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J C Caroline 1953 NCAA Rushing Leader

coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,115 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited November 21, 2017 5:19PM in Sports Talk

Sad hear J. C. Caroline passes away. He had an electrifying season at Illinois in 1953 rushing for 1256 yards-still unbelievable that he finished 7th in the Heisman balloting which just does not pass the straight face test.

I looked at the Ohio State Football record book on line... And some of the records made and have with stood the test of time is amazing. One such record that still exits 64 years later involves Caroline and Illinois. In the Illinois- Ohio State game played at Columbus, the Fighting Illini rushed for 432 yards against the Buckeyes. Another record was set in that game-Illinois had 6 rushing TDs which was later matched by Penn State in 1994.

Caroline had an outstanding pro career with the Chicago Bears for 10 seasons

Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

Comments

  • JustacommemanJustacommeman Posts: 22,847 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I think Jeff George was the quarterback that year

    m

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  • CoinstartledCoinstartled Posts: 10,135 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Why do you question the Heisman results?

  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,115 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Illinois had a terrific QB that year... Tommy O'Connell.

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,115 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 21, 2017 5:19PM

    Actually I stand corrected, O'Connell was the QB in 1951 and 1952.

    Why do I question the Heisman results?

    Well, when was the last time the leading rusher for the season finished 7th in the Heisman voting?

    Probably 1953.

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Illinois had some good teams way back when. In 63-64 they won the Rose Bowl and had a pretty good MLB that went on to play for the Bears! :)B)

  • DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Justacommeman said:
    I think Jeff George was the quarterback that year

    m

    I never understood why JG never did any better in the pro's.

  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,115 ✭✭✭✭✭

    For those that really appreciate trivia, J. C. Caroline intercepted the first pass thrown by Johnny Unitas and returned it for a touchdown.

    And I am not making this up as I go along...

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • TabeTabe Posts: 6,064 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @coinkat said:

    Well, when was the last time the leading rusher for the season finished 7th in the Heisman voting?

    Probably 1953.

    1. Donnel Pumphrey had 2133 yards and finished 10th.
  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,115 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 24, 2017 10:53AM

    Okay... Bad question as the game has changed since 1953. However, there really can be no dispute as to Caroline's rushing total for a nine game season were quite impressive.

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

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