FC/OT: The Collegian's Greatest Penn State Athlete Ever Poll...

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Is down to the finals - John Cappelletti vs. Micha Hancock. No losers here - you can vote at this link:

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/html_3ddf4614-dabc-11e5-bd54-e374495119f0.html

After weeks of fan voting, you all have brought the field down to the final two in our bracket to determine the greatest Penn State athlete of all time. We have received more than 3,000 votes and we need your help one more time. The winner will be announced next week.

A four-year starter and arguably the best player in Penn State women’s volleyball history, Micha Hancock has been voted by the fans as a finalist for Penn State’s all-time greatest athlete.

As a freshman, she earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year, starting 32 of 33 matches and set a program single-season record in aces with 91. She followed up that year by taking AVCA First Team All-American honors as well as Big Ten Setter of the Year in 2012.

In her junior year, Hancock took the NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. She also became the Penn State career leader in aces with 254, a number to which she added in 2014.

As a senior, in addition to being an All-American again, Hancock was named the AVCA National Player of the Year and capped off her outstanding career with a national championship.

As Penn State’s only Heisman Trophy winner, John Cappelletti has earned his fan votes as a finalist for Penn State’s all-time greatest athlete.

The running back, who took home college football’s greatest honor in 1973, compiled an outstanding career as a Nittany Lion.

His 1,522 yards and 17 touchdowns in 1973 led the Lions to a 12-0 season and a No. 5 ranking in the polls. He also took home the Maxwell Trophy among other awards that season. His 2,649 rushing yards through just two seasons have him at No. 9 on Penn State’s all-time rushing yardage list.

Cappelletti also had 30 total touchdowns in his career and played 10 seasons in the NFL after leaving Penn State.

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

 

[happyvalleydevil]

I'm not sure how they determine athlete, but Lavar would have been the greatest American Gladiator competitor of all time.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

I'm not sure how they determine athlete, but Lavar would have been the greatest American Gladiator competitor of all time.

I dunno - sort of think UFC or American Gladiator would be a perfect fit for Anthony Zettel...

 

[mn78psu83]

I dunno - sort of think UFC or American Gladiator would be a perfect fit for Anthony Zettel...

Him too.

 

[UncleLar]

The whole poll is a joke. Cappelletti isn't anywhere near the greatest football player ever, much less the greatest male athlete. Similarly Hancock probably isn't even the greatest volleyball player, much less the greatest female athlete, at PSU. If you want a male/female finals, it probably should be Jesse Arnelle vs Candy Finn - both of whom were multi-year All-Americans in multi-sports (Candy Finn won three national championships two in lacrosse and one in field hockey and also won three Broderick Awards, her sports' Heismans, two in lacrosse, one in field hockey). Micha was great (National Player of the Year) but her achievements don't match up to Candy Finn's.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

The whole poll is a joke. Cappelletti isn't anywhere near the greatest football player ever, much less the greatest male athlete. Similarly Hancock probably isn't even the greatest volleyball player, much less the greatest female athlete, at PSU. If you want a male/female finals, it probably should be Jesse Arnelle vs Candy Finn - both of whom were multi-year All-Americans in multi-sports (Candy Finn won three national championships two in lacrosse and one in field hockey and also won three Broderick Awards, her sports' Heismans, two in lacrosse, one in field hockey). Micha was great (National Player of the Year) but her achievements don't match up to Candy Finn's.

Well, it's voted on by readers of the Collegian and isn't scientific. Maybe you could conduct your own poll on your website?

 

[mn78psu83]

The whole poll is a joke. Cappelletti isn't anywhere near the greatest football player ever, much less the greatest male athlete. Similarly Hancock probably isn't even the greatest volleyball player, much less the greatest female athlete, at PSU. If you want a male/female finals, it probably should be Jesse Arnelle vs Candy Finn - both of whom were multi-year All-Americans in multi-sports (Candy Finn won three national championships two in lacrosse and one in field hockey and also won three Broderick Awards, her sports' Heismans, two in lacrosse, one in field hockey). Micha was great (National Player of the Year) but her achievements don't match up to Candy Finn's.

Candy Finn was one of the most remarkable athletes I've ever seen. She was so much better than her competition in the era she played.

SI Vault Candy Finn: Outstanding in Her Fields

From the article:

Two more items: What Finn left unsaid in last November's phone call was that she had scored all of Penn State's five goals in the semifinal and championship games, including a hat trick against Delaware in the semis. And hidden in there is the clincher: Candy Finn is the only college athlete in the country to have scored the points that won national championships in two sports.

 

[LafayetteBear]

Cappelletti isn't anywhere near the greatest football player ever, much less the greatest male athlete.

Cappy was a great player, but I have to agree with you. Just off the top of my head, KiJana, Warner and Lavar were clearly more athletic. There are several more you could name, but winning the Heisman means something, particularly in these kinds of popularity contests.

 

[81b&w]

After Saquons lift and the way he hurdles players, we may have one of the best to come?

 

[Tweedbear]

Did anyone mention Harrison Dillard

 

[psuflyguy]

None of the above can match the level of excellence and dominance in their sport as David Taylor or Ed Ruth did in wrestling. Ed Ruth was a three time national champ, for goodness sake. David Taylor won the Hodge Trophy (wrestling's Heisman) twice. Neither ever lost a dual match. Neither lost to a Big Ten opponent. They anchored the team to four straight national championships.

 

[psuro]

I thought the best athlete at Penn State was always the kid we were recruiting in football who had not yet committed.

 

[Woodpecker]

I thought the best athlete at Penn State was always the kid we were recruiting in football who had not yet committed.

Or back-up QB

 

[PSUMATT85]

Is down to the finals - John Cappelletti vs. Micha Hancock. No losers here - you can vote at this link:

I heard the BOT is forcing them to change it to a three way 4 way race between Karen Peetz, Dave Joyner, Paul Suhey and John Surma.


Yes I know JS was not an athlete

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/html_3ddf4614-dabc-11e5-bd54-e374495119f0.html

After weeks of fan voting, you all have brought the field down to the final two in our bracket to determine the greatest Penn State athlete of all time. We have received more than 3,000 votes and we need your help one more time. The winner will be announced next week.

A four-year starter and arguably the best player in Penn State women’s volleyball history, Micha Hancock has been voted by the fans as a finalist for Penn State’s all-time greatest athlete.

As a freshman, she earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year, starting 32 of 33 matches and set a program single-season record in aces with 91. She followed up that year by taking AVCA First Team All-American honors as well as Big Ten Setter of the Year in 2012.

In her junior year, Hancock took the NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. She also became the Penn State career leader in aces with 254, a number to which she added in 2014.

As a senior, in addition to being an All-American again, Hancock was named the AVCA National Player of the Year and capped off her outstanding career with a national championship.

As Penn State’s only Heisman Trophy winner, John Cappelletti has earned his fan votes as a finalist for Penn State’s all-time greatest athlete.

The running back, who took home college football’s greatest honor in 1973, compiled an outstanding career as a Nittany Lion.

His 1,522 yards and 17 touchdowns in 1973 led the Lions to a 12-0 season and a No. 5 ranking in the polls. He also took home the Maxwell Trophy among other awards that season. His 2,649 rushing yards through just two seasons have him at No. 9 on Penn State’s all-time rushing yardage list.

Cappelletti also had 30 total touchdowns in his career and played 10 seasons in the NFL after leaving Penn State.

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

Is down to the finals - John Cappelletti vs. Micha Hancock. No losers here - you can vote at this link:

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/html_3ddf4614-dabc-11e5-bd54-e374495119f0.html

After weeks of fan voting, you all have brought the field down to the final two in our bracket to determine the greatest Penn State athlete of all time. We have received more than 3,000 votes and we need your help one more time. The winner will be announced next week.

A four-year starter and arguably the best player in Penn State women’s volleyball history, Micha Hancock has been voted by the fans as a finalist for Penn State’s all-time greatest athlete.

As a freshman, she earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year, starting 32 of 33 matches and set a program single-season record in aces with 91. She followed up that year by taking AVCA First Team All-American honors as well as Big Ten Setter of the Year in 2012.

In her junior year, Hancock took the NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. She also became the Penn State career leader in aces with 254, a number to which she added in 2014.

As a senior, in addition to being an All-American again, Hancock was named the AVCA National Player of the Year and capped off her outstanding career with a national championship.

As Penn State’s only Heisman Trophy winner, John Cappelletti has earned his fan votes as a finalist for Penn State’s all-time greatest athlete.

The running back, who took home college football’s greatest honor in 1973, compiled an outstanding career as a Nittany Lion.

His 1,522 yards and 17 touchdowns in 1973 led the Lions to a 12-0 season and a No. 5 ranking in the polls. He also took home the Maxwell Trophy among other awards that season. His 2,649 rushing yards through just two seasons have him at No. 9 on Penn State’s all-time rushing yardage list.

Cappelletti also had 30 total touchdowns in his career and played 10 seasons in the NFL after leaving Penn State.

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

 

[MilesBarkley]

What round did Rob Bolden make it to?

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

What round did Rob Bolden make it to?

Doesn't matter - Micha won:

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/sports...cle_f948365a-e042-11e5-934c-0f69cdedd825.html

After thousands of your votes throughout the tournament, you have selected former women's volleyball star Micha Hancock as your champion. Defeating John Cappelletti with 69 percent of the vote, Hancock completed her run through the 32-athlete bracket.

As a No. 2 seed, she defeated four football players in Larry Johnson, LaVar Arrington, Ki-Jana Carter and Cappelletti. Two of those players — Arrington and Cappelletti — were voted by you as No. 1 seeds. She also took beat recent women's soccer national champion Raquel Rodriguez.

We thank you for your votes and your discussions on the topic and congratulate Micha on her victory.

 

[UncleLar]

None of the above can match the level of excellence and dominance in their sport as David Taylor or Ed Ruth did in wrestling. Ed Ruth was a three time national champ, for goodness sake. David Taylor won the Hodge Trophy (wrestling's Heisman) twice. Neither ever lost a dual match. Neither lost to a Big Ten opponent. They anchored the team to four straight national championships.

Like Taylor, Candy Finn won her sport's (lacrosse) Heisman equivalent twice - and then she added a third in another sport (field hockey) for good measure. She also scored the winning goal in two national championship games in two different sports while leading teams to a total of three national championships. If the award is going to the best athlete, how do you top being named the best player in the country in two different sports while leading both teams to national championships?

If you're counting Heisman equivalents as your measure, Candy is one up on Taylor, as is Ann Carr in gymnastics and Kathy Mills-Parker in cross country and track. Each of those girls has three Broderick Awards (Heisman equivalents) to their credit. Ann Carr also has five individual national championships crowns (and one team title) in her portfolio. You should do some more research before you start making claims about individual dominance in their sports.

 

[Art]

Did anyone mention Harrison Dillard

Dillard didn't go to PSU. You must be thinking of his contemporary, Barney Ewell.

 

[psuflyguy]

Like Taylor, Candy Finn won her sport's (lacrosse) Heisman equivalent twice - and then she added a third in another sport (field hockey) for good measure. She also scored the winning goal in two national championship games in two different sports while leading teams to a total of three national championships. If the award is going to the best athlete, how do you top being named the best player in the country in two different sports while leading both teams to national championships?

If you're counting Heisman equivalents as your measure, Candy is one up on Taylor, as is Ann Carr in gymnastics and Kathy Mills-Parker in cross country and track. Each of those girls has three Broderick Awards (Heisman equivalents) to their credit. Ann Carr also has five individual national championships crowns (and one team title) in her portfolio. You should do some more research before you start making claims about individual dominance in their sports.

Calm down Uncle Hyper. I was referencing the athletes mentioned in the article.

 

[21Guns]

I don't see how you can have anyone other than Vince Gliatta at the top of this list. He once held LeBron to just 7 catches in a game, and was a solid db....according to this board 13 years ago.

 

[NitneLiun]

Micha wasn't even the best PSU volleyball player. I can think of at least two others who were better. The truth is that there were probably four or five who were better.