Bell this generation's Larry Bird?

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Jason Svoboda

Jason Svoboda

The Bird Level
Administrator
Saw Ace Hunt post this and I heard it mentioned by quite a few other people at games last year. What do you guys think?
 

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Jason Svoboda said:
Saw Ace Hunt post this and I heard it mentioned by quite a few other people at games last year. What do you guys think?
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Yes, I think so. Especially when he wins consecutive Walter Payton awards :)

The only drawback is we're FCS...he'll never get the media attention of Bird for that one reason. When he appears on SI's cover, I'll be the first to admit I'm wrong.

FCS' not so secret weapon...Shhhhhh.
 
It's an interesting comparison and Bell is definitely on his way there as far as individual awards and accomplishments go. I also think Bell has the potential to lead the ISU football team to great things as Bird did (conference titles, National title game, etc), and he has already helped rebuild a struggling team, like Bird. However, as great as Bell is, I don't think he'll end up being one of the Top 10 NFL players of all time, whereas Bird can easily claim being part of that group in the NBA.

My biggest question - can ISU Football continue it's success after Bell is done, unlike the Sycamore Basketball team who went 43-66 in the 4 years after Bird left?
 
mohoops247 said:
It's an interesting comparison and Bell is definitely on his way there as far as individual awards and accomplishments go. I also think Bell has the potential to lead the ISU football team to great things as Bird did (conference titles, National title game, etc), and he has already helped rebuild a struggling team, like Bird. However, as great as Bell is, I don't think he'll end up being one of the Top 10 NFL players of all time, whereas Bird can easily claim being part of that group in the NBA.

My biggest question - can ISU Football continue it's success after Bell is done, unlike the Sycamore Basketball team who went 43-66 in the 4 years after Bird left?
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I don't think you look at pro accomplishments. I'm simply talking in terms of worth to the University.
 
Bell is amazing, but I think this football team is a little more well rounded. Without him we're probably 4-7 last year. His freshman season though, he wasn't the soul force behind our success. I think we're more than just Shakir, but he sure is awesome to watch. Maybe a once in a lifetime talent for a Sycamore football fan. Hopefully not though, hopefully our program has turned the corner and can expect to land more amazing finds like him.
 

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Bell is AWESOME! No question, is he this generations Bird? I don't think so. I think that you simply can't compare them, different circumstances, different sport, to manner differing factors. In terms of worth to ISU, I think the is going to show his worth without question but...I will put it in this way

If you are in Florida or California or any other state and you say, I went to Indiana State University, most people will respond-"Larry Bird!" or "Isn't that where Larry Bird went to school?" Something like that. I doubt that this will ever happen with Bell-it could and if it does I will admit I was wrong just like Quabachi. Bell is great, no question and don't get me wrong his worth is amazing to ISU, but to me he is not this generations Bird because there will never be another Bird...ever...period!
 
Sackalot said:
Bell is AWESOME! No question, is he this generations Bird? I don't think so. I think that you simply can't compare them, different circumstances, different sport, to manner differing factors. In terms of worth to ISU, I think the is going to show his worth without question but...I will put it in this way

If you are in Florida or California or any other state and you say, I went to Indiana State University, most people will respond-"Larry Bird!" or "Isn't that where Larry Bird went to school?" Something like that. I doubt that this will ever happen with Bell-it could and if it does I will admit I was wrong just like Quabachi. Bell is great, no question and don't get me wrong his worth is amazing to ISU, but to me he is not this generations Bird because there will never be another Bird...ever...period!
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Okay, but that isn't what I meant. Additionally, you can't answer this question because Larry Bird is your damn idol when it comes to sports.

What I'm getting at is that Indiana State gets an athlete every 10-20 years that is amazing. After Bird, the next athlete I can remember that dominated and received a ton of national recognition was Holli Hyche. Since her time back in the 90s, we've had some good athletes, but Shakir is the first to be nationally recognized.
 
new sycamore fan said:
The 4-time national champion pole vaulter, Kylie Hudson?? I'd say Shakir has a ways to go to catch up to her, but he could.
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I was hesitant to include her because in looking at someone like Holli Hyche, she dominated multiple events and was named the NCAA T&F Woman of the Year for both indoor and outdoor track whereas Kylie just dominated the pole vault, although she was a national champ. Might be an unfair comparison -- would have to leave that for SSOM or other T&F folks to educate me.
 
Jason Svoboda said:
Okay, but that isn't what I meant. Additionally, you can't answer this question because Larry Bird is your damn idol when it comes to sports.

What I'm getting at is that Indiana State gets an athlete every 10-20 years that is amazing. After Bird, the next athlete I can remember that dominated and received a ton of national recognition was Holli Hyche. Since her time back in the 90s, we've had some good athletes, but Shakir is the first to be nationally recognized.
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When you put it that way, I agree with you. We haven't had an athlete for many years that dominated like Bell. For sure I agree with you.
 

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He's closing in on that level - may be too early to tell for me. I think if we had won against IU, it would go a long way toward him reaching that level.
 
shakir is an amazing talent and is the best athlete that has walked around campus in probably a couple of decades. he will be the best football player in isu history and probably be in the top 15-10 best athletes to ever go to isu in any sport. with that being said. are we really comparing the kid to larry bird? the guy that took this school to levels never seen before. a guy that is one of the GREATEST BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF ALL TIME!!!! i don't think it's fair to compare shakir to larry. shakir deserves every award he has gotten and will get, he is a great kid and i love that he is wearing royal blue and white every saturday. but i don't think there is a collegiate athlete in the country that can compare to larry bird.
 
I would say that Bruce Baumgartner was a pretty damn good post Larry Bird Athlete . I mean 2 time national runner up and capped it off with a national championship his Sr. year . This has to make him one of the best if not the best athlete ever at Indiana State.
 
Don't forget that he WON three Gold medals in three consecutive Olympics and got a Bronze in the 4th, plus numerous World Championships).
 

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Just curious, but why would we compare Olympic and professional accomplishments against a college junior? As mentioned above, consider the context. COLLEGE ATHLETE CONTRIBUTIONS ONLY. You wouldn't compare Michael Jordan to Jake Odum, so don't do it here.

Bruce was also very close to Larry's time at State, as was Kurt Thomas. From the trio, do you put anyone in between those folks and Hyche? Anyone in between Hyche and Bell? Bell was runner up for his sports most prestigious award as a sophomore, which was his first year as a starter. I think some of you are really undervaluing what he is doing right now. Without Shakir, we lose that game by 5 touchdowns.

There is a reason Indy sports radio is still talking about Shakir. Don Fisher opened up his IU game discussion with Shakir and he was the first 1-2 minutes on Dan Dakich's show today. We NEVER get air time in Indy. We've been discussed on radio more times this week then probably the last 5-10 years.
 
Actually Boda, that's an excellent point. Bird's COLLEGE accomplishments still put him ahead of most if not all of them, at least in notoriety. Kylie might be the 'next" after that. Just because basketball is more mainstream, Bird should always be better known. Shakir's accomplishments may or may not elevate him, but it would take a lot to elevate him beyond Bird, period. In otherwards, it ain't gonna happen. No ground rules were put out there in this discussion to begin with and Shakir's a work in progress with most of his career in front of him to boot.
 
Bally #45 said:
Actually Boda, that's an excellent point. Bird's COLLEGE accomplishments still put him ahead of most if not all of them, at least in notoriety. Kylie might be the 'next" after that. Just because basketball is more mainstream, Bird should always be better known. Shakir's accomplishments may or may not elevate him, but it would take a lot to elevate him beyond Bird, period. In otherwards, it ain't gonna happen. No ground rules were put out there in this discussion to begin with and Shakir's a work in progress with most of his career in front of him to boot.
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Actually, they were quite clear. Is Shakir Bell this generation's Larry Bird at Indiana State. It doesn't state to compare the two, because that wouldn't be possible anyhow. Different sports, different generations, much more individual sport with more control, etc. The crux of the discussion I was trying to prompt was how Indiana State rarely gets athletes that dominate their sport.
 
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