Opinion

Cook’s Top 5: College Football Programs in Wrestling

Cook brings us the Top 5 Football schools…but from the pro wrestling angle!

Published

6 years ago

August 26, 2019

Steve Cook

Steve Cook brings us the Top 5 Football schools…but from the pro wrestling angle!

There is a ton going on in the world of professional wrestling, but pardon me if I’m a bit distracted. You see, we’re heading right into Week 1 of the college football season. For my money, there isn’t a form of American football that is more emotional & intriguing than college football. It’s one thing to root for a professional team with players changing uniforms every season. When your school is involved…it’s a whole different matter.

Except when your school’s team sucks, which mine is expected to this season. If I could make an argument against that preconception, I would. I have none. The Louisville Cardinals will have a rough 2019. I likely won’t be watching too much college football as a result…except for the big games. I love the pageantry of it all, what can I say?

Jim Ross loved to talk about wrestlers’ college football background. There are a ton of wrestlers that worked with the pigskin back in their college days. Today, we look at the five college football programs that produced the most wrestling talent.

5. Miami (FL)

The U may have come up short on Saturday night, but they beat out their in-state rivals to make the top five. We all know that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was a defensive tackle on Miami’s 1991 national championship, but maybe you don’t remember that other top wrestling star that played for the Hurricanes. Yep, none other than “The Total Package” Lex Luger! Luger was an offensive lineman for the 1979 Hurricanes, quarterbacked by the great Jim Kelly.

I like Titus O’Neil as much as the next guy, but he isn’t enough to put the Flordia Gators over Miami in this category.

4. North Texas (State)

The Mean Green of North Texas are hanging out in Conference USA these days & have made three straight bowl games. Long before the school could plan on going to bowl games, some future professional wrestlers made their way onto the football team. Kevin Von Erich played as a fullback for Hayden Fry’s Mean Green in the late-70s. His brother David hung around for a year before dropping out to pursue his envitable wrestling career. I couldn’t find any record of Kerry going to college, which makes sense if you’ve seen his interviews.

After the Von Erichs came through, Stone Cold Steve Austin followed in their footsteps years later, playing linebacker & fullback for a Mean Green team that was in Division I-AA. These days I think he’d be at tight end instead of fullback.

Have Stone Cold @steveaustinBSR as a TE2 with upside, worth a late round flier for the TD celebrations alone 🍻pic.twitter.com/yWahKwrIGJ

— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) August 25, 2019

3. Minnesota

This is a stat I’m pulling completely out of my ass, but I’m pretty sure the University of Minnesota is the only school to have an AWA World Champion & an NWA World Champion play on its football team. NWA Champion & Pro Football Hall of Famer Bronko Nagurski is probably the man to achieve the most fame in both professions, though nobody alive remembers watching him wrestle or play football. Well, maybe they do…if you remember ol’ Bronko playing for the Golden Gophers in the late 20s and becoming NWA Champion in the late 30s, let me know!

Verne Gagne could have gone into pro football, but wrestlers made more money back in those days. He wasn’t as good a football player as Bronko, but he did make the All-Big Ten team and did get drafted by George Freaking Halas, so he must have been ok. He decided to become one of the most famous wrestlers of the era instead, and introduce a endless amount of Minnesotans to the pro wrestling business, including his son Greg & Butch Levy, both of whom donned the Golden Gopher uniforms.

If Brock Lesnar had played college football, Minnesota just might top this list.

2. Oklahoma

BOOMER SOONER! We all know those two words thanks to Good Ol’ JR, Jim Ross. But we also know that Oklahoma University has brought us some of the toughest men to step into the squared circle. Wahoo McDaniel was one of the top football player/pro wrestlers of his era, and the best Native American wrestler of all time. Maybe even the best Native American football player, but Jim Thorpe was pretty good back in his day. McDaniel was a natural for the wrestling business in & out of the ring, and his chops paved the way for everybody chopping people afterward. Ask Ric Flair.

Bill Watts followed Wahoo into wrestling after seeing one of the checks Wahoo got from a promoter. Seemed like a good deal to the Cowboy, who eventually became a promoter himself. One of Watts’ prized pupils was Steve “Dr. Death” Williams, who was also a wrestler & football player at OU. Many years later, Jake Hager got noticed while wrestling & playing football with the Sooners and became known as Jack Swagger. One thing that every Sooner that became a wrestler has in common: they could whoop anybody you put in the ring with them.

Honorable Mention: Louisville

You know I had to find a way to work in my alma mater here. Unfortunately, the only crossover I could find between professional wrestling & Louisville football is…Erik Watts?

Good God. I’m stunned Jim Cornette & the OVW guys couldn’t get another Louisville Cardinal into their school at some point. Maybe Michael Melchor can work on that for me?

Honorable Mention: SMU

Southern Methodist ran one of the dirtiest programs for years, but from all accounts the wrestlers they drew to the program weren’t part of it. Jack Adkisson came along decades before that all started, and later on became the immortal Fritz Von Erich, hero of Texas & the world. He would be followed by Hacksaw Jim Duggan, who was voted team captain of SMU, but he also left before the scandal started.

As far as I know. Somebody can ask Jim if he got one of those $100 handshakes or not.

1. West Texas State

The school currently known as West Texas A&M University sits 13 miles south of Amarillo, Texas. Back in the territory days, Amarillo was a hub for wrestling because of the Funk family & their status in the business. Dory Funk Sr. was one of the top minds in the business & had two very talented sons, and a lot of other folks around his sons’ age wound up in the area at the same time. It’s an amazing collection of talent which I shall list here:

Tully Blanchard
Bruiser Brody
Ted DiBiase
Manny Fernandez
Dory Jr. & Terry Funk
Stan Hansen
Dusty Rhodes
Tito Santana
Barry Windham
Bobby Duncum Sr.
Scott Casey

There was also Dick Murdoch, who didn’t actually play football there but hung around with the guys. Just an insane amount of wrestling talent to come out of one football program within a couple of decades, with most of those names going on to be top stars in the business.

West Texas State (A&M) might not be an FBS powerhouse, but they can lay claim to more pro wrestling legends than any other college out there.

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Related Topics:Dory Funk Jr Dusty Rhodes Dwayne Johnson Featured Featured Big jim ross Lex Luger Tully Blanchard Wahoo McDaniel

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(NOAH) WEEKLY NEWSLETTER VOL.49 ~ 25TH AUGUST 2019

Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Money In The Bank

Extra, extra read all about it… Chairshot Staff picks are in!!!

Published

2 weeks ago

June 6, 2025

PC Tunney

Sing it with me… money money money money moneeeeeeeeeyeeeeee… everybody’s got a price! MONEY IN THE BANK is here!!! How money will our staff picks be?!?

AJ – Roxanne Perez
Andrew – Stephanie Vaquer – *Bubba Sparxxx Impression* I don’t tell stories, I let them tell theyself.
Dave – Guilia – A stacked field but I just like her here.
DJ – Naomi
DPP – Roxanne Perez
Jason – Alexa Bliss
Patrick – Roxanne Perez
Rey – Naomi – If Naomi loses, we riot!
Rob – Naomi
Greg – Alexa Bliss – Bliss has had huge reactions since returning and is moving a ton of merch. While I can see them wanting to build Roxanne Perez, Giulia, or Stephanie Vaquer, I think Alexa Bliss.

Tunney’s Take: Rhea Ripley – I’ll make my case short and sweet… Mami in the Bank! You can’t leave that money on the table.

Chairshot Pick – Tie – Naomi 3 & Roxanne Perez 3 (Alexa Bliss 2, Giulia 1, Rhea Ripley 1, Stephanie Vaquer 1)

AJ – LA Knight
Andrew – El Grande Americano – Feels correct given his push and the fact he’s over.
Dave – Seth Rollins – Got to push that new faction.
DJ – LA Knight
DPP – El Grande Americano
Jason – LA Knight
Patrick – Solo Sikoa
Rey – LA Knight – Looks like another push, and he does have history with Cena.
Rob – Solo Sikoa
Greg – Seth Rollins – This company is extremely high in the El Grande Americano gimmick, but this match comes down to Seth Rollins or LA Knight. Given the Rollins storyline, it’s his briefcase to win.

Tunney’s Take: El Grande Americano – Picture this: Chad Gable wins the AAA Mega Championship and El Grande Americano wins MITB! WHAT A SATURDAY in LA!!!

Chairshot Pick – LA Knight 4 (El Grande Americano 3, Seth Rollins 2, Solo Sikoa 2)

AJ – Becky Lynch – Sadly
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I still don’t care about Lyra.
Dave – Lyra Valkyria – Starting to warm up to her and Becky has a lot to do with that.
DJ – Lyra Valkyria
DPP – Becky Lynch
Jason – Becky Lynch
Patrick – Lyra Valkyria
Rey – Becky Lynch – Put some fire on the Irish Beef.
Rob – Becky Lynch
Greg – Becky Lynch – I don’t think you do a rematch here just to have Becky lose again. Unless Bayley shows up to help Lyra.

Tunney’s Take: Becky Lynch – A big part of me feels that winning this title checks off a major box for Becks in her HOF career.

Chairshot Pick – Becky Lynch 8-3

AJ – Cena & Paul
Andrew – Rhodes & Uso – Easy way for Cena to lose without eating the pinfall.
Dave – Rhodes & Uso – Get the QB back on the winning track.
DJ – Rhodes & Uso
DPP – Rhodes & Uso
Jason – Cena & Paul
Patrick – Cena & Paul
Rey – Rhodes & Uso – Heels usually lose these kinds of matches. Logan takes the pin.
Rob – Cena & Paul
Greg – Rhodes & Uso – I hope Jey isn’t an afterthought here like Cody was last fall when he was paired up with Roman. I think Cody pins Cena to set up Cody-Cena 2 at SummerSlam.

Tunney’s Take: Cena & Paul – I don’t think Cena is involved in another loss until he loses the WWE Championship. I also think Logan Paul is NOT done trying to capture Jey Uso’s World Heavyweight Championship. …Travis Scott in the house?

Chairshot Pick – 6-5 Rhodes & Uso

In closing I want to thank everyone on the panel for participating with their picks! You can follow each prognosticator/podcaster on X @ the handles below. We all enjoy Pro Wrestling so remember three things… be respectful of others, comparison is the thief of joy and HAVE FUN!

AJ – @PhenomenalAJB
Andrew – @IWCWarChief
Dave – @AttitudeAgg
DJ – @TheMindlessPod
DPP – @itsmeDPP
Jason – @JediFett
Patrick – @WrestlngRealist
Rey – @itsreycash
Rob – @rbonne1
Greg – @gregdemarco44
PC – @PCTunney
TheChairshot.com – @ChairshotMedia

prowrestlingtees.com/TheChairshot – a PLETHORA of GREAT designs…MAKES A GREAT GIFT!

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SUNDAY – Keeping the news ridiculous… The Oddity / The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE’s PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS…IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O’Dowd’s 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

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About Chairshot Radio Network

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

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Classic POD is WAR

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Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Backlash St. Louis

Chairshot Staff picks!!!

Published

1 month ago

May 9, 2025

PC Tunney

May is upon us and with that, so is Backlash from St. Louis! What does the first PLE after WrestleMania have in store for the WWE Universe? Let’s see if the Chairshot Staff can properly interpret the crystal ball of rasslin’ future.

AJ – Pat MacAfee – Gunther has to start losing control and who better than an announcer.
Andrew – Pat MacAfee – Goldberg getting involved does seem correct here.
Dave – Gunther – He’s not losing to a broadcaster.
DJ – Gunther – Pat is sent to the shadow realm until football season is over.
DPP – Gunther – Post match beat down leads to Pat time off.
Jason – Gunther – One massive spot and or bump from Pat.
Patrick – Gunther
Rey – Gunther – RIP MacAfee, t’was a good life.
Rob – Gunther
Greg – Pat MacAfee – Why? Goooooldbeeerrrrrgggggg!

Tunney’s Take: Gunther – Seems like the right pick here. Pat may be getting some time off and Gunther needs more heat.

Chairshot Pick – GUNTHER 8-3

AJ – Lyra Valkyria – Becky’s hopefully putting her over, still mad about Dakota.
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I have no real interest in Lyra currently.
Dave – Becky Lynch – Lyra is boring AF!
DJ – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley interferes.
DPP – Becky Lynch – Becky cheats and steals the title.
Jason – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley costs Becks.
Patrick – Becky Lynch
Rey – Becky Lynch – Story needs to jump up a bit, Becky Charlotte’s Lyra.
Rob – Lyra Valkyria
Greg – Becky Lynch – It’s been fun, Lyra. (It kinda hasn’t)

Tunney’s Take: Lyra Valkyria – Bayley’s interference should set up some type of program with Becky as we head towards Summer(Slam).

Chairshot Pick – BECKY LYNCH 6-5

AJ – Jacob Fatu – Great way to put him over w/ two former WHCs and LA Knight.
Andrew – Jacob Fatu – He’s Jacob Fatu!
Dave – Jacob Fatu – Too soon to pull the belt off him.
DJ – Jacob Fatu – Priest and LA can’t decide who’s is bigger.
DPP – Jacob Fatu – Your hardcore match, tables and chairs involved.
Jason – Jacob Fatu – The Champ retains due to or in spite of Solo.
Patrick – Jacob Fatu
Rey – Jacob Fatu – All gas. No brakes. Ain’t losing.
Rob – Jacob Fatu
Greg – Jacob Fatu – Someone from The Samoan Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Jacob Fatu – Uncle Mo is on Fatu’s side and other than Knight, I don’t see Drew or Priest holding the US title in the current circumstances of this title’s landscape.

Chairshot Pick – JACOB FATU 11-0

AJ – Dominic Mysterio – Judgement Day shenanigans just leading up to Finn turning on Dom later.
Andrew – Penta – Dom’s fine having a short reign, could also work for pushing AAA.
Dave – Dominic Mysterio – He’s probably more over than Penta.
DJ – Dominic Mysterio – Dirty Dom takes home the gold and the girl.
DPP – Dominic Mysterio – Big Head helps Dom pull out the win.
Jason – Dominic Mysterio – By hook and crook.
Patrick – Dominic Mysterio
Rey – Dominic Mysterio – Latino Heat keeps burning. Finn gets closer to the edge.
Rob – Dominic Mysterio
Greg – Dominic Mysterio – Someone from The Guerrero Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Dominic Mysterio – That belt looks good with the king of chicken tendys. I can see Penta and Rey reforming as a tag team sooner than later.

Chairshot Pick – DOMINIC MYSTERIO 10-1

AJ – John Cena – Why? Cena wins, lol.
Andrew – John Cena – Shenanigans ensue so it’s not a clean win.
Dave – John Cena – The last time is now.
DJ – John Cena – Randy hears voices telling him he needs an Attitude Adjustment.
DPP – John Cena – Cena tries to cheat but the ref doesn’t call for a DQ.
Jason – John Cena – Nefarious means, Randy not ready for Evil John Cena.
Patrick – John Cena
Rey – John Cena – Cena just counting down the dates. Should be fun though.
Rob – John Cena
Greg – John Cena – You know they want Cody to be the hero in the end.

Tunney’s Take: Randy Orton – Once upon a time Randy got himself intentionally disqualified and it cost John. Saturday, history repeats itself with a 180-degree twist. Cena retains via Orton DQ victory. This time, Travis Scott’s appearance takes care of that task.

Chairshot Pick – JOHN CENA 10-1