[qwerty49]

Ralston inherited a mediocre program and brought a pro pocket passing attack and eventually had the right guys, Plunkett and Bunce, to run it.  He also had great talent all around, particularly on D with the T-Chickens.

Some of this is not quite accurate. Bunce was not at all a pro pocket passer. He and Plunkett were very different. Bunce was a rugby player who could throw the ball. It makes Ralston look better, because he could win with both guys. We were all expecting disaster when Plunkett graduated. As far as Ralston having "great talent all around", no, he didn't. He had a few very great players and many other guys who played better than they were. Randy Vataha wasn't a "prototypical" wide receiver and would never be a 5 star HS athlete. John Sande was actually too small to play center and had to work like hell to make weight. Jack Schultz was a running back converted to a safety because there was nobody else (sound familiar?). The only defensive player drafted from the 1971 team was Dave Tipton. Ralston had to win with what he had, which was far from perfect.

You're right on Bunce.  And yeah, I met John Sande in CTG a few years ago and he looked to be about 180.  All the more impressive that he put Jim Stillwagon on his keester for a whole game.

Maybe I've got my years confused but regardless of being drafted, I think more than a few guys from Ralston's two Rose Bowl teams played in the NFL.  The year after Tipton left we had Laz, Butler, Sampson.  Jeff Siemon of course and even Mike Simone played for Denver IIRC.  Benny Barnes for Dallas.   Bob Moore.  Including Plunkett that's 8 that I can think of off the top of my head.  Not to mention Jim Kauffman who for his size may have been the best athlete on the team and who personally caught OJ from behind at least twice the year Juice completed that desperation 4th down pass to Dan Scott.

[qwerty49]

Ralston inherited a mediocre program and brought a pro pocket passing attack and eventually had the right guys, Plunkett and Bunce, to run it.  He also had great talent all around, particularly on D with the T-Chickens.

Some of this is not quite accurate. Bunce was not at all a pro pocket passer. He and Plunkett were very different. Bunce was a rugby player who could throw the ball. It makes Ralston look better, because he could win with both guys. We were all expecting disaster when Plunkett graduated. As far as Ralston having "great talent all around", no, he didn't. He had a few very great players and many other guys who played better than they were. Randy Vataha wasn't a "prototypical" wide receiver and would never be a 5 star HS athlete. John Sande was actually too small to play center and had to work like hell to make weight. Jack Schultz was a running back converted to a safety because there was nobody else (sound familiar?). The only defensive player drafted from the 1971 team was Dave Tipton. Ralston had to win with what he had, which was far from perfect.

You're right on Bunce.  And yeah, I met John Sande in CTG a few years ago and he looked to be about 180.  All the more impressive that he put Jim Stillwagon on his keester for a whole game.

Maybe I've got my years confused but regardless of being drafted, I think more than a few guys from Ralston's two Rose Bowl teams played in the NFL.  The year after Tipton left we had Laz, Butler, Sampson.  Jeff Siemon of course and even Mike Simone played for Denver IIRC.  Benny Barnes for Dallas.   Bob Moore.  Including Plunkett that's 8 that I can think of off the top of my head.  Not to mention Jim Kauffman who for his size may have been the best athlete on the team and who personally caught OJ from behind at least twice the year Juice completed that desperation 4th down pass to Dan Scott.