2. Gale Sayers
Football, Track & Field / Omaha / Born: 1943
QUICK FACTS:
Related: Sayers sitting pretty
Played for: Omaha Central High, Kansas Jayhawks and Chicago Bears
Best athlete from Nebraska played with or against: "There are a couple of names that come to mind: Bobby Williams, Bob Hohn and Kent McCloughan. They were all outstanding."
Best moment as an athlete: "That's hard to say. I was proud of the fact that I made all-state two years in a row and was named the MVP of the Shrine Bowl. I was also proud of my long jump record (24-10 1/2, in 1961). And I was proud that I had earned a college scholarship."
Once he reached the pros in 1965, it didn't take Gale Sayers long to show what he could do.
In his first heavy preseason action with the Chicago Bears in 1965, he raced 77 yards on a punt return and 93 yards on a kickoff return. He also threw a 25-yard scoring pass against the Los Angeles Rams.
It seemed there was little that "The Kansas Comet" couldn't do.
For the entire season, Sayers scored 22 touchdowns and 132 points, both then-rookie records. The highlight came late in the year when, on a muddy field, he scored a record-tying six touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers.
By the time knee injuries cut short his career, Sayers had 9,435 combined net yards -- 4,956 rushing -- and scored 336 points.
He won All-NFL honors five straight years and was named Offensive Player of the Game in three of the four Pro Bowls in which he played.
After his Hall of Fame induction in 1977, Sayers said:
"I want to be remembered as someone who went out every Sunday and tried to be the best player he could be. (And) as someone who gave the fans an opportunity to come out and enjoy themselves."
By all indications, he did exactly that.
-- Mike Patterson
QUICK FACTS:
Related: Sayers sitting pretty
Played for: Omaha Central High, Kansas Jayhawks and Chicago Bears
Best athlete from Nebraska played with or against: "There are a couple of names that come to mind: Bobby Williams, Bob Hohn and Kent McCloughan. They were all outstanding."
Best moment as an athlete: "That's hard to say. I was proud of the fact that I made all-state two years in a row and was named the MVP of the Shrine Bowl. I was also proud of my long jump record (24-10 1/2, in 1961). And I was proud that I had earned a college scholarship."
