patriots.
Frenchie who got the name wrong????
Frenchie Buckner Craig James was impressive, very underated......... strong n deceptively fast.
+Dwight Love U got it wrong!
Graig James was just in Eric's way. A slow footed dud.
Craig James was a great college running back the coaches at smu used both of there talented running backs in Craig James and Eric Dickerson
It is C.R.A.I.G., Craig James!
Life long Rams fan here, best thing Dickerson ever did for us was getting Jeff Fisher fired.
Roberto Gonzales Your right Fisher was horrible when it came to QB development.
@@dwightlove3704 Fisher was also a dirty SOB who laughed at player injuries.
Yep they were amazing
I respect the fact that Eric has NEVER snitched on anyone.
Respect
I lived in Dallas for three years and never saw SMU. I hung out in Greenville Ave often to. It wasn’t until I came back and was visiting a friend did I see the campus. Got off on the wrong exit across Central Expressway. It is literally two buildings in a small park.
Dickerson could make it look so ridiculously easy and you can do that when you are blessed with such a physique and ability. He was a Super Freak among Freaks!
" Protect yourself at all times" 6:39
I remember reading a article about Eric and randy McMillan. They were the two fastest running backs in the NFL playing for the colts.
I looked up the record of SMU football before, during, and after Eric.
A couple of years before they were 1-10. Not a football school.
With Eric they improved to 10-1 and 11-0 one year. After him, back to around 1-10 again.
He belongs in jail for taking money
After him they were hit with another round of sanctions and then next year the Death penalty. Thing is, it wasn't Dickerson and James class that got SMU in so much trouble. It was the 83 class that started going to the press. I fully believe that before 83 SMU was no more cheating than anyone else. Beginning in 83 they just went too far. The NCAA had always looked the other way with 100 dollar handshakes, maybe a car or two, finding a thousand dollars in your pants pocket but SMU put guys on salary.
My favorite running back of all times. SMU was banned from 📺 so you really didn't see them. My first time seeing them theyhey played Arkansas on ABC and loss to Lou Holz
Mine two
They didn't lose to Arkansas if you are referring to either 81 or 82. SMU won in 81 and they tied late in the season in 82. The tie cost SMU the national title. No way they would have jumped a once beaten Penn State over a 12-0 SMU.
It´s Craig James, not Greg James
Here's my question, at the time just how did both Graig James & Eric Dickerson both felt when the NCAA drop the death penalty on SMU? What I mean the moment when it happen that is. Follow up do both gentlemen still hold a grudge towards the NCAA to this day? Thank you for your time.
Eric Dickerson made what he did look entirely too dammn easy!!!!!
Dwight Love effortless stride
@@chrissams6230 Yes he was very effortless he was a high school sprint champion (1-A) 100 Yd Dash 9.4 shocked that he never ran track while at SMU he would have faced Carl Lewis every weekend.
He and Walter Payton were both tall long legged backs. Unusual for the time
@@exspiravit6920 Payton was well under 6-0 (5-11) to be exact he was nowhere near as tall as Dickerson but he had heart.
@@dwightlove3704 Yeah I had to google it. I had a tops football card that had him listed at 6 feet....however he was only 200lbs but could squat over 700lbs. He was taller and lighter than most rbs of the day.
To whom it may concern: The kids name is CRAIG James! One would almost think you should've known but hey, no big deal!
Best ever!!
Rachel, Please change the name to CRAIG James. I was at SMU during the Pony Express!
Had a classmate who wore a Craig James jersey #32 SMU in high school that was a rival high school of James who went to Stratford!! This classmate was told by a group of seniors " You will either take this jersey off and never wear it again or we're kicking your ass!!"
Does Craig James have a brother named Greg?
great player, strong and fast, hall of famer indeed
Is it Craig James or Greg?
C'mon man, get the names right at least!
Some of you TH-camrs are so quick to copyright infringe at least get the names right smh. It's Craig James.
James was a cool guy...
TEXAS Tech may not agree.
Eric was honest. College players were getting paid to play for a long time.
Maybe to start you get the names right it’s Craig James not Greg
Craig James?
I thought it’s Craig James 🤔
If you don’t know or cannot correctly spell one of the names of the players highlighted - no thanks!
Greg James????😂
Greg?! Get your shit together
It's CRAIG James, who the hell is Greg?
That 1982 SMU team was as good as any. I don't believe Penn St could have stopped Dickerson or James. People forget PSU lost to Bama 42-21 that season and Bama ran for like 300 yds. Bobby Collins should have tried to win that Arky game with couple throws to the end zone. He had to have known a tie was gonna be looked at as a loss.
If Dickerson had played in Arkansas in the 90’s he would have been pulverized # Smashmouth 🏈
No, he wouldn’t. He lit the NFL up for over 2000 yards. I think he could have handled the SWC.
Greg?
His name is actually Craig James not Greg.
It’s Craig James!
His name is Craig James, not Greg!
His name is CRAIG James, not Greg!!
Wait and see what the Longhorns do this year or 2024
Craig.But I'm sure Uric Dickerson doesn't mind.
😄
Craig*
Craig James
CRAIG James. Sheeesh
Craig James......
Craig...not Greg.
You were dang-near a SOONER!!🤯😎😎😎😎
oh man! You would’ve had 1-2 Heisman trophies!!!
Was Billy Sims there at that time?
Redo the title, silly, to the correct spelling.
Craig James.
Craig James!
Chicago kicked his ass in that playoff game in (Jan. 12) '86...didn't they?
Yes, they did. Then kicked Crag James' ass two weeks later in the Super Bowl.
Okay, the one hit wonder Bears
He still had more yards on less carries than Payton that day lol. He played the Bears 5 times and in 4 games put 100+ yards on them and 5 TDs.
@@johnwhyte2638 What might his Lifetime stats be, in comparison, mon ami ? th-cam.com/video/eLgEF1e5mvk/w-d-xo.html
The pageant dad who killed Texas Tech’s program….
Would be more believable if he said the tooth fairy gave him the TA
Craig James & Eric Dickerson a.k.a. The Pony Express
Uh, I'm pretty sure that is CRAIG James ...
Eric Dickerson was all about the money.. he was a thug way back then and a big mouth... allways trouble.. I remember them days.....
It was nice of Craig to give defenses a break from Dickerson.
No
Ash a championship we will never see Penn St vs SMU!!!!!!!!
Craig James
😅
Dickerson is still the biggest liar to deny ever being offered a dime from SMU. Hey Dickerson, you helped get SMU the Death Penalty for various reasons...
He didnt do shit.
Shut your filthy mouth
Right...neither did O.J....
All that stuff happened after he left school
U sound lame as hell... SMU fault not His..
Craig James