College Football: The Top 25 SEC Quarterbacks of the Past 50 Years
From 1960 to 2010, the SEC has built a reputation based upon impressive coaching,ย solid defenses and outstanding quarterback play.
There are a number of methods to determine who is a "top player" and in this review we shall concern ourselves with the following criteria:
No. 1: Did theย quarterback display hisย talent in college?
No. 2: Was the player effective in leading hisย team to winning seasons?
No. 3:ย Did the intense competitionย of SEC play provide the field general an opportunity toย improve through his careerย and eventually achieve "legendary" status?
Now that we know the parameters, let us agreeย on two rulesย concerning this evaluation:
No. 1: We will use all 12 schools currently in the SEC even if the choice from that institution did not actually play in the SEC. Case in point would be someone from South Carolina or Arkansas.
No. 2: We will not use anyone from schools no longer in the SEC even if they have a viable candidate. Case in point, the late Billy Lothridge of Georgia Tech,1963 first runner-upย for the Heisman Trophy.
With so many choices,ย it is easy to pick out 40 or 50 candidates toย meet the criteria.
Some, like the great Richard Todd (see picture), have left echoes of their performances so we may evaluate them just as if they were to takeย the fieldย this comingย September.
We now will look at the cream of the crop.
No. 25: Dan Reeves, South Carolina 1962-64
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Dan Reeves is close to being the greatest player ever at the University of South Carolina.
In the days of Reeves, freshmen were ineligible to playย college football or basketball.
Danย became the starting quarterback during his first seasonย and was namedย all-conferenceย as a junior and senior. During the time of Reeves, South Carolina was a member of the ACC.
Reeves was a fine passer and outstanding runner.
He set 10 school passingย records, highlighted by a 240-yard afternoon against coach Bob Devaney's eventual Big Eight Conference champion Nebraska Cornhuskers in 1964.
Coach Devaney,ย called more than onceย the sharpest judge of talent in football history, stated after that contestย "Danย Reeves looks at defenses like a coach"ย ย and his words would prove prophetic in time.
Danย leftย Carolina as the leading passer in Gamecock history.
Not bad for a kid who spent his entire professional football career as a running back.
Among more recent SEC signal-callers,ย quarterback Dan Reeves resemblesย Matt Jones of Arkansas.
No. 24: Joe Ferguson, Arkansas 1970-72
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In the halcyon days of the Southwest Conference, Joe Ferguson led the Razorbacks of Arkansas offense and threw the ball as well as anyone in the country.
If the rankings in thisย article were based upon theย quarterbacks from the current SEC schoolsย who had the best professionalย careers, Ferguson would be near the top. Along withย teammate O.J. Simpson, the astounding duoย made Buffalo a force to reckon with in the 1970sย despite lacking overall talent throughout the roster.
Fergusonย set theย Arkansas record for most completions in a game with 31 against Texas A&M in 1971 and passed for a total of 4,431ย yards in his three years of eligibility.
In 1971 Joeย collected the Offensive Player of the Year award for the entire conference.
Of the more current SEC quarterbacks, the one who most resembles the style of play Ferguson demonstrated would be Kentucky's Tim Couch.
No. 23: Dewey "The Swamp Rat" Warren, Tennessee 1965-67
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The Swamp Rat came from Savannah, Georgia to save the Tennessee program from mediocrity.
In the three-yearย career of Dewey Warren, the Volunteers won 25ย games and lost six; 19 of those wins had the Swamp Rat starting at quarterback.
In the three seasons prior to Warren taking over, Tennessee had won 13 and lost 16.
Quite a difference this cagey individual made on the scene in Knoxville.
Dewey came from the swampland of Savannah to become the first person to pass for over 1,000 yards in Volunteer history.
Although he may not haveย a luggage full of impressiveย statistics, Warren was the man most responsible for turning around a giant football program that was in a deep decline before he arrived.
No. 22: Andre' Woodson, Kentucky 2004-2007
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Andre' Woodson possessedย more passing talent than many of hisย contemporariesย throughout the rest of the nation.
In the ultra-talented SECย of his era, Woodson stood out as an effective leader who was able to take a team lacking overall ability and stillย break several passing records.
Woodsonย set theย all-time NCAA record ofย consecutive pass attempts without an interception with 325.
Andre' set the SEC record for most touchdown passes in a season with 40 in 2007.
Woodson also set the Kentuckyย recordย for career touchdown passes with 81 strikes for six points.
Andre' completed his career in Lexington with 822 pass completions in 1,311 attempts for 9,360 yards.
Ultimately, Woodsonย must beย viewed as a player of talent with excellent individual achievements who suffered with a team that wonย onlyย 21ย of their 48 games during his four years at Kentucky.
No. 21: Jason Campbell, Auburn 2001-04
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Undefeated in 2004.
SEC Player of the Year in 2004.
MVP of the SEC Championship Game in 2004.
What many quarterbacks would do just to have those three statistics in their playing career.
Jason Campbell graduated with a degree in public administration. If he runs a city or countyย the way he ran the Auburn football team the residents will have no problems.
Campbell succeeded despite having a different offensive coordinator each season. That is the sign of a very bright student of the game.
In his senior season, Campbell threw 20 touchdown passes with only seven interceptions andย completed 70 percent of his 270 passes.
Winner andย champion.
No. 20:Tee Martin, Tennessee 1996-99
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Tee Martin is the most underrated player in the history ofย Volunteer football.
Martin accomplished three thingsย his predecessor failed to doย at the University of Tennessee.
In the season following Peytonย Manning's departure from Knoxville, Martin tookย over theย same team andย beat Florida, went undefeated and won the national championship.
So much for falling in love with individual accolades and statistics as the only measure of a man's accomplishments.
Martin will live forever in college football historyย as theย quarterback of the first BCS champion.ย ย
No. 19: Jimmy Sidle, Auburn 1962-64
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The late Jimmy Sidle was much likeย another Tiger hero, Cam Newton,ย in that he was a man among boys.
Standingย 6'3" and weighing 220 pounds,ย Sidle simply ran over the smaller defenders of his era.
In 1963, Sidle became the first quarterback to lead the nation in rushing, averaging over 100 yards a game on the ground.
1963 was a magical year for Sidle as he lead the SEC in total offense and was named All-America for his trouble.
Sidle ledย Auburnย to a 9-1 regular season in 1963 and the Tigers received an invitation to play coach Bob Devaney's powerful Nebraska Cornhuskersย in the final daytimeย Orange Bowl.
Sidle ran for 96 yards and completed 14-of-27 pass attempts for 157 yards in a stirring effort againstย theย champions of the Big Eight Conference.
He scored the Tigers' only touchdown in a 13-7 loss,ย his 13-yardย run toย paydirtย was the only touchdown given upย by Nebraska in the third quarter all year long.ย
An injury in the 1964ย season opener against Houston curtailed Sidle's performanceย by sidelining him from his quarterback position.
Jimmy refused to become a fifth wheel andย continued to provide an offensive spark for the Plainsmenย by playingย tailback.
The lasting effects of his college injury doomedย Jimmy's professional career.
In 1999, Sidle passed away from heart failure at the age of 57.
No. 18: Condredge Holloway, Tennessee 1972-74
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The first African-American to start at quarterback in the SEC, Condredge Hollowayย won acclaimย throughout the league for his outstanding play as a runner, passer and leader.
This former great Tennessee quarterback is so respected that he is a member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame along with Willie Mays, Joe Louis andย Henry Aaron among other notables.ย
A native of Huntsville, where his Mother was an employ of NASA, Holloway quickly and effectively hushed any whispers about his ability to lead an SEC football team.
Years after his career ended he was acknowledged as the one person who inspiredย manyย young menย to believe they could succeed as a starting quarterback in the SEC and as such is viewed as a trailblazer.
There is no question his path to stardom was more difficult as "the first" and his road was paved with obstacles to success.
Condredge was a quarterback who made good decisions on the field, tossing only 12 interceptions in his 407 pass attempts while leading the Volunteers to 25 wins and only nine losses in his three years as a starter in Knoxville.
As sensational a player as he was,ย it is his role as the Jackie Robinson of SEC quarterbacks that raises his significance as one of the top SEC quarterbacks of the past 50 years.
No. 17: Richard Todd, Alabama 1972-75
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Richard Todd never lost an SEC game in all of his years asย the starting quarterback of Alabama.
That in itselfย solidifies Todd's placement among the top conferenceย quarterbacks of the past half-century.
Todd was a fantastic passer who made a living throwing the ball for money after leaving Alabama.
Incredibly, Alabama operated the multiple-option wishbone offense during the time of Todd so any passing he did was simply to keep the opponent off balance.
During Todd'sย career at Alabama,ย the Tide won 42 of 44 regular-season contests.
The handsome Todd, standing nearly 6'3" and weighing a solid 210 pounds, had a far-reaching impact.
He wasย more than someone with a sack of statistics and a pile of losses to show for it; this is a winner.
Because of his greatnessย in every aspect of the game, Toddย is oneย of theย top SEC quarterbacks of the past 50 years.
No. 16: Bert Jones, LSU 1970-72
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Tremendous talent.
Those two words are consistently used to describe Bert Jones by those whoย witnessed him grab victory from defeat again and again during a highly successful college career in Baton Rouge.
Standing 6'3" and weighing 210 pounds, the "Ruston Rifle"ย set the all-time record at LSU for passing yards and touchdowns despite starting only half of the games in his three years as a Bayou Bengal.
Jones backed up big Buddy Lee in a 1970 season that saw the Tigers advance to the Orange Bowlย and take on the eventual national champion Nebraska Cornhuskersย ofย coach Bob Devaney.
The followingย year, Jones began to make his mark on SEC history, becoming known as the quarterback who got his team out of trouble when the pressure was greatest.
During hisย time at LSU, Jones completed 53 percent of his passes for 3,225 yards and 28 touchdowns,ย records at that time for any quarterback in LSU history.
Jones finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1972.
Many years later, theย Pittsburgh Post Gazette newspaper reported anย incident that took place on the night before Super Bowl XLII.
When asked about the greatest quarterbacks of all time, coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots described Jones as "the best pure passer" he had everย witnessed on a football field.
This coming fromย the man whoย coaches Tom Bradyย and faces Peyton Manning regularly.
Let thatย be the finalย comment concerningย the greatย Bert Jones.
No. 15: John Reaves, Florida 1969-71
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John Reaves was a phenomenal passerย and leader.
A native of Anniston, Alabama, the Reavesย family moved to Florida when John was nine years old.
Standing over 6'3" and weighing 215 pounds,ย John possessed huge hands (see picture) that would swallow the football.
Theย physical attributeย only helped his accuracy in tossing the pigskin.
Producing aย 9-1-1 record as aย sophomore, Johnย Reavesย broke every Florida passing record duringย his career.
Along the way heย set theย NCAA career passing record of 7,581 yards and the SEC career touchdown record with 56.
As a senior, he was named first-team All-America andย received theย Sammy Baugh Trophy as recognitionย for being the best passer in the nation.
Unfortunately, John's last two seasons in Gainesville produced only a .500 record of 11-11.
Reaves has worked in coaching for many years. Heย is the father-in-law of Southern California coach Lane Kiffin.
Johnย has suffered from someย personal issues later in life that resulted in causing heartache for family members. Let us all hope this amazing athlete can overcome his problems.
No. 14: Tim Couch, Kentucky 1996-98
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Tim Couch was a passer who reflected the aggressive approach of his offensive coach, Mike Leach.
Standing 6'4" and weighing 220 pounds, Couch was a tremendous high school athlete in the state of Kentucky where he tossed 133 touchdown passes andย as a basketball player averaged 36 points a game.
Taking into consideration Couch threw only 84 passes while playing behind Billy Jack Haskinsย during his freshman season and decided toย leave for theย National Football League after his junior year, his career totals are astonishing.
Couch's career totals at Kentucky included completing 795-of-1,184 passes for a 67 percentย success rate.
This avalanche of passingย culminated in 8,435 yards (including 4,275 passing yards during the 1998 season alone) and 74 touchdowns.
Couchย holds theย NCAA record for completion percentageย in a game with a minimum of 40 completions. Tim accomplished thisย against Vanderbiltย in 1998 when he connectedย 44 times out of of 53 attemptsย for an 83 percentย rate.
He averaged 36 completions a game inย 1998 while tossing for 4,275 yards that season.
Heย left Kentucky holding NCAA records for most completions in a season, most completions in a two-year period andย most completions per game in a two-year period.
In 1998, Couch was theย Player of the Year in the SEC and a Heisman Trophy award finalist..
During his three seasons at Kentucky, Couchย saw his Wildcats win only 16 of 34 games as the overall talent level in Lexington could not keep up with the other schools in the conference.
No. 13: David Greene, Georgia 2001-04
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David Greene was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year forย in 2002ย and led the Bulldogs to the SEC Championship that season.
Greeneย finished his careerย with a record of 42 wins and 10 losses, an 81 percent winning rate.
The 42 wins by a quarterback in his college career was a record that stood for five years until broken by Colt McCoy of Texas.
In his final year, Greene set an odd SEC record when he threw 214 consecutiveย passes without an interception.
The Georgia teams during Greene's four yearsย finished in the national Top 10ย rankingsย three times.
During Greene'sย first season, he was the SEC Freshman of the Year. As a sophomore heย was selectedย to theย all-conference first team.
In Greene's junior and senior seasons, he was named SEC second-team all-conference.
The Bulldogs were not able to recapture the magic of the 2002 championship season during Greene's final two years in Athens.
Georgia didย post victories in the Outback and Capital One Bowl games andย David completed his career without losing to arch-rivalย Georgia Tech.
Considering Greene played in more games (52) than virtually any player in college football history, it was not altogether surprising to find him leaving school as the SEC all-time leader in yards gained.
Greene's total of 11,270 yardsย speaks for itself when considering theย topย quarterbacks of the past 50 years in the Southeastern Conference...
No. 12: Derrick Ramsey, Kentucky 1974-77
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Derrick Ramseyย stood 6'5" and weighed 255 pounds.
This is the man who changed college footballโonly it took the game nearly 30 years to catch up to him.
Derrick Ramsey was Cam Newton before Cam Newton walked the earth.
A native of Florida who went to school inย New Jersey, the enormous Ramsey was equally at home at quarterback or tight end, a position he played for nine years in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots.
Upon Ramsey'sย arriving in Lexington, Wildcat coach Fran Curci didn't quite know what to make of the huge man who could play quarterback.
Announcing in '76 that Derrick was the best "runner, receiver, passer, and blocker on the team," Curci decided to go with Ramsey asย the full-time signal-caller.
Considering Kentucky had won a total of 81ย gamesย in theย 20 seasons prior to Derrick's arrival on campus, the effect of Ramsey as the Wildcat quarterback was staggering.
Ramsey could run over any defensiveย lineman, much less a linebacker. Players in the secondary were totally helplessย whenย hoping toย make aย tackle.ย
In the open field he could outrun any pursuer.
He could thread a needle with his passes or launch bombs that covered the length of the field.
Sound familiar?
How good was Derrick Ramsey?
Take these two factsย under consideration.
The onlyย SEC championshipย won by Kentucky since Bear Bryant was the coach in 1950ย happened when Ramsey was the quarterback.
The only Kentucky team thatย finished undefeatedย in conference playย duringย SECย historyย occurred when Ramsey was the quarterback.
How big an impact did Ramsey have on the Kentucky program?
In Ramsey's senior year, Kentucky won 10 and lost only once, finishingย No. 6 in the AP Poll.
Since Ramsey left the playing field in Lexington, the Wildcats have produced exactly one squad that finished in the Top 25 nationally, the No.19-ranked team of 1984.
When it comes to Kentucky football, Derrick Ramsey is the alpha and the omega.
Possessing an outstanding and analytical mind, Ramsey served his alma mater as an athletic administrator before moving on to become the AD at Kentucky State University.
Called to service once again, Ramseyย spent four years as the Deputy Secretary of Commerce for the state of Kentucky.
The talented Mr. Ramsey is currently the Athletic Director at Coppin State University in Baltimore.
No. 11: Ken Stabler, Alabama 1965-67
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Ken Stabler had a reputation as a gambler.ย
Don't bet on it.
Stabler taking the fieldย during his junior and senior seasonsย was a sure thing for coach Paul Bryant's Crimson Tide.
Alabama lost one regular-season game in that time and the man known as "The Snake" was a primary reason for the success.
Stabler is something of an enigma. He is well liked by fans, respected by foes and admired as one of theย all-time most popularย members of theย Oakland Raidersย in professional football.
In college football, Stabler was a bit overshadowed by his circumstances.
The wild days of mid-1960s SEC football did not lend itself to a single domineering presence; there were several futureย legends makingย names for themselves during the era.
In Stabler'sย first season, 1965,ย he was the second-string quarterback behindย Steve Sloan.
Stabler's statistics for the yearย were underwhelming. He attempted 11 passes and completed three for 26 yards.
Sloan led the Crimson Tide to a 39-28 victory over coach Bob Devaney's undefeatedย Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Orange Bowl and claimed the mythicalย AP national championship.
Stabler's junior year of 1966ย was his bestย statistically; he completed 74 passes during the year for 956 yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions.
His Crimson Tide went undefeated, finished No. 3 inย the polls and Stabler led Alabama to the Sugar Bowl (see picture), where they defeatedย coach Bob Devaney's Nebraska Cornhuskers, 34-7.
Steve Spurrier won the 1966ย Heisman Trophy; Ken Stabler was not even mentioned.
The world came crashing down on "The Snake" in his final season at Tuscaloosa in 1967.
Coach Bryant kicked Stabler off the team temporarily due to misbehavior.
Thisย personality traitย would go a long way in securingย "The Snake's"ย role as King of the Oakland Raiders' terrifying Silver and Black nationย in the 1970s under coach John Madden.
Itย "cut no ice"ย for a schoolboy playingย under the legendary Bear in the 1960s.
Stabler's performance suffered on the field in '67. He completed 58 percent of his 178 passes but became known as a player who "went to the well once too often."
Thisย reputation proved correct as demonstrated byย his 13 interceptions and only nine touchdowns.
Alabama was tied by Florida State in their opener,ย beaten by Tennessee and lost toย Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl during Stabler's senior campaign.
Stabler was a noted runner during his time at Alabama. He rushed for a total of 838 yards and nine touchdowns.
Even that betrayed him duringย his final year when he averaged only one yard a carry.
Stabler failed to make a dent in the top 10ย for the 1967 Heisman Trophy.
He doesn't have theย achievements as a passer or runner to qualify him for such notice.
Still, the mystery and excitement of Kenny Stabler remains present.
Obviously, he is considered one of the mostย liked football players of all time.
It has been said Ken Stabler can walk down the scariest street in the country and all he will be asked for is his autograph.
The legendary Snakeโthey broke the mold when he was made.
No. 10: Eli Manning, Mississippi 2000-03
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Standingย 6'5" and weighingย 225 pounds, Eli Manningย was built to play football.
Heย set or tied 45 single-game, season and career records during his career at Ole Miss.
He passed for over 10,000 yardsย during his time in Oxford, good enough for fifth place on the all-time SEC list.
His 81 touchdown passes areย third-bestย for an SECย career andย his passer rating of 137.7 is sixth in SEC history.
In his final season as a Rebel,ย Eli captured the Maxwell Awardย as the nationโs best all-around player.
He also won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award,ย was named SEC Player of the Year,ย won the Cotton Bowl MVP award and finished third in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
Almost single-handed, Eli rescued the moribund Ole Miss football program and turned it into a competitive opponent for any SEC foe.
No. 9: Peyton Manning, Tennessee 1994-97
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Peyton Manningย suffered a hard life in Knoxville.
Pounded by the press on why he did not follow in his father's footsteps to Ole Miss, said to be "a sack waiting to happen," along with a reputation for not being able to win "the big one"ย against theย Florida Gators, young Manning faced a lot of adversity during his four-year career.
Let's take the issues one at a time:
1. Peyton's father, the legendary Archie Manning, had no problem with his son going to Knoxville to matriculate. If he did, he didn't voice his concerns in public. The decisionย appeared to be all Peyton's ideaย and was made in a business-like manner.
2. Peyton will never remind anyone of his father as a scrambler, but he did improve over timeย upon theย occasions whenย he allowed himself to be corralled by on-rushing defenders.
3. The Florida situation is another matter. In Peyton's four meetings with coach Steve Spurrier's Gators, the Vols lost each time and by a stunning cumulativeย score of 161-86.
Eventually, much of the public outside of the Volunteer state did begin to warm toward Peyton and by the time he left UT, following a 42-17ย Orange Bowl blowout lossย to Nebraska, he seemed to be more of a man to be respected for what he had to endure in his career than being simply disliked.
Among the SEC records Peyton established while playing for the Volunteers were the lowest interception percentage in a season and for a career, most games (18) with over 300 yards passing and setting the record for the highest completion percentage (62)ย in a career.
In his senior season, Peyton scooped up a number of impressive individual awards including the Maxwell, Davey O'Brien, Johnny Unitas and the prestigious Sullivan.
Manningย never wonย the national championship, nor was he selected for the Heisman Trophy, but he did experience 40 victories in 49 games during his career.
Manning started 45 of those games at UT, and won 39 of them for a winning percentage of 87 percent. This is a more important statistic than just the number of games won.
Why? Because longer seasons and starting opportunitiesย impact totals without actually being nearly as impressive as the percentage of games won.
Fans of Manning can take comfort in knowing that after entering professional football in 1998, he has gone on to become one of the greatest players ever in the National Football League.
No. 8: Pat Trammell, Alabama 1959-61
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The eldest player on the list is quite possibly the personย most responsible for the new age of college football in the SEC.
Meet Mr. Alabama Football.
Time does not diminish the amazing accomplishments of this incredible leader of men who used his iron will to rescueย the Alabama program from a sea of ineptitude.
The Crimson Tide had won a total ofย only 13ย games in the five seasons prior toย Pat Trammell's first varsity contest.ย
Trammell was present during the golden age of SEC football, a 10-season periodย from 1957 to 1966 where the conference produced at least one team each season who claimed all or part of the nationalย championship.
Trammell was the leader of the best of those teams, the invincible 1961 Crimson Tide.
Coach Paul Bryant recruited Patย to anchor his first recruiting class in Tuscaloosa, and what an anchor he was.
Upon arriving on campus, Patย installed himself as theย team leader and was Alabama's starting quarterback for all three years of eligibility.
During his time at the helm, Alabama lost onlyย three total games and was the undefeated national champion inย Trammell's senior year.
SECย Player of the Year, All-Americaย both athletically and academically, leader of the national champions andย honored at aย reception in Washington, D.C. byย President John F. Kennedy.ย
Trammell's story and career choice have impactedย young men for decades.
Patย was a strongย role model who took his responsibility to serve mankindย seriously and had earned hisย M.D. degreeย by 1966.
He was described asย aย student who preparedย classic research papers used for reference many years after hisย daysย in medicalย school.
Young Dr. Trammell was a specialist inย dermatologyย who diagnosed Auburn head coach Shug Jordan with skin cancer and successfully treated him.
Heย encouraged others to help our fellowย human beings pursue a life of goodย health and harmony, leading by example.
Talk circulated concerning the needย to have Trammell in theย political arena as aย natural leader with an eye towardย betterย health care for all citizens.
But it was all over before it could really begin.
Almost unbelievably, at the age of 28, Pat Trammell met his ownย tragic demise at the hands ofย cancer.ย
Such irony is of biblical proportions.
If the choices for thisย article were decided simply on personal preference and admiration of the individualย instead of what really happened on the field,ย Trammell would rankย higherโperhaps even No. 2.
Aย determining factor in correct decision-making is the ability to put aside personal bias and present a grounded review based upon facts.
Adhering to these principles isย vitalย concerning anyย evaluation, and so the late Pat Trammell goes on to take his placeย as the eighth-best quarterback of the past 50 years in the SEC.ย
No. 7: Archie Manning, Mississippi 1968-70
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Arguably the greatest player in college football history during his first two seasons in Oxford.
You know you are somebody when there is an award named in your honor.
Archie Manning never won his ownย Manning Award (it did not exist in the 20th century) nor did he capture the Heisman Trophy.
His failure to do so layย at the feet of voters who turned their back on his junior-season performance in 1969 and opted forย a conventional senior-class winner in Steve Owens of Oklahoma.
Somehow the image of Jimi Hendrix opening on stage for the Monkees in 1967ย comes to mind.
Archie Manning faced incredible adversity during his time at Ole Miss.
The most terrible personalย tragedy was beingย 19 years oldย and losing his father to suicide.
To his credit, Archie worked his way back from the tragedy to become a wonderful and lovingย parent and it is easily seen in the behavior of his famous sons, Eli and Peyton.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Manningย was the starting quarterback atย Ole Missย for all threeย years of eligibility and he led a Rebel team that lacked talent all over the field.
Incredibly, Manning took Ole Miss to the Sugar Bowl in the '69 season and alsoย inflicted the only loss of the yearย on the LSU Tigers.
In aย 1969 clash with Alabama, Manning threw for 436 yards and three scoresย while rushing for 104 yards. The 540 total yards was an SEC all-time record.ย Ole Missย lost that game by one point.
There was no denying the Rebel players tried their best to protect him and offered their best effort on defense as well.ย
In his career, Manningย threw for 4,753 yards and 56 touchdowns and ran for 823 yards. He scored 14 touchdowns himselfย in 1969.
Inย 1969ย he won The Nashville Bannerย Trophy as theย Most Valuable Player in the Southeastern Conference and wasย fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Regional biasย was the culpritย against the Mississippian in the '69 Heismanย voting.ย Archieย did not evenย finish in the top five in the East, Midwest and West regions despite winning the South region.ย
Not only was Manningย notย listed in the Eastern top fiveย but defensive tackles Mike Reid of Penn State and Mike McCoy of Notre Dameย finished third and fifth in that region!
Hopefully, no one is wasting any timeย toiling to winย a "Reid or McCoy" awardย this autumn.
In early November of 1970, disaster struck the Ole Miss squad when Archie broke his arm while playing against the Houston Cougars. He would miss much of the season.
Having been theย favorite to capture the 1970ย Heismanย Trophy beforeย his injury, Manning accepted his more or less predictable third-place finishย as a gentlemanย and thanked the voters who did support him.
It would not be the final time the Manning family had to swallowย a bitter pill of disappointment concerning the most prestigiousย award.
Manning was inducted to theย College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
Archieย is honored on the campus of Ole Miss where the speed limit is 18 miles per hour in honor ofย his jersey number.
In a New York Times article on November 22, 2003, writer Joe Drape reveals a comment fromย the late Alabama coach Bear Bryant who stated "Archie Manning is the best college quarterback I have ever seen play."
Let's just leave it at that.
No. 6: Steve Spurrier, Florida 1964-66
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1966 Heisman Trophy winner.
Along with the lateย Paul Bryant, Steve Spurrier is the very face of the SEC during the past 50 years.
Forty-seven years ago, the spectacular "new kid on the block" took his undefeated andย No. 9-rankedย Florida Gators into Tuscaloosa for a contest with the undefeated and No. 3-ranked Crimson Tide of coach Bearย Bryant
The Tide had given up a total of 17 points after five games going into the October 24 showdown.
Spurrier, operating under the guidance of his offensive coach and mentor Pepper Rogers,ย came close to knocking off the behemoth, butย Alabamaย rallied forย 10 points in the fourth quarter to survive, 17-14
It was the only meeting on the field between Spurrier and Bryant in their storied careers.
Like the Bear,ย Steve had an indomitable drive to compete and win. The Gators went to the Sugar Bowl in the following season and to the Orange Bowl in Spurrier's final game as quarterback of the Gators.
The two men are closely intertwined in football history, with many similarities as coaches.
The low point in theย careers of Spurrier and Bryantย occurred when they were eachย in theirย 50s and wereย annihilated by Nebraska teamsย for the national championship, Bryant by 32 and Spurrier by 38.
To each man's credit, they came back to become more successful than ever.
Spurrier finished his three-year career as Florida's starting quarterbackย with 392 completionsย in 692 passย attemptsย for a total ofย 4,848 passing yards.
Asย long asย fans of college football have Steve Spurrier around, a littleย of the Bear will always be with us.
No. 5: Pat Sullivan, Auburn 1969-71
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1971 Heisman Trophy winner.
Sullivan was a star player on the plains during a time of gifted signal-callers in the SEC.
Scott Hunter, Mike Cavan, John Reaves, Bert Jones and Archie Manningย are some of the more notable opponents of the Tigers during Sullivan's era.
Inย Pat's three years of eligibility atย Auburn, the Tigersย had a regular-season record of 25-5 and averaged over 34 points a game on offense.
Small by today's standardsย for a quarterback,ย the 6'0"ย 190-pound Sullivanย led the NCAAย in total offense during 1970ย with 2,856 yards and set an NCAA record for most yards per play with an average of nearly nine yards a snap.
As a result, Sullivan was named the 1970 SEC Player of the Year.
In an overall career of 33 games, Sullivan tossed 53 touchdown passes and ran for another 18 to tie the existing national record.
In 1971, Patย led Auburn to the Sugar Bowl while amassing 2,012 passing yards and 20 touchdowns.
Pat Sullivan wasย an Academic All-American whoย finished his college career with 6,284 totalย passing yards.
No. 4: Danny Wuerffel, Florida 1993-96
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Danny Wuerffel won theย Heisman Trophy in his senior season and led coach Steve Spurrier's Florida Gators the 1996 national championship.
Wuerffelย won theย Sammy Baugh Trophyย in 1995, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in 1996 and the Davey O'Brien Award in 1995 and 1996.
Dannyย completed 708-of-1,170 passes for 10,875 yards with 114 touchdown passes during his career in Gainesville.
Thisย accomplishment isย the best in SEC history, and ranks second inย the entire history of college football.
His career pass efficiency rating of 163.56 was the best in major college history and his percentage of passesย forย touchdownsย rankedย first in collegiate history.
In 1995, his efficiency rating of 178.4 set a single-season collegiate record.
Have to tip your hat toย the actual accomplishments on the field by this son of a Lutheran minister.ย
No. 3: Cam Newton, Auburn 2010
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Cam Newtonย won theย Heisman Trophy and ledย Auburn to theย BCS Championship in the 2010 season.
Mr.ย Newton recently met with the President of the United States (see picture) and discussed the historic journey and meteoric riseย of the current BCS champion Auburn Tigersย through the highly competitive SEC.
Cam'sย epicย climb to the most talked about non-professional athlete in theย nationย began inauspiciously enough; he was the backupย forย Tim Tebow at Florida, under the watchful eye of offensive coach Dan Mullen.
The thought of Tebow and Newton as teammatesย on the field at the same timeย has to be the most terrifyingย image anyย defensive coordinator has ever had.
Fortunately forย everyone but Gator fans,ย Cam left Gainesville and went on to win the nationalย championship at Blinn Junior College in Texas under coach Brad Franchione.
We can only theorize about Newton's place on this list if he had played more than one season atย Auburn.
For what it is worth, Newton collectedย a sack of full of hardware reflecting his performance in 2010.
Amongย his variousย recognitions of accomplishmentย we find the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Davey O'Brien Award andย Associated Press College Football Player of the Year.
A dazzling achievement for Newton is winning the Manning Award, presented to the nation's best quarterback as judged by the Sugar Bowl Committee and named inย honor of Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning of Ole Missย andย his sons Peyton and Eli.
Quite a journey forย a youngsterย from College Park, Georgia.ย
No. 2: Tim Tebow, Florida 2006-09
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Tim Tebowย won the 2009 Heisman Trophy while leading Florida to the BCS championship.
Tebow represents everything good about friendly competition on a Saturday.
The former Florida quarterback has been described as "the greatest college football player who ever lived" by a variety of observers around the nation while also having a reputation of "being aย better person than player" by those who know him well.
Tim is the first sophomore to ever win the Heisman Trophy and also played on two BCS championship teamsย while in Gainesville.
Tebow wasย the first college football player to bothย rush and pass for more than 20 touchdowns in a single season.
The incredible legacy left by this 6'3" 245-poundย superstar may never beย surpassed.
In addition to winning the Heisman Trophy, Tim earnedย theย Maxwell Award twiceย as the nation's top football player, theย Davey O'Brien Awardย as the nation's best quarterbackย along with theย Sullivan Awardย as the nation's most outstanding amateur athlete in any sport.
Theย MVP of theย BCS National Championship contest, Tebow is the only three-timeย winner of the Floridaย Gators' most valuable player award, honored by his teammates in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
No. 1: Joe Namath, Alabama 1962-64
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Ifย not for Joe Namath, football would still be playing second fiddle to baseball in the United States.
Namath is bigger than any award, bigger than any championship, and far more than a simple statistic.
No. 12 on the field for Alabamaย at the peak ofย his power isย the definition of a legend.
He has the performance credentialsย of aย star; he has the national championship, the long winning streak.
In those white shoes walked a giant whose impact is still being felt today each time someone speaks of how college football has become a business and professional football has become a celebrity-driven industry.
This is not a man among boys; this is a man among men.
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