Last I heard, and this was years ago, He was working for Saunders trucking on the docks and said he wished he would have listened to Coach Bryant. This was from my Uncle who drove a south region truck there.
Alabama history, Linnie Patrick and recruiting hype
- Thread starter bamaga
- Start date
I agree with Sip that Linnie should not be considered a bust, but was simply a product of Coach Bryant's team concept of rushing the football in the wishbone formation. Linnie played in 1980-1983 and during this time UA had some good running backs and running QBs. In 1980, we had Billy Jackson, Major Ogilvie, Linnie, and Don Jacobs. Linnie averaged 5 carries per game and had 78 fewer yards than Major Ogilvie. I don't think anyone considered Major a bust, but was a great player for the Tide. In fact in 1980, two players I don't remember (Joe (not Joey) Jones and Charley Williams) had more carries than Linnie.
In 1981, UA had 8 players (Ricky Moore, Linnie, Jeff Fagan, Joe Carter, Walter Lewis, Ken Koley, Paul Ott Carruth, and Ken Simon) that rushed between 347 and 261 yards for the year. Talk about a balanced running attack. Linnie averaged 6.5 carries per game.
In 1982, 5 major ball carriers, Ricky Moore, Walter Lewis, Linnie, Paul Ott Carruth, & Joe Carter. Linnie averaged 8 carries per game.
In 1983, Ricky Moore busted out with 947 yards, followed by Kerry Goode (693 yds), Linnie (454 yds), Walter Lewis (338 yds) and Joe Carter (154 yds). Linnie averaged 8 carries per game.
Calling Linnie a bust is based on not knowing Tide football history. During the wishbone days, we had a bunch of young men who carried the rock 5 to 10 times per game and had few gaudy statistics to show for the team effort. If Linnie had of played for a team that ran the I-formation and got him 20+ carries per game, then he would have had some 1000 yard seasons.
Linnie may have had a few problems at Alabama, but all-in-all a good kid that played hard for a team that did not have a marquee running back concept. The wishbone QB had his reads and spread the touches around accordingly. That's just football my friends.
In 1981, UA had 8 players (Ricky Moore, Linnie, Jeff Fagan, Joe Carter, Walter Lewis, Ken Koley, Paul Ott Carruth, and Ken Simon) that rushed between 347 and 261 yards for the year. Talk about a balanced running attack. Linnie averaged 6.5 carries per game.
In 1982, 5 major ball carriers, Ricky Moore, Walter Lewis, Linnie, Paul Ott Carruth, & Joe Carter. Linnie averaged 8 carries per game.
In 1983, Ricky Moore busted out with 947 yards, followed by Kerry Goode (693 yds), Linnie (454 yds), Walter Lewis (338 yds) and Joe Carter (154 yds). Linnie averaged 8 carries per game.
Calling Linnie a bust is based on not knowing Tide football history. During the wishbone days, we had a bunch of young men who carried the rock 5 to 10 times per game and had few gaudy statistics to show for the team effort. If Linnie had of played for a team that ran the I-formation and got him 20+ carries per game, then he would have had some 1000 yard seasons.
Linnie may have had a few problems at Alabama, but all-in-all a good kid that played hard for a team that did not have a marquee running back concept. The wishbone QB had his reads and spread the touches around accordingly. That's just football my friends.
charlie dare out of enterprise. one of the first mammouth o-lineman. then you could go with the entire pancake posse.
That's what makes him a bust. If Marcus Dupree's head was on straight, he would have been one of the best backs ever. He holds a bowl record for rushing. But oh what could have been.
I don't think they run the wishbone in the pros. I wonder why if he was all that great at Alabama why he didn't make it in the pros? So any hindrances due to the wishbone would not have been a limiting factor at the next level.
If I am not mistaken, Linnie left UA after his Junior year and played for the USFL Michigan Panthers. He was their starter that 1st season but not sure how long he played or if he ever made it to the NFL. I know that Coach Bryant would incorporate the I formation at times in the late 70s for Nathan and Ogilvie but not sure if he ever did for Patrick. I do find it interesting that Goode ran for more yards (and I asuume got more snaps) than Linnie in 83 when Perkins when to a combo I-formation and split backfield offense.
Linnie played all four years of eligibility at Alabama (1980-1983). Coach Bryant did occasionally incorporate the I-formation with Linnie dotting the I, but it was a rarity. In 1983, Goode got 18 more carries than Linnie, with Goode becoming a very good running back and playing two years in the NFL. In fact, in 1983 the Tide ran a lot of read option plays with Walter Lewis, resulting in Lewis having the 2nd most rushing attempts on the team. So, in '83 although we didn't run the wishbone, our read option mentality and rotating backs remained the mode of operation. In 1983, did this offense work very well? Not great, we went 7-4, but it was Perkins first year. Many times when a new coach comes in he wants to groom the young backs for his future, freshman Goode fit that bill and senior Patrick did not.
I did not realize that Linnie was at UA in 1980. Good history lesson and info regarding 1983. I was a young kid then and all I recall about the '83 season was not seeing the wishbone, no "hat" on the sideline just on the helmets, we would never lose in Baton Rouge, I realized a hatred for AU, and Christmas Eve dinner was sweet even though I had never heard of the Sun Bowl before then. I guess because there were a lot of Sugar Bowls in my childhood.
Don't flame me for this but ....
Without a doubt it was:
Albert Means
He cost us two-year bowl ban and five years' probation and he never contributed like $Cam Newton did.
You're right. And I tell ya one thing, I always thought Terry was a pretty good kid.
He stuck out four years of college and got his degree even when he started having incredible problems on the football field because of injuries etc.
For a poor kid from Lumberton, Mississippi who considered quitting school in the eighth grade...that shows me some "stick it out" guts that few have.
To Be Fair
Sip,
I respect so much of what you have to say, and I actually think the broaching of the topic makes some elementary good sense. That being said, I don't think we can really make comparisons of "busts" and - let's be honest here - there is a failure on the part of a number of pundits to not look too closely.
Think about it a second - what exactly is a "bust?" Basically, a bust, whether we're talking college or NFL can probably be defined as "player who failed to meet expectations set for him by others."
Really? So why is it when the player fails to meet expectations that it's the PLAYER'S fault and not the PERSON WHO HAS THE EXPECTATIONS' FAULT? I've never been able to understand that. A player fails to meet what others think he should be able to do.....and instead of the pundit admitting that maybe he himself just doesn't know as much as he thinks he does, it's the player's fault.
I'm also hesitant to hang such a label on a college player even more than on an NFL player. In the NFL you may (or may not) get a fair shake. But in college there are too many other factors involved as the meddling at Texas with the Chris Simms-Major Applewhite saga showed. The kids are away from home the first time (Derrick Lassic had some major problems from what I've heard), they may be in a different cultural environment (stick a Southern kid at Pitt and you'll see what I mean), and you cannot control who else comes and competes for the same position (insert Tate Forcier analogy here).
But let me jump a step further here: remember all those "draft busts" that the Cincinnati Bengals had in the 1990s? That makes it's own little list. Does not a team that continually has busts like that suggest maybe, uh, it was something to do with the TEAM and NOT necessarily ALL of the players?
I leave you with an amusing anecdote of how the scars of being a "bust" follow you.
I am a student at Dallas Theological Seminary. One time a professor was going through the role for the new class. He was calling out names and you stood up and said a little bit about yourself. He got to one name and said, "David Klingler? Isn't that the same name as that overrated QB who was a big draft bust for the Bengals years ago?"
Student: "That was me, sir."
Needless to say, the prof had a little egg on his face, and Klingler got reminded that no matter what he ever accomplishes in this life, it would have been better for him to have never been drafted. Well, other than the millions he made. Btw - Klingler now has a doctorate in (IIRC) Old Testament studies.
Sip,
I respect so much of what you have to say, and I actually think the broaching of the topic makes some elementary good sense. That being said, I don't think we can really make comparisons of "busts" and - let's be honest here - there is a failure on the part of a number of pundits to not look too closely.
Think about it a second - what exactly is a "bust?" Basically, a bust, whether we're talking college or NFL can probably be defined as "player who failed to meet expectations set for him by others."
Really? So why is it when the player fails to meet expectations that it's the PLAYER'S fault and not the PERSON WHO HAS THE EXPECTATIONS' FAULT? I've never been able to understand that. A player fails to meet what others think he should be able to do.....and instead of the pundit admitting that maybe he himself just doesn't know as much as he thinks he does, it's the player's fault.
I'm also hesitant to hang such a label on a college player even more than on an NFL player. In the NFL you may (or may not) get a fair shake. But in college there are too many other factors involved as the meddling at Texas with the Chris Simms-Major Applewhite saga showed. The kids are away from home the first time (Derrick Lassic had some major problems from what I've heard), they may be in a different cultural environment (stick a Southern kid at Pitt and you'll see what I mean), and you cannot control who else comes and competes for the same position (insert Tate Forcier analogy here).
But let me jump a step further here: remember all those "draft busts" that the Cincinnati Bengals had in the 1990s? That makes it's own little list. Does not a team that continually has busts like that suggest maybe, uh, it was something to do with the TEAM and NOT necessarily ALL of the players?
I leave you with an amusing anecdote of how the scars of being a "bust" follow you.
I am a student at Dallas Theological Seminary. One time a professor was going through the role for the new class. He was calling out names and you stood up and said a little bit about yourself. He got to one name and said, "David Klingler? Isn't that the same name as that overrated QB who was a big draft bust for the Bengals years ago?"
Student: "That was me, sir."
Needless to say, the prof had a little egg on his face, and Klingler got reminded that no matter what he ever accomplishes in this life, it would have been better for him to have never been drafted. Well, other than the millions he made. Btw - Klingler now has a doctorate in (IIRC) Old Testament studies.
*****
ALSO
Billy Ray didn't want to cut his Pony-Tail. That was an issue with Coach Bryant.
David Smith may not have been as highly recruited as BR, but he turned into a pretty
good QB. He was a winner in my book.
Billy Ray was supposed to be whiz bang and a walk-on beat him.
Jay Barker didn't have a whole lot of talent, but the kid had heart.
Freddie Kitchens was supposed to be a big deal - I thought he was about average.
Tyler Watts was going to rewrite the Bama record book; he shared time with Zow, who none of us had even heard of prior to his first relief appearance.
Who ever heard of Gary Hollingsworth until he appeared out of nowhere and won the SEC offensive player of the year? He was raised an Auburn fan.
Billy Ray was recruited by Perkins, not Bryant, and I don't remember him having a pony tail. In fact, he looked like the All-American kid you'd see in a McDonald's commercial. Got fed up with Curry's inconsistent personnel practices (guess he recognized something there that it took a lot of us, including me, a lot longer to pick up on), and headed to Duke under Spurrier where he set all kinds of records.
I think you're remembering Steve Taneyhill and Stallings. When Taneyhill was being recruited, he did have a mullet pony tail, and he didn't want to cut it. That clearly wasn't Stallings' style, became an issue in the recuitment, and Taneyhill ended up at South Carolina. Probably best for both him and Alabama. Can't imagine the hoo-hah that would have ensued aftger the A-Club initiation ;-)
Jay and I are the same age but did not play much against one another growing up but I remember when we were both Seniors in high school. It was after Natl Signing day and my team had just finished a basketball game. Before I left the school, I stopped in the lobby to look in on the game after ours involving HTHS and Jay was playing. Wanted to get an idea of who we might play the next night. While I am standing there, two men in front me are talking and I quote, "Why did Bama waste a scholarship on this kid? He will never see the field as a QB if at all. He's not going to win any games for us!" Now I know we signed the Christopher kid out of Anniston and one other guy but those comments have always stuck with me. I guess Coach Bryant was right, "have dedication and pride and believe in yourself, you will be a winner."
Do you know if Barker went to Trussville Baptist Church? Or 1st or whatever?
I could swear I saw Barker in June 1987 in a youth musical at my home church. Some of the kids came home and stayed the night with us (Jay was not one of them - at my house). He would have been a freshman that year.
Do you (or does anyone) know?
Also....I forget if it was TSN or SI who actually said that Barker "might be the first QB to ever go 16-0, win a national championship, and lose his starting job the next year." The article noted two QBs considered better than Barker - Chad Key and Freddie Kitchens. But the article also went on to say not to bet against Barker. He was a lot like the 92 Alabama team. Nothing flashy, no sauce, just able to beat you.
I'm thankful every day for the Jay Barker era. Three of his four years were FUN, and the fourth was the attempted repeat. I'm hoping 2011 is like 1994 but with a win in the SECCG and BCSNCG.
I am not sure where he went to church. I had heard but do not recall. Yes, it was a standard line by all cfb journalists and pundits (Mike Gottfried excluded) that Jay would lose his job while being undefeated.
Another name that seems to come to mind with a great deal of hype was a Parade All American from South Carolina (I believe) named Perry Cuda. I only remember him playing in one night game at Legion Field against Temple or Cincinnati.
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