Eric Strickland...........

[Comish]

Seeing Strickland introduced at the “Bob” last night birthed a question.

 

Is Eric Strickland the best overall ATHLETE in Nebraska athletic history?

 

I remember seeing him as a high school freshman and physically, he already looked like a college senior.

 

He was an All-State receiver as a high school sophomore and I have no doubt he could have been a professional receiver or safety.

 

He was the first Nebraskan ever to be All-Nebraska in 3 sports at Bellevue West.

 

He had a great career in the NBA and also played a couple years in minor league baseball.

 

If I recall correctly, he even toyed with the idea of playing a final year for the football team after his eligibility was exhausted in basketball, but gave it up because of potential jeopardy to his professional basketball career.

 

If not Strickland, who would you select in place of him ??

[Count 'Bility]

That's a tough one. He has to be right up in the top 5. Maybe a bit hurt because he was primarily a basktetball player, but he also played the most successful 4 year stretch in the programs history. I remember watching him his freshman and sophomore years and holy cow. As if Nebraska and Nee didnt run up and down the court fast enough, he comes off the bench and takes it to another level

[Redtillimdead]

Is Andy roddick a Nebraska kid.... No matter he wins cause his athletic prowess got him Brooklyn Decker!!! Nuff said, let's move on.

[NUance]

Erick Strickland? I dunno. He is listed as one of the 50 best on this SI list: LINK But there are 40 athletes listed ahead of him.

[knapplc]

I think you have to include Allison Weston in your top five, maybe top three. She was physically dominant on the VB court, maybe not the biggest person but the strongest, and best by far during her era. She was unstoppable at times, despite two- and three-man blocks. She'd hit over, around or through them - didn't matter. Ally was such an impact player that for about 5-10 years they renamed 84th Street through La Vista "Allison Weston Boulevard - Street of Champions."

 

Ally was a two-sport standout in high school, making All-State in both volleyball and basketball her junior and senior seasons. She was the JournalStar and OWH Prep Athlete of the year in 1992. She led Nebraska to their first ever National Championship in volleyball, again despite stacked blocks - and she played back row equally well in an era where tall girls were routinely subbed out for defensive specialists (this was before the Libero was adopted by the NCAA). She was a three-time First-Team All American, and she was the NCAA Player of the Year in 1995, the year we won the title.

 

After Nebraska she went on to be the Captain of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Volleyball team. I'd say Ally's resume puts her firmly in this conversation.

[NUance]

I tried to find the OWH's list of the greatest Nebraska athletes from about four or five years ago. Couldn't find it. Anyone got a link?

[Comish]

I think you have to include Allison Weston in your top five, maybe top three. She was physically dominant on the VB court, maybe not the biggest person but the strongest, and best by far during her era. She was unstoppable at times, despite two- and three-man blocks. She'd hit over, around or through them - didn't matter. Ally was such an impact player that for about 5-10 years they renamed 84th Street through La Vista "Allison Weston Boulevard - Street of Champions."

 

Ally was a two-sport standout in high school, making All-State in both volleyball and basketball her junior and senior seasons. She was the JournalStar and OWH Prep Athlete of the year in 1992. She led Nebraska to their first ever National Championship in volleyball, again despite stacked blocks - and she played back row equally well in an era where tall girls were routinely subbed out for defensive specialists (this was before the Libero was adopted by the NCAA). She was a three-time First-Team All American, and she was the NCAA Player of the Year in 1995, the year we won the title.

 

After Nebraska she went on to be the Captain of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Volleyball team. I'd say Ally's resume puts her firmly in this conversation.

Interesting take..........

 

Perhaps the fine inhabitants of this board could weigh in on their top 3 male for one list and a top 3 female for another..........

[Mavric]

Erick Strickland? I dunno. He is listed as one of the 50 best on this SI list: LINK But there are 40 athletes listed ahead of him.

If you're talking about athletic accomplishments in Nebraska, Strickland is way up there. Tough to top Gale Sayers overall, IMO.

[Comish]

Erick Strickland? I dunno. He is listed as one of the 50 best on this SI list: LINK But there are 40 athletes listed ahead of him.

If you're talking about athletic accomplishments in Nebraska, Strickland is way up there. Tough to top Gale Sayers overall, IMO.

 

Tough to not rank Sayers on any list of athletes..................but beyond high school, he really has nothing on his resume other than football........or did I miss something...........?

[Mavric]

Erick Strickland? I dunno. He is listed as one of the 50 best on this SI list: LINK But there are 40 athletes listed ahead of him.

If you're talking about athletic accomplishments in Nebraska, Strickland is way up there. Tough to top Gale Sayers overall, IMO.

Tough to not rank Sayers on any list of athletes..................but beyond high school, he really has nothing on his resume other than football........or did I miss something...........?

True, but I guess I don't penalize someone too much for being so outstanding at one thing such that they didn't have to do anything else.

 

He set the NE state long jump record that stood for about 45 years and even now is only 1/2 inch off the record. Plus, even though he only played football, he showed his versatility by not only being a two-time rushing champs but also being one of the best return men in the history of the league. Kind of a good at many things vs. great at one thing arguement.

[HSKR]

I have no doubt that Strickland could have made a pro receiver had he gone that route in college, although Nebraska probably wouldn't have been the ideal school for that position at that time so I am glad we at least got him for bball. Dude had a great work ethic as well.