CSC All-Time Saints Team Election: Center

by Dave Cariello on Jun 17, 2009 6:00 AM CDT in CSC All-Time New Orleans Saints Team

It's time now to vote for another member to be elected to our CSC All-Time Saints team. If you missed our center nomination post yesterday you can catch it right here. We got some other great nominations.

I have decided to include Jerry Sturm, John Hill, LeCharles Bentley and Steve Korte in the voting. The polls will be open for exactly 48 hours which means they will close at 6am on Friday, June 19th. You only get one vote so make it count. You can make a difference. If you've never voted in a CSC poll to date, now is the perfect time to start. Be sure to tell everyone you know to come on over and vote as well.

As always, the comment section is open for more discussion about these great players and the way things used to be.

Poll

Who should be selected as the center for the CSC All-Time Saints Team?

Jerry Fontenot

114 votes

Joel Hilgenberg

75 votes

John Hill

14 votes

Steve Korte

9 votes

LeCharles Bentley

39 votes

Jerry Sturm

1 votes

252 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 8 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Joel Hilgenberg

was drafted by New Orleans; played ten years for the Saints; started 87 games at center, plus ten at guard; and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 1992. He was the starting center for the Jim Mora era. He’s also in the Saints Hall of Fame.

Jerry Fontenot was drafted by Chicago; came to New Orleans midway through his career; played seven years for the Saints; started 84 games at center; and never made the Pro Bowl. He was the starting center under Mike Ditka and Jim Haslett. But he was born in Lafayette, which I suppose is why he’s leading Hilgenberg.

Nothing against Fontenot, and I love French names too…but I really think Hilgenberg has the edge here. This vote surprises me.

This is OUR year!

by MtnExile on Jun 17, 2009 10:12 AM CDT reply actions

totally agree

I think we’ll keep having this conversation as this process goes on, but it is maddening. Hilgenberg was the C during (arguably) the golden age of the franchise. When Jon Stinchcomb gets in at RT, I’m gonna scream

by SaintBevo on Jun 17, 2009 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions

John Hill

played ten years for the Saints. He started 134 games, including a handful at LT — the most demanding of any OL position — his first year in New Orleans. Hill played under SIX head coaches during this time: John North, Ernie Hefferle, Hank Stram, Dick Nolan, Dick Stanfel and Bum Phillips.

Despite this instability at the top, the offense enjoyed unprecedented success during this stretch, including the franchise’s first THREE 1,000 yd rushing campaigns ever, including George Rogers’s 1,674 yd rookie effort, which still stands as the team record for most in a single season.

Archie Manning also managed to become the NFC Offensive Player of the Year during this stretch. You don’t accomplish any of that without solid blocking upfront. Hill is also in the Saints Hall of Fame.

While neither a Louisiana native nor the younger brother of an established NFL center, Hill was a solid contributor throughout his 13 years in the league. Nothing against fan-driven popularity contests, but it’s difficult to fathom how a single trip to Honolulu by the two front runners COMBINED makes up for three extra years of quality service (as a Saint) in the trenches. That being said, this vote doesn’t surprise me in the least.

by coldpizza on Jun 17, 2009 1:17 PM CDT reply actions

That's it, coldpizza!

You are my candidate for the CSC Font of Knowledge.

Do you know what it means...

by MissingNO on Jun 17, 2009 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Speachless...

How the hell do you come up with that stuff? I know we live in an era where you can get almost anything out of the web but there has to be more to it. From what I remember you mentionned being 41 which makes it impossible for you to remember the early years of our beloved Saints. Were you lucky enough to have die hard fans in your family that told you all about it? Is there a book recaping Saints’ history that I don’t know about? I know, you’ve been the waterboy for the team at some point in your life.

Regardless, just keep it coming. Who would have thought I’d have a second crush after mourning Stu…

Just get the D going!

by FrenchFreak on Jun 17, 2009 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions

So...

you voted for Bentley?

Wanna say something? Sign up! It's free!

by Dave Cariello on Jun 17, 2009 8:38 PM CDT up reply actions

I didn't think Mr. Bentley from the Jeffersons was in the running - Ha!

PS – I was gonna vote for Hilgy (he played well for a good number of years, esp. during the Mora success reign, went to one pro bowl), but then I read coldpizza’s rationale that put John Hill right up there with Hilgenberg as far as resumes go, and realized that I don’t want to be THAT GUY who only votes for who he’s seen play.

So, I voted for Hill. I hope to apply that same logic (that I’ll pay attention to earlier players with whatever info I have) in order to really try and compare players from different eras and at least make my vote be really for who I think is/was the best quality over a long time for our team…

Thanks for your info, coldpizza man. And if you were delivering pizza to me, I wouldn’t care if it arrived late and cold as long as it comes with an extra helping of the delicious toppings of SAINTS INFO.

"Knock 'em the (- -) out!" - G Dub

by HansDat on Jun 17, 2009 10:09 PM CDT up reply actions