"Now You Vote Me In? I Don't Believe It!"

By

Taveus Hawkins

(Member) on July 27, 2010

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Should Jack Tatum be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Yes

100.0%

No

0.0%

Total votes: 2

Jack Tatum came to The Ohio State University as a pure; but raw talent. He was an athlete with tremendous ability and upside. Coach Woody Hayes recruited him as a running back but he proved to be much too valuable for that. Lou Holtz, serving as a defensive coach recognized Jack Tatum was naturally "nasty". He played with a vigor and ferocity that was unmatched. No one could contain his exuberance for bone-shattering mayhem. He was an opposing player's nightmare. There was not a tight-end, running back, or wide receiver he could not bring down. This is what he became on the football field. This is what he was taught and instructed to become. We cheer and applaud with glee and admiration as our beloved warriors nearly decapitate the opposing player. It is what we come to see. Are we any better than the fans in the Roman Coliseo? I think not. We're just as brutal and barbaric as they.

I grew up in Columbus, Ohio and I remember Jack Tatum and another player from the Buckeyes (I don't even remember who the other player was) coming to my Everett Jr. High School after their National Championship of 1968. All eyes were on Jack. Every question from every student in the school went to Jack. He was our hero! Jack could "bring the pain"! We wanted to be just like Jack. "Jack, remember when you ran down Ron Johnson from Michigan and body-slammed to the turf!" said one kid. Another kid said: "Remember when you shut Leroy Keyes down at Purdue......." "Hey, is O.J. really that good?" a cute little girl with pigtails asked. We were drawn to Jack Tatum like a magnet. That was one of the best days of the whole school year. I will never forget that very special day.

Jack certainly had a tremendous college career at Ohio State. He was a consensus All-American and in the balloting for the Heisman Trophy. He went on to a stellar pro career with the Raiders. He became the face of the Raiders. When you think of the Raiders you immediately think of Jack Tatum. He struck fear in the hearts of opponents. What receiver would dare go across the middle against Jack Tatum? it didn't happen often. He knocked the helmet off of Sammy White in a game against the Minnesota Vikings. I thought he was dead. I saw him knock two tight ends out of a single game (one of which was John Mackey) and the third stringer refused to go in. Some said he told the coach to go in if he wanted it that bad! Jack Tatum was no joke. He played the game the way we want to see it. I'm not saying it is right or wrong; but it is the way American audiences want to see the game played. That's what we pack stadiums to see.

We cannot talk about Jack without talking about the "immaculate reception". Many say if he wasn't trying to kill Frenchy Fuqua it would have never happened. That stupid ricochet into Franco Harris's hands haunts Raider fans to this very day. Then there's "the hit"; a most unfortunate occurrence between Tatum and Darryl Stingley. It was clearly not a dirty play. It was the way Tatum played the game. He gave his all on each and every play. It's the only way he knew to play. There was no "letup" in Jack Tatum.

I feel sad that Jack Tatum is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. He should have been enshrined years ago. I think a lot of that had to do with consideration for the Stingley family. One can understand that to a point but let's be for real. Football is a brutal, violent sport. Tragedy can occur at any point in a game. Football players are modern day gladiators and we are the fanatics that give a thumbs up or down.

I am sure that at some point and time the Hall of Fame will posthumously enshrine Jack Tatum into Canton. I don't know how much that will mean to the Tatum family and friends but it will certainly mean something to his many fans. Jack played the game the way we "barbarians" like it. He played it rough and with reckless abandon. He gave blood and flesh on each and every play. I can only imagine Jack saying: "Now you vote me in? I Don't Believe It!" But Jack wouldn't say it nearly that nicely.