Giants By The Numbers: 69 Is For ...

AS I RECALL WILLIE YOUNG WAS A SUB THAT BECAME A STARTER DURING ALLIE SHERMANS’ REGIME. I REMEMBER HIM AS BEING VERY QUICK OFF THE BALL AND AN EXCELLENT BLOCKER FOR SOME GOD-AWFUL TEAMS OF THAT ERA. HE WORKED ALONG SIDE CHARLIE HARPER, ET AL ON A PRETTY DECENT LINE, BUT BEYOND THAT I CAN’T REMEMBER MUCH MORE. HOPE THIS HELPS.
A GIANT FAN SINCE 1957.

That was a criminal non-call, one that makes me almost as upset today to think about as it did while I watched it happen right in front of my seat at Candlestick Park that day. Immediately, I knew the flags that were flying had to be for Okeafor blatantly pulling down Seubert and the Giants were going to win on the chip-shot re-kick they would surely get (I had no idea of course that Hopkins was ineligible and was downfield illegally). I was utterly incensed and confused when the refs huddled and said the game was over. How could they not know Seubert was an eligible receiver, when presumably the refs should always know which linemen are eligible in a kick formation.

SORRY, BUT IT HELPS ME SEE BETTER—-HOPE YOU TAKE NO OFFENSE—JUST GETTIN OLD, I GUESS—LOL

YOUNG STARTED AT LT FO GIANTS FOR SEVERAL YEARS WHEN THEY WERE A POOR TEAM. I MET HIM AT FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY IN THE SUMMER OF ’68,ALONG WITH RB RANDY MINNEAR ,#27, AND S BRUCE JOHNSON,#26, WHO HAD JUST BEEN TRADED FROM THE LIONS. JIM MULLAN

had a 10 year career (1966-1975) with the Giants. If memory serves, he was an undrafted free agent as a defensive tackle, who was turned around to the OL. I remember him as being a starter at left tackle most of those years, which is interesting when you remember that Francis Peay (1966) and Rich Buzin (1967) were both #1 draft picks at OT but did not last with the Giants.
I am not sure Seubert is an automatic choice for #69. Young may have had an undistinguished career, but he was a starter at left tackle for the better part of ten years.
Perhaps another one of the old-timers who has a better memory than I can add to this.

As good or better an argument can probably be made for giving Willie the honor as the one advanced for Seubert. Personally, I’ve taken the stance that unless the old timer is clearly the better choice by a wide margin I not only accept the choice of the newer guy but embrace it. My motivation is to avoid endless arguments about the superiority of modern players in terms of size and speed vs the smaller and slower (in general terms) older ones. Therefore, I’ve no problem with the Seubert choice nor with some others made as we’ve moved along with this exercize. When I consider the choice of the younger guy outrageous, I weigh in. Off the top of my head, I’d say the non-choice of Steve Owen stands out most vividly in my memory.failure to select Steve Owen choice

for the Giants for nine straight years, from1967 through 1975. The team wasn’t great, but that is an impressive run for a left tackle, and should merit serious consideration with this competition. As a side note, I don’t at all understand the person who said that earlier players must be better “by a wide margin.”

BBV membership and the history of postings re old time vs more modern players. Perhaps I exaggerated my approach. A better way to put it might be that if I have any doubts or if it’s an exceedingly close call (absent other factors) I’ll go with the more recent team members. To put it yet another way, I’ll go along with what I assume is the majority.
I think it provides me credibility when I stubbornly persist in hoding out for the old timers. It worked for the selection of the BBV All-Time team for some players (eg., Brad Van Pelt), but not for others (Andy Robustelli?)

It wasn’t the case in Young’s day, but today many consider LT as the second most important position on the offense. To hold down that spot for ten years running is pretty impressive.
Overall though, Ed’s picks have been excellent, worth an A for sure. It’s pretty hard to make these kind of evaluations on guys who are little more than a vaguely remembered name or who you neverr heard of at all. Sheesh, I go back to the late thirties and didn’t recognize quite a few of the contenders for the jersey # honor.

On the other hand, it’s tough to beat Seubert’s story. Good stories carry weight with me.

This jersey # thing has been a great success, Ed, considering the postings generated. Kudos for a great idea.