Doug Atkins Was a Monster Player

Saw his accolades mentioned in another thread, and though it'd be good to remember what a monster that Doug Atkins was.

Atkins was 6'8" and 257lbs - huge by today's standards - but he played in the 1950's and 60's.

Watch the whole video, but particularly enjoy this line from Bill Curry, "This guy is not a regular human being - and if we don't irritate him, he won't kill one of us today, so don't you dare mess with him!"

[youtube]1XALQxRQAgw[/youtube]

From Wiki:

• 8× Pro Bowl selection (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965)
• Pro Bowl MVP (1958)
• 2× NFL champion (1954, 1963)
• 4× First Team All-Pro selection (1958, 1960, 1961, 1963)
• 6× Second Team All-Pro selection (1957, 1959, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1968)
• NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
• New Orleans Saints #81 retired
• Tennessee Volunteers #91 retired
• Pro Football Hall of Fame (1982)

The NFL ranked both Doug Atkins and Reggie White to their Top 10 list of all-time pass rushers, making Tennessee the only program with two players on the list.

Doug Atkins came to Tennessee on scholarship, but for basketball and not football. Once Gen. Neyland saw him, he recruited him over to play football.

 

"Tie down what you can, and hope he doesn't take the roof."

 

I want to live a life that makes me worthy of having that on my tombstone.

 

I met him in 1977. He made me feel like a baby.

 

That speaks volumes

 

That's awesome.

 

He looks like a giant in that film. And unlike a lot of big people that seem to play small, he played Big and was Big.

 

Him and my granddad were teammates on a state champion high school basketball team back in the day

 

The story about him and his contract while he was at Chicago was funny.

I found it.

 

http://articles.latimes.com/1995-01-22/sports/sp-22934_1_doug-atkins

 

Gold!

 

Now why did I think he died a few years ago?

 

Legitimately the best player in Tennessee football history.

 

Gus Manning will tell you he's the best to ever wear orange.

 

I mean, look at this guy. He just LOOKS like a guy you don't want to mess with.

 

There's just something awesome about knowing a man could kill you with his bare hands.

 

The guy beat out Majors, Spurrier, Pat Sullivan, Billy Cannon, Archie Manning, John Hannah, and Lee Roy Jordan for SEC Player of the quarter century.

 

Without even exerting too much effort.

 

This is exactly why he is in the Ring of Honor. The original BA!

 

Drunk driving and labor exploitation. The more things change...