Is Glenbard West's Sam Brodner the Best Player in WSC History?

[mpercie]

Is current running back Sam Brodner of Glenbard West the best player in the long history of the West Suburban Conference? His numbers for just the last two years 1,950 yards rushing, 27 touchdowns and 1,313 yards rushing and 39 touchdowns are impressive. As is his 50 carries last weekend against Cary Grove High School in a snow storm. However there is no real measuring stick to pick the best ever. But he just may be as good or better than many of the greats from conference history: (other WSC greats in no particular order)

George Plasketes QB R.B. 1972
Hubert Thompson DL Proviso West 1996
Mark Ingold RB Glenbard West 1977
Mike McGrath DB Downers South 1994
Tim Stratten WR York 1996
Matt Roth DL Willowbrook 2000
Tommy Schutt DL Glenbard West 2011
Tony Pape OL Hinsdale South
Sam Carson LB Downers South 2003
Ken Koranda RB Hinsdale Central 1967
Famous Hulbert LB Proviso West 1993
Eric Kumerow Oak Park QB 1982
Cory Cooper DB Proviso East 1980
Roger Stefani RB York 1973
Brian Musso WR Hinsdale Central 1993
Pete Bylsma WR Hinsdale Central 1991
Jack Derning QB York 1967
Leon McRae RB LaGrange (LT) 1952
Chandler Whitmer QB Downers South 2010
Matt Bowen QB Glenbard West 1995
Larry Yena LB LaGrange (LT) 1973
Bill Saban QB LaGrange (LT) 1973
Barry Cernoch End Downers North 1970
Brian Dietrich LB Glenbard West 1971
Al Florentino LB/RB Hinsdale Central 1970
Vic Pagel RB Maine East 1957
Jim Borling RB Glenbard West 1972
Marty Detmer DL Glenbard West
Marty Ellens RB Hinsdale South
Greg Stec DL Lyons
Greg Fisher WR York
Kyle Prater WR Proviso West 2010
Flozell Adams OL Proviso West
Tony Belleville QB York 1972
Dave Vohaska NG R.B. 1980

 

[mchsalumni]

Hotel Flozell and Kyle Prater both way better, without taking a thing away from Brodner.

 

[mchsalumni]

Kumerow was a beast as well. POY, man among boys.

 

[SilverHelmets]

Chris Watt is one of the best but hard to judge an o-lineman's Impact since they don't have the stats to compare to a skill player

 

[Wild_Mustang]

Wow, @mpercie , great list, impressive. I saw Brodner in person, kid is just a work horse. Not sure if he's the best of all time but he's in the top 5.

I never saw Jimmy Garapalo (however you spell it) from Willowbrook play, did any of you? What was he like in high school? The back up QB on the Patriots for those of you who don't know who I am talking about.

 

[SilverHelmets]

Jimmy went to Rolling Meadows

 

[bronco man]

Jimmy Garappolo
Rolling Meadows H.S.
https://rivals.yahoo.com/nj/football/recruiting/player-Jimmy-Garoppolo-92252

 

[Wild_Mustang]

I always get Rolling Ghetto's and Willowbrook mixed up, my bad.

 

[LakeCtyNewt]

Brodner is certainly one of the best to play in that conference. To say he's the very best? Meh, Kumerow was at a different level when he played there. Roth was really good too. To think what Famous Hulbert could've been gives me chills. The kid was the man child if man child's.

Brodner isn't the best ever but I would put him in the team photo.

 

[SilverHelmets]

Better question would be if he is the best running back. Ray Nitschke has to be the best player ever from the conference

 

[capnbillhitters]

This stats thing is crazy from Brodner. He had 1,313 rushing before C-G which means he has 1,605 but no paper seems to have adjusted for last week's total. So total rushing and receiving is over 2,000

He also has 43 TDs in '15 which is most by anyl WSC players listed on IHSA site. Not sure if Wheaton was ever in WSC back in the day, but Broder just passed Red Grange on the season scoring list (260--255) for our area. Of course Grange played 7 games, but still...

Really cool seeing all these great names listed that I never watched. Sounds like he would be happy to be in the team photo.

 

[TPF523]

This stats thing is crazy from Brodner. He had 1,313 rushing before C-G which means he has 1,605 but no paper seems to have adjusted for last week's total. So total rushing and receiving is over 2,000

He also has 43 TDs in '15 which is most by anyl WSC players listed on IHSA site. Not sure if Wheaton was ever in WSC back in the day, but Broder just passed Red Grange on the season scoring list (260--255) for our area. Of course Grange played 7 games, but still...

Really cool seeing all these great names listed that I never watched. Sounds like he would be happy to be in the team photo.

I am not doubting your rushing totals at all but the paper isn't he problem it's the ihsa website with stats submitted by the GBW coaching staff. Either way I don't care all that much about stats. Whether it's 1,300 or 1,900 Sam Brodner is an amazing player and one of the best RB's in a while. West is lucky to have him and hopefully (for West) he ends his run with a state championship victory.

Comparing past and present players may be a fun exercise for some but I find it to be pointless and impossible. Brodner is definitely one of the best ever and to be honest I'd venture to guess that he's the last person that's cares if that means the 1st best or the 15th best.

 

[capnbillhitters]

He has over 800 yards rushing in the payoffs alone
Moline 220 yds 6 TDs
MC 140 yd 1 TD (after this game Trib and DH had him listed with Rush Yards of 1,130)
Auburn - 202 yd 4TDs which gave him 1,332
C-G - 292 yds 2 TDs

My Totals from Daily Herald plus missing AT is 1,643 Rushing 351 Receiving

Not sure who is submitting the stats, but they seem to have missed C-G. The 43 TDs are easy because I have them notched in my bed post (SF)

 

[jdhitters]

Cap, you are a sick man. Just make sure the gumbo is ready tomorrow.

 

[capnbillhitters]

Figured I had to beat these other knuckleheads to the punch.

My issue is that I had a little side action on my boy putting up 2k yards and have to argue against my own peeps to prove the tally. Crazy

 

[BigGroff]

Don't forget Phil Macklin (1998) form Proviso East!

 

[CoachHansen05]

A few random thoughts about guys I coached or played against...
Garrett Edwards QB DGN 2004-05: State Champ; ton of rushing yards and TDs; played at Illinois
Brian Taylor DB Addison Trail 1995-96: State Runner-up; played at Stanford
Dan Rumishek DE Addison Trail 1995-96: State Runner-up; played at Michigan
Mark Anelli TE Addision Trail 1995-96: State Runner-up; played at Wisconsin
Ryan Swift RB Hinsdale Central 1995-96: played at Maryland

 

[CoachHansen05]

Kevin Kasper WR Hinsdale South just came to mind.

 

[Wild_Mustang]

Don't forget Phil Macklin (1998) form Proviso East!

Totally forgot about Phillip Macklin. I was a sophomore when he was playing, my friends and I were in awe of how huge this kid was, and how good he was as well.

 

[BigGroff]

John Odom - RB GW 1976

All State - Played at Oklahoma State

 

[NIU32]

Brodner should definitely be on the list. Hubert Thompson from Proviso West was easily the best athlete to ever play in the WSC, kid was a freak show! Never seen anyone that big and fast in my life. Was just never able to put it together mentally unfortunately...

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Named to several All-America teams in 1996, including Parade, USA Today, PrepStar and Reebok and The National Recruiting Advisor . . . ranked as the nation?s No. 1 defensive end and No. 7 player overall by The National Recruiting Advisor . . . two-time first-team all-state selection for Coach John Wilson at Proviso West High School in Hillside, Ill. . . . recorded 120 tackles, including three sacks, and caused three fumbles as a senior . . . had a single-game high 18 tackles, including two sacks, vs. Glenbard East in ?96 . . . produced 107 stops, including 10 sacks, as a junior . . . three-year starter played inside linebacker and defensive end . . . attended the same high school as former Spartan All-American Flozell Adams . . . won back-to-back state heavyweight wrestling titles in 1996 and ?97 . . . compiled a 55-1 record over his final two seasons, including 47 pins . . . his only loss came on a disqualification . . . was a perfect 22-0 as a senior with 19 pins . . . went 33-1 as a junior with 28 pins . . . earned three varsity letters in track, competing in the discus and shot put . . . finished fifth in the state in the shot put as a junior . . . runs 4.7 in the 40 . . . born Aug. 30, 1978, in Chicago . . . his mother nicknamed him ?Boo Boo? after the famous cartoon character.

 

[rfb321]

Best player being most accomplished. Could be. Since we are talking HS football, you cannot include any success players have had at other HS sports, or at the college or pro level in your evaluation. If Brodner does get the Tribune football award, I would first look at the history of that award and see what other WSC players have won it. Then compare him to them. If you think he is the best of that group, then consider those further in the past. But those different era comparisons become tougher.