Michael Haddix

DAWG61

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Feb 26, 2008
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I watched the 30 for 30 "Elway to Marino" and in it it briefly talks about Michael Haddix the running back from MSU selected 8th overall and it got me wondering. 1. Is he the highest MSU draft pick of all-time and 2. Can anyone talk about him for those of us that never saw him play? Thanks
 

jackobee

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Mar 10, 2008
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I watched the 30 for 30 "Elway to Marino" and in it it briefly talks about Michael Haddix the running back from MSU selected 8th overall and it got me wondering. 1. Is he the highest MSU draft pick of all-time and 2. Can anyone talk about him for those of us that never saw him play? Thanks

Johnie Cooks was number 2 overall
 

haildearoldstate

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Mar 28, 2013
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Haddix was an exceptional running back and played several years in the

NFL. He was never an all pro or anything but he played on some very ****** teams with the Packers and Eagles in the 80's. He was prolly 6' or so and weighed over 200 lbs. I loved watching him take the pitch from John Bond. I have a family member that coached both Haddix and Joe Cribbs (Auburn) in high school. He always told me that Haddix was the better of the two and Cribbs played in a few pro bowls. I've always been told that Haddix was Pig Prather's father but I'm not sure if that's true or not.

EDIT: His NFL bio says he was 6'2" and 225 lbs.
 
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FISHDAWG

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I read where Haddix was the highest drafted football player for MSU .... a friend of mine was his second deep so I watched his play ... pretty good back - what I liked about him was consistency ... didn't really break-away much (like Perkins) but gave you a steady 3 to 5 yards a lot ... I thought he was a pretty good back but didn't expect him to go that high in the draft
 

thekimmer

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That was a few years ago when I was at State......

I watched the 30 for 30 "Elway to Marino" and in it it briefly talks about Michael Haddix the running back from MSU selected 8th overall and it got me wondering. 1. Is he the highest MSU draft pick of all-time and 2. Can anyone talk about him for those of us that never saw him play? Thanks

I don't remember a lot of particulars about Haddix except Jack mentioning his name quite a bit in his broadcasts and it was usually a positive outcome associated with it. Seems like he had good but not blazing speed but had some size to him. I believe he could catch the ball too. We ran the wishbone & seems like I remember he was pretty good running off tackle. Wasn't real flashy but a good solid consistent back that was obviously good enough to go in round 1. Don't know why he never did well in the pros.
 

HammerOfTheDogs

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In 1982, he was about the second-best RB in the SEC after Herschel Walker (and I'm including a freshman Bo Jackson). When John Bond would run the option down the line, if the DE hit him he'd pitch it to Haddix who'd then had the speed to take it to the house. He also had good hands-most of Bond's pitches were usually either behind or way over the head of the trail back.

Turned out to be a serviceable Fullback in the NFL, but definitely not 1st round material.
 

tuku 2

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Aug 22, 2012
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6'2" 225 He averaged 6 yards a carry during his college career. Never got more than 133 carries in a season when Herschel was getting 300+ at Georgia. He was a badass. His YPC was more than Herschel's.
 

FISHDAWG

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but to this day his ypc in the NFL is an all time record low for the league ... shows how much talent is in the NFL
 

haildearoldstate

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Mar 28, 2013
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But he played on some god awful teams. I don't think he should be

considered a bust if he played in the league for 8 years.
 

tuku 2

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Yeah, his pro career sucked, but for all the great college running backs in the early 80's, y'all had one of the best, IMHO.
 

Bulldog Bruce

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I am also in that 30 for 30. When John Elway hits the double while with the Oneonta Yankees, I am the First Baseman he runs past.
 

Rezpup

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Bruce Castoria? We could use your bat about right now. I remember your hr to win the sec tournament against that sidewinder from Kentucky. Y'all had some great hitters, Mike Kelley, Mark Gillespie. I loved those teams.
 

Rezpup

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May 4, 2009
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I was at that game and Bama never scores a td if not for joe carter frm Starkville high school recovering that fumble caused by Johnnie Cooks. But I wonder why they let him advance the fumble into the end zone? You couldn't advance fumbles back then.
 

Bulldog Bruce

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You remembered right about hitting the go ahead homer against Jeff Keener, but we ended up losing that game in the bottom of the inning and did not win that tournament. Thanx
 

DAWG61

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Feb 26, 2008
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Oh man you were inches from tripping Elway causing him to trip and shatter his throwing shoulder which would of ended up with him never being the GM of the Broncos and Tim Tebow would still be a starting QB for Denver right now. You ruined Tim Tebow's career. Way to go bud.**
 

Bulldog Bruce

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Oh man you were inches from tripping Elway causing him to trip and shatter his throwing shoulder which would of ended up with him never being the GM of the Broncos and Tim Tebow would still be a starting QB for Denver right now. You ruined Tim Tebow's career. Way to go bud.**

And I happen to be a life long Jets fan. Boy I do suck.
 

haildearoldstate

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I remember Ken Kurtz on some of those teams. Ken was a darn good pitcher. So

was Don Mundie. Bruce, I can remember sitting in the wooden bleachers along the third base line watching you take BP. You were fun to watch take BP.
 
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Rezpup

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But that was about it, not much depth back then pitching wise. Can't remember if Steve susce was on those teams. For those of you who missed the Castoria days you missed some bombs with that 35" green Easton.
 

haildearoldstate

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I remember that bat looking like it weighed a 100 lbs. Suse I know played on

the '81 team. Guy was a hard thrower but I can remember watching him throw a few pitches halfway up the backstop. That definitely made a hitter or two not want to get his feet set in the box.
 

IBleedMaroonDawg

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Nov 12, 2007
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I was no where near Bruce's realm as a hitter but I did favor a 35 and 38 oz bat. Does anyone hit with a heavier bat anymore? Or are they all still on the super light bat?
 

was21

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May 29, 2007
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High draft choice in the first round...never played like one.
 

PineGroveBully

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Nov 13, 2007
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Haddix is Pig Prathers father. And Rico McDonalds. He is the same age was an all american on the delta state national championship team. I played high school basketball against Rico at Ripley and Pig at Falkner. Haddix spread alot of oats around Tippah county. Pig followed in his footsteps
 

Bulldog Bruce

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The Green Easton 35" bat weighed 32 oz like today's bat's with the minus 3. But you can't find a 35 inch bat anymore. When I went on and used wood they were 35 / 33.
 

haildearoldstate

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Bruce, do you talk to any of your old MSU teammates? I used to attend

baseball camp down there during those days and remember a lot of those guys. I can still see Tony Gage getting picked off third base on the missed squeeze bunt in that '81 CWS. The lack of getting down that bunt cost you guys the win, if I remember correctly.