Where Do Ingram, Richardson Rank Among All-Time Backfield Duos?
When a new duo breaks onto the scene and runs through, around, and over the competition, it's not long before the comparisons begin. "How good are they, really?" and, "Are they the best of all time?"
The Alabama Crimson Tide have just such a duo in Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson.
Following a 2009 BCS Championship, the pair entered 2010 as the odds-on favorite to lead their team back to the peak of college football glory.
So far in 2010, the pair already have combined for 664 yards rushing, 153 yards receiving, and a combined nine touchdowns.
Plus, Ingram didn't play the first two weeks, and he barely touched the ball in Week 3 at Duke (yet still amassed 151 yards on only nine carries).
It's clear that this pair, which combined for over 2,000 yards rushing in 2009, are back for another run at the coveted crystal football, even if Ingram's chances at a second Heisman may have taken a severe blow with his two-week absence.
But are they, or can they become the best backfield tandem of all time?
There are quite a number of backfield tandems over the years for which one could make the case as "best ever." Here are just some of the worthy contenders for that title.
Reggie Bush & LenDale White — Southern California Trojans (2003-2005)
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Every football fan in the nation knows the story of Reggie Bush. From high school to amazing freshman to Heisman winner to Super Bowl champion to the disgrace of returning the Heisman and forfeiture of records.
Bush was one of the most celebrated athletes of the 21st century. His college career was practically unrivaled.
In addition to the Heisman, in 2005 Bush also received the Walter Camp Award, the Doak Walker Award, AP Player of the Year honors, SN Player of the Year honors, and was a consensus All-American.
The status of these awards are now in question, as the NCAA has officially declared Reggie Bush ineligible for the 2005 season.
Some argue that his legacy at USC and in the NCAA as a whole is worthless and irrelevant.
Some maintain that regardless of his blatant and willful rules violations, he should still be recognized as the greatest running back of his day.
But no one can argue that his career at USC is not tainted.
Lost in all of the press about the NCAA investigation, and sanctions, the penalties, and the Heisman return is LenDale White.
Many people forget that White actually led the Trojans in rushing during his first two years in a Trojans' uniform. White was also selected as an All-American in 2005—an honor he still holds, unlike Bush.
White gave USC a in your face, down your throat running threat, while Bush provided the flashy moves and elusiveness that so many teams from the Pac-10 and SEC covet.
White left USC as the school's all-time leader in rushing touchdowns, which still stands.
Both Bush and White moved on the NFL (although White will miss all of 2010 with a torn Achilles tendon), and may have great careers ahead of them.
Unfortunately, the thing for which Bush-White will always be remembered is the aftermath of the investigations.
Laurence Maroney & Marion Barber, III — Minnesota Golden Gophers (2003-2004)
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After the past few seasons, the Golden Gophers would be ecstatic to have a pair of backs with half the talent of Maroney and Barber.
Barber was a legacy at Minnesota. His father played for the Golden Gophers, but Marion Barber Jr. was surpassed by his son on the school's all-time rushing touchdown leader board when his son, Marion Barber III tallied his 35th, and final career touchdown for the Gophers, good for second all-time in school history.
Maroney played in 36 games, but started only 14 of them. Still, he was able to become the first back in Minnesota history (and just the third in Big Ten history) to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons.
He was just shy of 4,000 yards for his career at Minnesota, and was an All-American in 2005.
While perhaps not the most prolific tandem in the history of sports, Maroney and Barber were able to split time effectively in the typically smash-mouth, grind 'em out style of football played in the Big Ten.
Eric Dickerson & Craig James — Southern Methodist (1979-1982)
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SMU's "Pony Express" tandem of Dickerson and James is perhaps best known not for their impressive statistics (of which there are many), but for one of the most amazing games in which they played — albeit on the losing end.
Both Dickerson and James were recruited for the 1979 season, the two shared carries with a third member of the '79 recruiting class, Charles Waggoner, until he fell to an injury during the 1979 season.
SMU's Pony Express system was devised to make the best use of both James and Dickerson, and before long it would prove to be the best running back system of the day.
Dickerson ended his career at SMU with 4,450 rushing yards, which broke Earl Campbell's Southwest Conference record. He also tied the legendary Doak Walker's SMU mark of 48 career touchdowns. Dickerson also finished the 1982 season third in Heisman voting.
James also had a number of career highlights at SMU, including 225 rushing yards in the spectacular 1980 Holiday Bowl loss to BYU.
James also set the record for the longest scoring play in Southerwestern Conference history in 1982: a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
However, like another great running back tandem two decades later, the legacy of Dickerson and James is remembered not for their accomplishments, but for the aftermath of NCAA investigations, although it's important to note that James was not accused of any wrongdoing, and accusations against Dickerson were never substantiated.
Dickerson and James both went on to pro careers, and Dickerson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999. James, "The Great White Hope" (the last white player in the NFL to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season) went on to a broadcasting career after playing in the NFL.
Darren McFadden & Felix Jones — Arkansas Razorbacks (2005-2007)
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Were it not for Darren McFadden, Felix Jones might well be remembered as one of the great backs ever to suit up for the Hogs.
Even with Heisman runner-up and Doak Walker winner McFadden in front of him, Jones could still be considered a great back in his own right.
The Arkansas version of the wildcat option (cleverly nicknamed the "wildhog") allowed Jones an opportunity to rack up some impressive statistics.
During his three years at Arkansas, Jones amassed 2,954 yards and 20 touchdowns, while adding 383 receiving yards along with three touchdowns.
He was really allowed to flex his muscle on kickoff returns, where he averaged over 27 yards per return, and had four kicks returned for six points.
Impressive enough to earn Jones a spot on the Dallas Cowboys' roster.
The fact that a back with the skills and talent of Jones was second on the depth chart points to the amazing abilities of teammate Darren McFadden.
McFadden is unquestionably the best running back in the history of Arkansas' football program.
He holds pretty much every rushing record the school has, not to mention his lofty SEC positions. He is only beaten out by Herschel Walker in terms of SEC all-time rushing yards.
If all of that wasn't enough, McFadden was selected as the cover athlete for EA's NCAA Football '09 for the XBox 360.
McFadden also hold at least one touchdown in every offensive category (41 rushing, 2 receiving, 1 return, and 7 passing). Add in 4,590 rushing yards, and you have yourself one great running back.
Jones and McFadden, however, were never able to lead the Razorbacks to an SEC title (although Arkansas did win the SEC-West in 2006), or even a single bowl win.
Perhaps the NHL has the best definition for their version of an MVP award: "the player judged to be most valuable to his team's success."
It's those last six words...
Felix Blanchard & Glenn Davis — Army Black Knights (1944-1946)
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In what many believe is the most successful (both personally and to their team) backfield duo in college football history, Mr. Inside (Blanchard) and Mr. Outside (Davis) were two of the most fearsome backs in the nation during the 1940's.
Both players were instrumental in Army's three national titles, and both won Heisman trophies (Blanchard in 1945, Davis in 1946).
Blanchard, the fullback, was well-known around the nation as one of the best athletes around. In addition to his duties as fullback, Blanchard was also kicker, punter, and linebacker.
Notre Dame's head coach Ed McKeever even referred to Blanchard as "Superman" after the Irish were thwomped by Army 59-0 in 1944.
Blanchard had over 1,900 yards and 38 touchdowns as a fullback for the Knights in his three years.
His partner, Mr. Outside, set an NCAA record (at the time) with 59 touchdowns.
He was a consensus All-American in each of his three seasons, and also played for Army on their basketball, baseball, and (not surprisingly, given his unrivaled speed), track.
Together, Blanchard and Davis accounted for 97 career touchdowns, a record that would stand until the days of Bush and White at USC. The tandem appeared on the cover of Time Magazine in November 1944—quite a feat, considering the noteworthy world events of late 1944.
While at Army, the two lead the Black Knights to a 27-0-1 record (with the tie being the famous 0-0 Army-Notre Dame classic played at Yankee Stadium), two out-right national championships (1944 and 1945) and a shared national championship (1946).
Blanchard asked the Army for a furlough so that he could play in the NFL (he was selected 3rd overall in the 1946 draft), but was turned down.
Blanchard served in the US Army Air Corps (which later became the US Air Force) with distinction after graduating, earning numerous distinctions.
He flew fighters during Vietnam, and retired from the Air Force in 1971 as a Colonel.
Davis, however, got his shot at the NFL, but his career ended after only two seasons with a knee injury.
The fact that both of these men won the Heisman, and led their team to a undefeated record and three national titles puts them in a strong position to lay claim as the "best backfield duo" in history.
Mark Ingram & Trent Richardson — Alabama Crimson Tide (2009-Present)
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Ingram didn't play against San Jose State or Penn State, sidelined with a knee injury suffered during practice.
His return in the Tide's game at Duke was brief, but inspired. The 2009 Heisman winner touched the ball only nine times, but averaged nearly 17 yards per rush for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Not bad for an afternoon's work.
Arkansas provided more of a challenge, but Ingram still managed 6.5 yards per rush, and he also added two receptions for 27 yards.
Any defense in the nation would pay special attention to a back like Ingram. But what really keeps defensive coordinators up at night is the second back for the Tide.
Sophomore Trent Richardson is far and away the best running back in the nation that isn't the top running back on his team.
In fact, he's so good, that on any other team, he'd easily be the top carrier.
He'll get the chance (probably next year if Ingram leaves school for the NFL after his 2010 junior campaign), but in the meantime, he seems to be doing just fine, averaging 7.6 yards per carry thus far in 2010.
Richardson filled in nicely for Ingram during the first two weeks, but since Ingram's return, his number of reps have gone down. While that was expected, one thing surprised many pundits: his yards per carry increased.
In fact, Richardson averaged about 6.5 yards per carry without Ingram in the lineup. But since Ingram's return, Richardson averages better than 9.7 yards per carry.
The one-two punch provided by Ingram and Richardson are more than any defense can handle. By the time one back tires out the defense, a set of fresh legs enters the game to deal a knockout blow.
If they're both on the field at the same time? Covering one of these guys is hard enough. Both of them...
So, where does this put Ingram-Richardson on the list of all-time backfield duos? Are they destined to be one of the greatest pairs of all time? Do they compare with the heroes of yesteryear?
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