Mount Rushmore of ACU Athletics

For the last several weeks, ESPN.com has asked fans across the nation to come up with the Mount Rushmore of sports for their particular state of residence.

Some of the states where you would least expect to see greatness produced some of the best cast of characters. For example, here is Alabama's Mount Rushmore: Hank Aaron, Bear Bryant, Bo Jackson and Willie Mays. Wow! That's hard to top.

Here are some of the other great ones:

California: Tiger Woods, John Wooden, Magic Johnson, Jackie Robinson
Georgia: Hank Aaron, Herschel Walker, Ty Cobb, Bobby Jones
Illinois: Michael Jordan, Walter Payton, Ernie Banks, Mike Ditka
Massachusetts: Ted Williams, Bobby Orr, Tom Brady, Red Auerbach
Missouri: Stan Musial, Jack Buck, Lamar Hunt, George Brett
New York: Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Jim Brown, Joe Namath
North Carolina: Michael Jordan, Dean Smith, Dale Earnhardt, Mike Krzyzewski

... and Texas: Nolan Ryan, Lance Armstrong, Tom Landry, Earl Campbell

To me, the inclusion of Lance Armstrong is debatable. No one can argue with 7 no-hitters and more than 5,000 strikeouts by Ryan; Landry is a no-brainer; and Campbell is probably the greatest running back this state has ever produced. But several other candidates spring to mind for the fourth spot, ahead of Armstrong, whose accomplishments can't be denied. However, think about these names that probably could have gone ahead of him:

* Rogers Hornsby (born in Winters)
* Michael Johnson (Dallas)
* ACU's own Bobby Morrow (born in San Benito)
* A.J. Foyt (Houston)
* Sammy Baugh (Sweetwater)
* Bob Lilly (Throckmorton)
* Frank Robinson (Beaumont)
* Greg Maddux (San Angelo)
* Sheryl Swoopes (Brownfield)
* Ben Hogan (Fort Worth)
* Byron Nelson (Fort Worth)
* Babe Didrikson Zaharias (Beaumont)

Looking at the list of those left off the state's Mount Rushmore makes you think that Texas could probably fill 2-3 Mount Rushmores.

It also got me to thinking. Who would be on your Mount Rushmore of ACU athletics?

Wally Bullington would certainly spring to mind, as would A.B. Morris. But who else? Morrow? Jim Lindsey? How about John Ray Godfrey or Elmer Gray? What about Bill Gilbreth or Wes Kittley? Jennifer Clarkson or Yolanda Henry?

Let's hear from you in the comments section. Later on this spring we'll publish some of the best ones on http://www.acusports.com/, and I'll also let you in on my own personal Mount Rushmore.

Let's go ... and keep 'em coming.