James "The Eel" McMillion
- Thread starter JUKEBOX
- Start date
I used to love watching him run back punts and kicks. He was a very exciting player to watch.
Looking back at it he was about the only exciting thing to watch during some of those years however.
Looking back at it he was about the only exciting thing to watch during some of those years however.
Talk about some big holes to run thru. Here is a page from the 1993 media guide. The EEL is for Real.
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I loved this guy as a kid, I'm not sure exactly what says about those years when a kids favorite player was a return specialist.....
Best return man I ever saw. Too bad we sucked so bad then nobody was there to see him and none of the games were on TV. Everytime he came on the field the potential was there for something amazing to happen. Even when he didn't score, he'd make a few guys miss and get you on your feet!
Also, academically wasn't he some kind of genius or am I thinking of someone else?
Same here. I was in middle school when he was playing and he was by far one of my favorite players during that time. I remember he was leading the nation in return yards and it wasn't even close. The kicker was that ISU was also kicked to alot that year because they got scored on a ton.
If I dig back through some of my old stuff I'm sure I can find my eel autographed football. I also think I have marvelous Marv Seiler on that one as well.
I think you're right. He was one of the only bright spots during that time frame and they really put the PR machine at full force with him.
I remember that year the Kstate game was on TV, it was a night game on ESPN (maybe thursday) and James couldn't play due to injury:sad:. I remember them doing an interview and showing a highlight reel or something.
I remember one of those punt returns.
3 of us were sitting in the first row of the upper deck real near the 50. You could see a massive hole open up and you just knew he was going to take it all the way. Those are the things you can't see on TV and what makes going to a game such a great experience.
3 of us were sitting in the first row of the upper deck real near the 50. You could see a massive hole open up and you just knew he was going to take it all the way. Those are the things you can't see on TV and what makes going to a game such a great experience.
That was the game that Donnie Smith (the punter and backup QB) played in much of the game at QB, scored a TD, and did an impression of a sprinkler in celebration. Good times. We lost the game, of course.
