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When Jesse Lumsden broke the CIS rushing record, many people took notice, and got very excited! We knew he would take a shot at the NFL, and we would have been so happy if he would have made it. Everyone from Saskatchewan born in the 70's still talks about Rueben Mayes, and his impact he made in the NFL. Too bad we didn't get a chance to see him play in the CFL.
Jesse Lumsden's situation was almost a fairy tale situation for many. He was from Hamilton, and Hamilton risked picking him with their first pick to give the hometown fans a little more to get excited about. When he wasn't able to stick with an NFL team, Lumsden made his break back to the CFL, and impressed but not necessarily surprised everyone in his debut.
Lumsden has breakaway speed, and punnishing power. He dominated every chance he got. I still think his career stats have him at the top of the active players yards per carry list. He brought more excitement to the entire country, not just Hamilton.
The toughest part of being back like Lumsden though, is the physical aspect takes a huge toll on the body. The weight and strength plus speed is a deadly combination if the body can handle it. If not, it can be disastrous. What happens when a semi-truck with a full load runs into a wood fence? The fence is crushed with little to no damage to the vehicle. If that same semi hits a solid concrete divider on a highway, it may go through, but parts of the semi are going to get severly damaged in the process.
That's where Lumsden's problem lies. He goes through people, and the bigger person you go through, the bigger toll it will be on your body.
Some backs are powerful, but aren't super fast. They lumber and are very hard to take down, but the collisions are so damaging because they aren't at 100 mph.
Jesse Lumsden will always be looked at for his punnishing and dominating style of play. He has aslo done enough to show he had the capability to be the class of the league at the tailback position. As a Canadian who loves (and hates) watching Jesse Lumsden play, it is my hope that his isn't a career that is remembered as a player whose body kept him out of the hall of fame.
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