FrankDrebin wrote:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bears/history/ct-spt-bears-best-players-doug-atkins-20190829-y2eq7dqi3fae3fyg5q2ziz65ja-story.html
Great read.
Yes it was. When I worked in Arkansas, the general manager was a guy who was Adkins roommate at Tennessee and we talked about Atkins a bit. I remember him well on the field as being a guy who was actually able to jump over guys trying to block him. I also remember the practices at St. Joe's and how the players were scared shitless of Papa Bear who drove around in a golf cart with Abe Gibron the offensive line coach at the time. The players used to pay kids to smuggle them sodas during practice and try to hide them from Halas. It was funny.
ANother real bad ass during that time was BIll George. I was at the bowling alley a short distance from St. Joes and O'B was drunk and harassing a waitress there. George came in and told O'B to get out. He shut up and left immediately. No one messed with Bill George. He was the NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion while in college.