1st Triple Option Master

[danny daniel]

240 might have been stretching the avg. back then. Shoot... back in 1977 the largest guy on one particular SEC roster was 276.

My day at GT was the later days of Dodd and we thought Rufus Guthrie at a little over 230 was really big. Most OL players in the early 60's went 215 or so.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

I think 5'7" and 165 was a solid player back then. 240 linemen were not common in those days. Our roster in 69 or 70 only listed two players over 200 with Perdoni the only starter at 235. 5 years earlier Bama won a national championship with the O line averaging 190.

Those who have heard me say this before can excuse my nostalgia. One of my all time favorite bowl games was when Alabama destroyed Nebraska in a bowl game. Nebraska outweighed Alabama by around 40-50 pounds per man on the offensive and defensive lines. Bear Bryant was asked how his team was going to be able to stay on the field with the heavily favored Nebraska team and he famously answered, "We will out quick them." And they did. The game was not even close. Alabama defensive linemen played off of blocks all day long and Alabama offensive linemen were faster off the ball. It was a real lesson in a fact that remains to this day, which is that being big in and of itself does not make you better. On a related note, the film on Whitehead shows a player who revs at a high rpm and consistently beats players who outweigh him by 60 pounds.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

On Rock Perdoni, my memory is that he played at around 240, which made him a match for any opposing linemen of his day. Where he had an usual advantage is that he was only 5'11" and was able to get his pads very low. Also, according to Carson, "He was the most magnificent specimen of a player I have ever seen." Rock was a committed body builder, had a V-shaped body and not an ounce of fat. In the pros his playing weight was 278.

 

[takethepoints]

I remember the responses of a Miami player who was interviewed by the AJC about Perdoni right after our game with them his senior year.

AJC Reporter: "What did you think of Rock Perdoni?"

Miami OL: "Holy Jesus."

AJC Reporter: "You mean you think he was a good player?"

Miami OL: "Holy Jesus."

AJC Reporter: "So he got through your blocks?"

Miami OL: "Holy Jesus."

The reporter gave up after that.

 

[Skeptic]

Those who have heard me say this before can excuse my nostalgia. One of my all time favorite bowl games was when Alabama destroyed Nebraska in a bowl game. Nebraska outweighed Alabama by around 40-50 pounds per man on the offensive and defensive lines. Bear Bryant was asked how his team was going to be able to stay on the field with the heavily favored Nebraska team and he famously answered, "We will out quick them." And they did. The game was not even close. Alabama defensive linemen played off of blocks all day long and Alabama offensive linemen were faster off the ball. It was a real lesson in a fact that remains to this day, which is that being big in and of itself does not make you better. On a related note, the film on Whitehead shows a player who revs at a high rpm and consistently beats players who outweigh him by 60 pounds.

I first heard the term "chip block" regarding Alabama's O line. Apparently knock the defenders off stride a bit then head for the second level. Quickly, I suppose.

 

[COJacket]

On Rock Perdoni, my memory is that he played at around 240, which made him a match for any opposing linemen of his day. Where he had an usual advantage is that he was only 5'11" and was able to get his pads very low. Also, according to Carson, "He was the most magnificent specimen of a player I have ever seen." Rock was a committed body builder, had a V-shaped body and not an ounce of fat. In the pros his playing weight was 278.

In 1969, he had ten-tackle performance in which his pass rush contributed to four interceptions in the Yellow Jackets' 6–0 UPSET of the Dawgs. My first year at GT and my first experience at a Dawg game. He was just a beast during that game. Just loved the Italian!

 

[LongforDodd]

In 1969, he had ten-tackle performance in which his pass rush contributed to four interceptions in the Yellow Jackets' 6–0 UPSET of the Dawgs. My first year at GT and my first experience at a Dawg game. He was just a beast during that game. Just loved the Italian!

Sold cokes back when he played and we played FSU one of those years. They were dog feces then.