Rod Shoate is a Hall of Famer

[badger]

Congrats to Rod's family! (http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/OUs_Rod_Shoate_goes_into_Hall_of_Fame_on_a_day_Bos worth/20130507_231_ousro_45989?subj=298) (link via Tulsa World)

Sadly, Rod passed away in 1999 at age 46, but I imagine he's smiling somewhere at this honor :)

[cvsooner]

Possibly the most dynamic defensive player I ever saw. The guy was incredible in person....you'd see him running sideways faster than the running back who was going straight ahead, and then he'd clobber him. Twenty one tackles against Texas one year...in one game. Incredible.

[rock on sooner]

Stunning that he was a SECOND round pick...

[hawaii 5-0]

It was nice that Rod had the Selmons in front of him tying up the offensive line so he could clean up.

He was a great one. He knew how to tackle with emphasis.

5-0

[Flagstaffsooner]

But a very tragic life.
http://newsok.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-ou-great-rod-shoate-another-drug-casualty-makes-many-ask-why/article/2673242

[badger]

But a very tragic life.
http://newsok.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-ou-great-rod-shoate-another-drug-casualty-makes-many-ask-why/article/2673242

Thanks for posting. Of note:


"I was with Joe Washington and Greg Pruitt last night - they were in town for a golf tournament - and we were talking about Rod, and how hard it was to believe what a great personality and what a great kid he was then, and how he turned out. It was all because of drugs. He was a neat, neat kid," Switzer said. "Drugs destroyed his life. We all know that. We don't keep that a secret. It's a tragedy. We cared about him. We loved him, but that's what took him away from us."

Among the many things I hope to teach baby baj when she's older, one is to stay away from drugs :(

[SoonerNomad]

Congrats to the late Rod Shoate and his family for a well deserved honor. He was a great one when I was a teenager listening to the games on the radio.

[Lott's Bandana]

Best LB I've seen at OU, in my opinion. Just nudges out George Cumby.

[MyT Oklahoma]

Congratulations big guy and Rest In Peace.

P.S. Thanks for the memories.

[Sabanball]

Congrats. This is long overdue, IMO. He was a great collegiate player.

[MyT Oklahoma]

But a very tragic life.
http://newsok.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-ou-great-rod-shoate-another-drug-casualty-makes-many-ask-why/article/2673242

Thanks for sharing this link. I was not aware of his story.

[texaspokieokie]

Stunning that he was a SECOND round pick...

Terrific college linebacker, but a little small for pros.

[PLaw]

Long, long overdue recognition for one of the greatest LB's to ever play CFB. 3X AA and played on a MNC ball club. He would have won two Butkus awards if that recognition had been around in the mid-70's.

BOOMER