Allen Iverson Ultimate Football Mix - NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback
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- Опубліковано 27 сер 2024
- Tom Lemming remembers the first time he saw Allen Iverson play, back when Iverson was at Bethel High School in Hampton, Virginia. By that time, Iverson was a known quantity. Even in the talent-rich Tidewater region, in eastern Virginia, Iverson's star power stood out, and he was being discussed as a blue-chip recruit. Lemming got on a plane to see for himself.
"He had terrific reaction, instincts, loose hips, and a great vertical," Lemming told VICE Sports. "A lot of people bring it up and ask me how good he was. He was a great player. Not a good player, but a great football player."
In some alternate universe, Iverson might have become the same sort of path-breaking star in football that he ultimately would be in the NBA. The same live-wire athleticism and fearless ferocity that would make him a legend on the court-and, as of Friday's induction in Springfield, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame-made him a force on the gridiron, too. Iverson fielded scholarship offers from major college football programs at the same time as he weighed basketball offers. The choice he made wound up changing basketball, but Lemming, a well-known national football recruiting analyst for the past 38 years, believes that Iverson could have made an impact if he'd stuck with the sport that was his first love. "He would've made the NFL," Lemming said. "Who knows, he could've been an NFL Hall of Famer."
The Showtime documentary Iverson features footage of Iverson playing football on the fields at Aberdeen elementary school in Hampton for coach Gary Moore, who served as a mentor for Iverson. Moore is now Iverson's personal manager.
"From day one, he actually wanted to jump right in and play," Moore said in the documentary. "He wanted to be my star player. That aggression and that enthusiasm is what I admired most about him. When I saw him dance and move, completely reverse his field all the way back around and not allow any of those kids to touch him, that's when I really said, 'Wow, this boy's something.'"
All the local high schools recruited Iverson. He ended up at Bethel in part because Dennis Kozlowski, the school's football coach and athletics director, had coached Iverson's aunt in high school track and field.
When Iverson was a five-foot-six, 145-pound eighth grader, hundreds of fans would come out to watch him play for Bethel's junior varsity team. The next year, he started at wide receiver and safety on the varsity. In his sophomore season, Kozlowski moved Iverson to quarterback but still played him on defense. As a defensive back, Iverson tied a Virginia record by intercepting five passes in one game and helped Bethel to an undefeated regular season before losing in the first round of the playoffs.
verson committed himself to sports. He played basketball most of the year and only played football from August through December, which didn't seem to hinder his development. As a junior, Iverson led Bethel to the 1992 Virginia state championship against E.C. Glass High School of Lynchburg, which had lost the title game the previous year. A few days before the championship, E.C. Glass coach Bo Henson drove the 200 miles from Lynchburg to Hampton to watch Bethel's semifinal game against Huguenot. Bethel got off to a slow start and trailed 16-0 in the fourth quarter.
"Somebody looked at me and said, 'Hey, don't count 'em out. Iverson's gonna bring 'em back,'" Henson said.
Iverson did just that. He threw a touchdown pass, successfully completed a pair of two-point conversions, and ran for two touchdowns, including a two-yard quarterback sneak in overtime to clinch the 22-16 victory. Before facing Bethel, Henson clipped out newspaper articles on Iverson and placed them on the desk of Tate Gallagher, a student in his history class and E.C. Glass's starting quarterback. Gallagher and others had never heard of Iverson.
"He was trying to warn me how good this person was," Gallagher said.
When Gallagher arrived at City Stadium in Richmond, he wondered what all the fuss was about. During warm-ups, he and his teammates looked over at Iverson getting ready for the game. They weren't too impressed. "We were like, 'Man, his legs look like noodles and his arms like noodles. We got this,'" Gallagher said.
That confidence didn't survive long past kickoff. In the first quarter, Iverson ran for a touchdown and returned a punt 60 yards for another. He later intercepted two passes on defense and threw for 201 yards in Bethel's 27-0 victory, the school's first state championship since 1976. "His speed was just extraordinary," Gallagher said. "He was so quick."
Iverson's heroics didn't surprise Henson, who coached E.C. Glass for 21 years. During that time, he faced future NFL quarterback Michael Vick and receiver Ronald Curry, who was the national high school player of the year as a quarterback in 1996. Neither of those guys compared with Iverson, he says.
you know there were scouts actually saying he was a better football player than a basketball player. That's insane! Once in a generation kind of athlete. I haven't seen anyone this athletic since Bo Jackson.
He said himself he was a better football player then basketball
Think he used to play against mike vick to....mike vick said iverson was nice
Deion Sanders says whats up lol.
I should say Randy Moss as well, that dude was a beast also.
@@Abstrack23 I mean, we're splitting hairs here. All of these guys are special.. but personally for me it's Deion Sanders. Dude played center field in the MLB, than played wide receiver, cornerback and punt returner for the Cowboys. There were games where Sanders would catch 8 passes for 100 yards, then turn around the next possession and shut down the other teams best wide receiver and then stay on the field for a punt return. Like, what? lol.
I graduated from Bethel HS in '85. I went to every game that year as Allen Iverson led the Bruins to the State title in football. Every week he would do something amazing on the field, whether he was playing QB, DB (hit like a safety, covered like a corner) or returning punts and kick-offs. In the play-offs with his team down, he was clutch and made the plays needed to propel the team to the title! And how do you follow that? You go lead the Bruins to the State title in basketball, the SAME YEAR! I remember all 6 foot of him defending 6ft10in Joe Smith (another future NBA player) by fronting up on him, denying any passes to Smith. Bubba Chuck was a joy to watch play on the court and field!!!!
Allen Iverson was an outstanding athlete. Probably one of the best high school quarterbacks I have ever seen play. He was just an insane all around athlete.
Bro I grew up with that man and he was just different. He was amazing and we never let him get touched at QB.
how was he? percy harvin went to my school and i heard he was a dick
Hello I'm headspace universe creator I'm all of space
Wow, I had no idea how good he was. What an arm, plus he was a stud on defense. Amazing athlete, who plays with heart.
He was a damn good football player. Dude was running circles around some good players in high school. He probably ran a 4.3 forty, and he could throw it as far as he wanted to. I would have loved to see him play as an option QB.
So he was basically a light skin mike Vick lol
@@D.ocument.The.Journeythey actually say he was better in highschool 😂
A lot better, no comparison
That's why allen iverson was able to take those hit on the basketball court. He was already used to it
ive never seen a starting quarterback return kickoffs...never. let alone an all state qb
Omar Scruggs Antonio brown
Think he played defense too
This happened a lot back in the 90's...best player would routinely play both sides. We has an amazing RB who also played corner and returned kicks/punts. He was fast as shit, set the 40yd dash record at Texas Tech I believe.
Lol...and punts...lol..and cornerback with numerous interceptions taken to the house
Dont know if Ted Ginn jr was all state, but he definitely did that
Had I known he was this good, seeing him constantly drive to the hoop and fall without an issue would have made sense to me at the time. He's a beast
That speed is elite on any surface. Dayum
He was like Deon Sanders, Michael Vick, and Lamar Jackson molded into one person
He wasn't lying when he said he would have been great
Damn good observation with that combination of talent u named!!
they all have that same unconventional running style, but are still faster than every body.
He wasn’t called “the answer” for no reason.
He slang that football 🏈 like Doug Flutie and ran like Deion Sanders and jumped like Michael Jordan 🏀
What more is there to say.
that 60 yard fling without running up to the line...dude is just a natural athlete. arm power, speed, leaping ability. He probably wouldn't been a nasty boxer.
If he was in europe, he'd have been the best soccer player who ever walked
greatest athlete ever! there's a highschool athlete right now who is the second best point guard in the nation and the 8th best quarterback in the nation. look him up, his name is jalen suggs.
Good call on this!
Wow this comment!
Ma boy in the nba now
Sadly Suggs should’ve probably chose football
Honestly he's the best high school athlete I ever seen
Never seen Reggie Bush?
Randy Moss for me, but they're both right there. Both GOATS
There's only one Deion Sanders
Ronald Curry
Zion could throw 60 yards, and probably would’ve been an incredible lineman or linebacker, he could also hit a baseball like 400 ft or something
ankle breaking in football field
Damn he could have been a hof NFL player also
luckily he chose basketball. Lot more respected sport world wide. NFL such a small thing world wide.
Pertti Persereikä yea but the only country that matters is USA. And Football reigns supreme here. Every other country is Dog shit.
jeff c. Amen.
jeff c. Ik u didn’t just say that you’re shitty ass European country is better than america😂
@@bensomerscales8852 🇺🇸
AP National Player of the Year is Basketball AND football, Virginia State Champ in both sports, insane
Ai so cold he got his own marvel music 😂
You are seen the best crossover on nba history score touchdowns !!!
I'm not totally sure about that!!
-Timmy Hardaway
@@anthonycarr5514 pfft not even a comparison AI is HOF which penny will never be.
@@n1kobefan who the hell is penny? lmao
That speed change at 2:57. He would own the record in 40 yard dash for sure
I love this mix! do you?
pennyccw Great stuff bro. Ur work is legendary
pennyccw shit is fire and the best mix I've seen of his football career
pennyccw yes bro your the greatest continue to make great content 🔥
Not a big basketball fan, think gridiron (being a rugby man) is soft and i'm Australian...but A.I./BubbaChuck/The Answer/...whatever you want to call him is sporting royalty and when i was a kid, he inspired me as much in my sports as much as my other 2 or 3 other idols in the sports i actually played.
A.I. was a sporting god. Talent, fearlessness and confidence that is hard to find a comparison to (in any sport)
Come block Aaron Donald then.
Nope the nba in the 80s and 90s was hard as hell
Remind me when rugby finally allows shoulder charges. Thank you 👍
@@zoyxing lol remind me when all football teams offense plays defense aswell. They really out there wearing pads only doing half the job of a rugby player
@@chasmcgregor001 Football is a specific skill position sport. Offensive players are specifically designed to play offense, and defensive players are specifically designed to play defense. Let's say you have a QB (An offensive player that passes the ball) lined up as a CB (A defensive player that makes sure offensive players don't catch the ball). Then It'd just be unprofessional bullshit because the QB has no chance of covering the offensive player. Now, let's say you have a CB playing as a QB. How'd that work out? Horrible. A CB isn't meant to pass 65-yards down field to score. Now, let's put a QB at the QB position. How would that go? Wonderfully! Now the game has professionalism & a purpose. To summarize, if we put offensive players on defense or vice versa, the game would be absolutely horrid & absolutely nobody would watch it.
Once a Generatiom type athelete!!!! Iverson is best QB that never was!!!
No
Stop, he was just faster than everybody. He was playing backyard qb.
Not as fast as Vick, not as passionate as Kobe
@@JShady7620 when ur that blessed with talent to the point where u r naturally just so good at something as if u were born to do it then ur play style can succeed, example mike Vick (Literslly drew inspiration from AI play style since they from the same area) and lamar Jackson
@@JShady7620o come on. Get out of that stupid mindset that every nfl QB has to look like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning
One of the best Ballplayers EVER!!
If you from anywhere in VA you already know what it is AI, Mike Vick, Ronald Curry, Tyrod Taylor, them peninsula district athletes be something different
And that's the truth Ruth!
Aaron Brooks
In college he would have been a corner , not a qb .
Ronald curry was the best basketball player in 1998 Mc Donald’s game mvp by potna Ray young was second couldn’t believe he chose football over hoop tho
At 1:30 when he made a text book tackle, the guy he dumped was clearly triggered. A.I. simply celebrated the play he made, and didn't look back. THAT right there showed his true and unadulterated love of the game.
A.I.!When the younger generation start learning about Allen Iverson and they eventually come across this video. Garunteed to be that Legend with no rings and still remembered as someone that couldnt be mimicked. His ability to read a opponent's entire team in a matter of a split second. Ive never seen a QB PURPOSELY Run into the defense to create space just to comeback out and go around them. 😂😂😂 oh and the TACKLE WAS Borderline Tyron Lue style.
When that happened I literally said I've never ever seen that happen in Football. He was moving ridiculously fast.
I've literally never ever seen that happen in Football. He was moving ridiculously fast.
@@Noisy_Cricket hands down one the greatest athletes in general
That’s what used to be known as an athlete. It didn’t matter the sport because of the one thing that no one could teach, talent.
Don't forget Aaron Brooks is his cousin who played in the same division.
That's Michael Vick's cousin
That’s Vick’s Cousin Dumbass
@@jeffc.3639 😂
Damn A.I was a monster on that field and I agree with him...as cold as he was in basketball I believe he might have been a better football player!!!
Their both from VA, but Iverson is older , but I heard Mike Vick used to go watch Iverson play in high school and molded his game after him...that's saying alot about how cold of an football player Iverson was when Mike Vick said he looked up to u and molded his game after u!!!
BIG RED UPSIDE YO HEAD which mike vick is also a hof
This explains his game on the hard court too, knifing his way through defences and taking it to the rim, drawing contact against 7-footers. But if he stuck with football? Jordan couldn't stay with his crossover - just imagine the moves he would've invented at QB and put on the 300 lb guys trying to catch him.
Like his hometown friend Mike Vick
Bethel is retiring his jersey today and I can’t wait. 🥰
I wish Iverson play football in college and NFL
Beast on football field to
His feet are so fast, it looks like a video game with a speed cheatcode
This dude dribbling a football 👁👁
That impressed me the most out of all the footage
One of the most gifted athletes ever
I live across the water from bethel....when Iverson came to town....no matter football or basketball.....capacity overload🏌
He was a scrappy football player. He was no Vick orrrrrr....the GOAT from Hampton High, Ronald Curry.
Iverson was Showtime...most perennial games were close that sophomore phenom year but, it was all Iverson... Blocked punts...interceptions....run...pass...kick return...force a fumble...break up a pass...sack.....dude wanted to win at all costs.....He Did!!!
One thing I wish for is to translate Allen Iverson football and basketball abilities and skills to my soccer skills.please God let it happen.
He may be the best high school football
Player I have ever seen !! Wow!!!
no wonder he was so fierce on the basketball court ! i would even say that was his edge over most other basketball players .
I remember when mick vic and Aaron brooks use to watch him play
Really??? Like they would come to the games while Pro or in College?? That's so amazing.
Wait this is insane how did I just learn Allen Iverson is the greatest sportsman to exist #mindblown
thx for this video, Iverson was such a badass. Not to shill for the guy (doesn't need it - has offers) but HS Sr Aiden Flora reminds me of Iverson. Same size, both not really traditional QBs. Flora just rushed for 300 yards & 4 TDs. And he can throw it 60+ yards.
Allen Iverson.... Running quarterback
I still think about watching him in highschool. He was one the best football players I've ever seen. He had ELITE quickness and he was tough and mean. He would have made it to the NFL had he not got into that brawl. Idk if he would have been a QB or not but if he was a receiver he would have been a better version of Steve Smith.
Him and Michael Vick were childhood friends
he played in my area before my time but man he’s a legend around here he would’ve been vick before vick
Reminds me of randall cunningham
I wish he would have made it to the NFL. Probably would have been a Hall Of Famer safety or Corner💯💯💯
I envy, admire and LOVE THIS human being!
For my high school BHS!!!
Imagine....Kobe at Wide Receiver...Lebron at Tight End....Iverson at Quarterback....Now that's a Dream Team
shaq at tight end lebron receiver
I thought I was watching clips of Lamar Jackson and Desean Jackson there for a minute
If I watched and didn’t know who he was I would have thought it was DeSean Jackson. He’s even working number 10
AI was not good at basketball as he was a elite football player. But after the accident he was given a chance to play basketball and he PRACTICE. That's why he's so good and everyone in NBA practice everyday.
2:47 majestic run
He probably would have been a db and kick returner
Agreed. He would have needed a really brilliant coach, and a patient owner to be a NFL QB. It would work, but the NFL is still about 5-10 years from that point. Teams scared today about things like height and passing skill in a QB, and we have glimpses of insight and understanding from Vick up until 2020 with our current '19-2020 MVP contenders(Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes) in custom-built offenses that exploit the danger of their spatial awareness and athletic talent. Even now, we're scared of loss in investing in a 5'11" QB with a mostly athlete-based skill-set. Slowly the NBA and NFL have been evolving. To be as great a relative value/efficient player as he was (he'd always be amazingly entertaining, in any era) A.I. would have to have evolved into a slightly better 3-pt shooter (today's NBA requires more there, for max value)....
U see that dude toe kick that ball
My qauertback in 2001
Made all State and set passing records..
He also played Safety
Punter
Kicker
Kick\Punt returner
Some of those guys who he was throwing on are in or played in the NFL and he was in the NBA LOL
That's the same rec team I played for in Hampton, The Aberdeen Raiders
damn... those guys had problems stopping AI, even with their hands on him
Iverson would of been a NFL Hall of Famer no doubt about it
It’s crazy to think about cuz he’s said if he chose football he obviously would’ve had to lift weight and would’ve had a completely different physique in college and professional football, he Fr would’ve been the mike Vick before mike Vick
The same engine thats in lebron is in iverson
No. Not even close. Bron got great work ethic..but Iversons Athleticism was gods gift. To be that small and he never weighed more that 170. He Didnt lift weights or train. Im not trying diss what your saying but its like he had super powers. To be so small. A 6'1 SG. 160-170Lbs. That strong And He never got tired. Doing putbacks over the backs of centers. I grew up watchin AI and It takes awhile to realize how extremely Unique he was.
J Oso Flawless AI was a atheltic monster but Lebron is also an athletic freak of nature. For how big he is he’s so fast agile can move so good laterally etc. Lebron could’ve also played in the NFL. Lebron has a 40+ inch vertical. I believe he ran a 4.4 and he’s 6’8 260. Imagine Lebron a full head of steam
Running towards you!
J Oso Flawless AI was a atheltic monster but Lebron is also an athletic freak of nature. For how big he is he’s so fast agile can move so good laterally etc. Lebron could’ve also played in the NFL. Lebron has a 40+ inch vertical. I believe he ran a 4.4 and he’s 6’8 260. Imagine Lebron a full head of steam
Running towards you!
We all know the best players are not in the NFL or NBA. Those players took advantage of their opportunity.
Cap
That boy has some long ass arms .
Just like Larry Bird's arms.
The thing with professional athletes that lots of people don’t understand is that they have a certain instinct that allows them to be exceptionally great at more than one sport. Usually 3!! What that instinct is… well idk lol
You love football better then basketball
I remember this bethel high School.. he could have definitely went to the NFL and been a superstar.... What was crazy about him his energy his speed and his heart was unmatched... At Junior number one in basketball and football. Have to look and see who else did that
Guy was dribbling a football
As small as he was I still think he would have made it to the NFL he was s tremendous athlete. He played high school in the same place as Mike Vick and many people will tell you Iverson was better.
6'0 alot bigger on the football field than on the basketball court
That arm was insane
Probably would’ve been a lockdown corner in the nfl I’m getting Charles Woodson vibes from this
Bro vick, cordell stewart, and Woodson in one person... He for sure could have been better in foot ball.
In the nba AI small in the nfl he a slot or corner I see where we going with this V.A football was strong at that time
Tidewater hs football is as good as anywhere in the United States !!! He was doing work against some talented kids
In 8th grade/2002 I had a white iverson football jersey made by Reebok and it was my 2nd favorite piece of clothing I owned. One kid mocked me and I educated him about who was the best Virginia high school qb in the 90s (not Vick). I had no clue if it was true but I had heard that it was true.
So not only was Allen Iverson breaking ankles in basketball, but he was breaking ankles in football as well.
How is Allen Iverson not like Al Bundy reliving his high school glory? They’re both best known for selling shoes, anyway.
My boy was dribbling a football 😂!
He is an insanely great athlete and the definition of “speed kills” in sport. And straight up, athlete’s that are smaller deserve way more respect than they get. Especially in basketball. Think about it honestly. Think about a guy 6’1” (and many say he’s closer to 6 even) taking on all those giants. I’ll never forget him taking on Kobe and Shaq and driving to the net on soo many huge great players and finishing. I don’t know how the hell the could cut and slash to the net and just eff up the whole scene every time. Scoring title 4 times. Check ur boy Lebron on that one. And AI never had great teams with him but still got so far. I feel like if he was more healthy he could’ve played longer and got a ring. I’m
A massive ball fan and I gotta say as born in 1980and watching ball close since 87, the 3 best players no doubt in my mind at least in the time I’ve seen, are MJ, Kobe, and AI. And not in that particular order after MJ. All I gotta say is imagine a 6’5” Iverson. He probably would’ve been the greatest ever. And he was a GREAT passer. Idc if ppl say he was a hog. Maybe he didn’t pass as much as he could’ve, but his passing was perfect. He basically hit MVP in the all star game from passing. Who does that. And look at who was playing that game when he got MVP. Allen Iverson. That guy. I have no doubt if he wanted to and went pro in the NFL instead, he wouldn’t been one of the greatest too. Some guys are just on another level. Kinda makes me think of Randell Cunningham. That guy was an insane athlete too. Not as dominating as AI but awesome all around athlete. #speedkills
The fact that you had to say "check ur boy LeBron" and then left him off your top 3 list shows that you're biased against him even though he's an obvious goat contender! It's OK LeBron doesn't need the haters to vouch for him...keep hating...it only makes him look even greater!
Allen iverson was like nelly from longest yard but 10x better
I forget what podcast it was but there is somebody who knew and agent in Virginia and from what I heard Iverson was above Vic on most scouts rankings
...he was recruited to play football at Notre Dame
Freak of nature.
It's like they decided to scrap the Captain America project and chose to just splice the DNA of Doug Flutie and Barry Sanders. The end result is Allen Iverson at quarterback.
Would’ve been HOF in football as well👍... A.I was a super athlete
Im not sure if he would have ended up better in football. In fact I pretty much know he wouldn't have but I do know that he would have been in the NFL because of his athleticism and how he was also a football player too. Some guys are just athletic etc but he was a skilled natural at football. His tackling and hitting looked very natural and perfect form and his instincts were that of a d1 top recruit. The thing is that he would have had to been Another Deion at CB and better than Vick and McNabb to say that he was better in football because he was a one of a kind and the baddest little man on the court. No wonder why he would take and not be afraid to initiate contact. Only when you step on that court and actually facing contact do you think about how tough he had to be.
He demonstrated here the caliber of QB that Johnny Manziel should have been.
Just saw him say he would’ve been a better football player than a basketball player
Although the first two play holds the ball for a long time, I think that he can hardly gain.
My mans done played every position 😆
Ai threw it like 60 yards crazy
Dudes got a fucking cannon
Area had some tremendous high school QBs, Iverson, Vick, and Ronald Curry, possibly the greatest high school player ever. Terrelle Pryor was not bad, either, but from PA.
Is this mic vic
would have been a good WR or CB he throws like Tebow
Tebow wishes he could throw as well as Iverson