Please Keep Lee Roy Selmon In Your Prayers

[WaymanFan]

There were conflicting reports today that the greatest football player in Sooner history had passed away from a stroke or heart attack. The last I heard was that he was still alive, though anytime you hear "conflicting reports" it's never good. Dean Blevins supposedly twitted that he passed away, but brother Dewey said he's still alive.

Please keep both Lee Roy and his family in your prayers. The latest news reported on ESPN is certainly the best news I've heard so far.



TAMPA, Fla. -- Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Lee Roy Selmon has been hospitalized.

The University of South Florida, where 56-year-old Selmon once served as athletic director, confirmed the Hall of Famer's hospitalization Friday. According to WTSP 10 News, Dewey Selmon said his brother suffered a stroke but is "showing signs of progress."

Lee Roy Selmon was drafted by the Buccaneers in 1976. He went to six straight Pro Bowls and was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1979. He also was a member of the 1980s All-Decade Team, a six-time Pro Bowl selection and was chosen first-team All-Pro three times.

Selmon retired after the 1984 season and later joined the University of South Florida as an associate athletic director and was instrumental in the college starting a football program.

Selmon was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995. He became the first inductee to the Bucs' Ring of Honor in 2009.

Selmon played college ball at Oklahoma, winning the Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy in 1975.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Prayers sent for the Selmon Family.......

 

[WaymanFan]

Here's the latest from the Oklahoman...


Read more: http://newsok.com/ou-football-great...rs-major-stroke/article/3600557#ixzz1WqppCMki


Former University of Oklahoma and Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout Lee Roy Selmon has suffered a major stroke.

There are conflicting reports on Selmon's condition. Tampa TV and radio stations have reported that Selmon has passed away, while an OU spokesman said Selmon has not passed.

A family member in Norman confirmed to The Oklahoman that Selmon has suffered a stroke but did not provide any information on his condition.

The Tampa Bay television station reported that Selmon's nephew Zac said he and his father Dewey Selmon were en route to Tampa.

Selmon, a Eufaula native, was the first player selected in the 1976 NFL draft and went on to become an NFL Hall of Famer and six-time Pro Bowler.

After his career in professional football, Selmon became athletic director for the University of South Florida.

 

[OklahomaLibertarian]

Yeah I'd got an E-mail from NEWSOK and they said he'd past on.

Then they sent another correcting it.

How can you make that kind of mistake?

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

Unfortunately in this gotta' get it first day and age we live in people forget about pesky things like facts. You would think with all the avenues for information that this wouldn't happen but sadly it does. I believe Blevins was reporting his passing. What in the world was he thinking?

 

[WaymanFan]

Unfortunately in this gotta' get it first day and age we live in people forget about pesky things like facts. You would think with all the avenues for information that this wouldn't happen but sadly it does. I believe Blevins was reporting his passing. What in the world was he thinking?

I agree with your main point. Although I mentioned his name as well, this isn't on Dean Blevins. The confusion came about because a spokesperson from Lee Roy's restaurant chain reported prematurely.

I would recommend reading the comments below the article in ESPN. There are lots of well-wishers who are apparently huge fans of Lee Roy. In NFL.com, there's a nice little video of Lee Roy's playing days within that article.

Keep the prayers coming.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

I realize that there were multiple people/sources jumping the gun. I wasn't saying he was the sole person doing so. I guess in a situation like this he would double, triple check before going with this. In a case like this being first doesn't matter. JMHO.

 

[j2d2]

God bless and keep Lee Roy Selmon

 

[WaymanFan]

I hope this good news I just read on NFL.com isn't just temporary...


http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...er-reported-stroke?module=HP11_headline_stack


One day after reportedly suffering a stroke, Hall of Fame defensive end Lee Roy Selmon was showing signs of improvement and responsiveness Saturday, his former Buccaneers teammate, David Lewis, told The Tampa Tribune.

Lewis told the newspaper that Selmon was able to squeeze the hand of his son, Lee Roy Jr., and that he recognized family members. Selmon was breathing on his own, according to Lewis.

A nursing supervisor at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Fla., told the Tribune that Selmon was listed in critical condition Saturday morning.

The Tulsa World, citing a source close to Selmon, first reported Friday that Selmon had suffered the stroke. The newspaper's source added that it was "pretty bad."

Initially, there was some confusion about Selmon's condition, especially after a spokesperson for his restaurant chain issued a statement that expressed "deep and profound sorrow that we learned of our dear friend Lee Roy Selmon's passing this afternoon." Selmon's brother, Dewey, quickly refuted that, telling WTSP-TV that his brother was "showing signs of progress."

The spokesperson who emailed the restaurant press release then tweeted, according to the St. Petersburgh Times: "It appears that the original statement about Lee Roy Selmon's passing was prematurely released."

Selmon was the expansion Bucs' first-ever draft pick (No. 1 overall in 1976), then went to six consecutive Pro Bowls and was the 1979 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He retired after the 1984 season because of a back injury, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995, becoming the first Bucs player to receive the honor.

Selmon was named the 98th-best player in NFL Network's "Top 100 Greatest Players of All Time." His No. 63 is the only number retired by the Buccaneers, and a Tampa freeway is named after him.

Selmon played college football at Oklahoma, winning the Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy in 1975. He also was a two-time All-American.

 

[WaymanFan]

If you get a chance, please go to ESPN.com and post a response below the article on Lee Roy's condition. If those in his family are reading them, that would be the likely place. I posted a handful below. As expected, there are a few losers who have contributed as well (would never post them here), but it's mostly very positive.





Thoughts and prayers are with the Selmon family and Lee Roy for his quick and full recovery. As a life long Husker fan I remember the Selmon brothers playing for the Sooners. A talented and competitive player he and his brothers earned much respect here in Husker land. Get well soon Sooner Legend.





One of the very best defensive lineman ever to play the game






From one Sooner to another...wishing you a speedy recovery Mr. Selmon!






My thoughts and prayers to Lee Roy and his family during this difficult time. He was a great player and person as well. He was mentioned this morning on Philly Sports Talk radio and many fans as well as the hosts had nothing but positive things to say about him. The Buccaneer orange will always be synonymous with Lee Roy and his brother.





56 years old.

Hang in there Lee Roy!





As a Husker fan, I remember you and your brother wreaking havoc with our offense ! My thoughts go out to Lee Roy and the entire Selmon family!





Get well soon,Lee Roy!!






Handle this like you played football and the rest of your life and the illness does not stand a chance. Prayers and thoughts in case you need a little extra. THanks for all you have given to us.




Lee Roy is a true role model.




Living in Tampa, I would just like to acknowledge all of you who have posted your hopes and prayers to the Selmon family. Very classy, very impressed. Thank you




Lee Roy you are one tough s.o.b. we pray for you . And hope for the best!! Your play was unbelievable. Godspeed Lee Roy.






My thoughts and prayers are with Leroy and his family....Hoping he makes a full recovery.....God Bless him and his family....







I pray that he pulls through this, greatest Buccaneer ever






Here's hoping for a full and speedy recovery for Lee Roy







Thoughts and prayers go to the Selmon family...





I was fortunate enough to meet Lee Roy Selmon when I was about seven years old. He was selling his BBQ sauce at a local meat market around the Tampa Bay Area. He was so nice to me and my dad. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to see him play football live because I wasn't born yet when he played, but he is definetely in my thoughts and prayers right now. Get well soon Lee Roy!!!!




Being 58 years old, I clearly remember the havoc that Leroy leveled against the Philadelphia Eagles, my home team. Folks talk about great players, and in Philadelphia, we had among others, Claude Humphreys, Carl Hairston, and the late great Reggie White, and a guy most Eagle fans forget who was a stud , William Fuller, not to forget Richard Dent, Randy White, the guys from the great steelers teams, Hugh Douglas, the ends from the great Dallas teams, Lawrence Taylor, these guys sent christmas cards to Leroy Selmon. He was that frigging good. Best I ever saw.

I feel so bad for Mr. Selmon. I hope the stroke was a mild one and that he can resume his life and have a long and prosperous one at that. You know your a great one when opposing offenses plan there game plan around YOU ! I think he had a brother who played also. Best wishes Mr. Selmon.





Leroy had 2 brothers who played with him at OU, Dewey and Lucious. What a D Line that was! Dewey played in the NFL and I think Lucious played in the CFL. All men of high character and great football players.





This guys name just sounds tough! Heres a Viking fan hoping Leroy makes a full recovery.







Great player, great person, Your in our thoughts





Lets all send thoughts and prayers to the greatest Buccaneer and a real pillar of the community.

 

[AdaSooner]

My prayers go out to LeRoy and the entire Selmon family. They're great Sooners, and by all accounts fine people as well.

 

[coolm]

=(

 

[NickZepp]

Lee Roy died this morning

 

[Tony]

Lee Roy died this morning

What? Where are you seeing this? I can't find any reports that say this.

 

[NickZepp]

It's not being reported yet but this is from someone I know that's from Eufaula and knows the family. If it's wrong than someone that is in the Selmon family is lying.

 

[WaymanFan]

It's official. He's gone. If you go to NFL.com and click on the Bucs logo, there's a real heartwarming tribute to him. No matter, it's an incredibly sad day.

R.I.P. Mr. Selmon. Hopefully, you were conscious for long enough to see South Florida win in South Bend...seeing their players wear your number 63 on their helmets...and knowing you had more to do with them being in D-I football than anyone else.

 

[Sooner04]

Sad, sad day. We've lost the greatest BBall player in our school's history and the greatest football player in our school's history less than 30 months apart.

Of all the great Lee Roy Selmon stories out there, and there are a slew of them, this one is my favorite: someone got access to the OU film archives years ago in hopes of doing a statistical study of Lee Roy. He tabulated loads of mind-boggling stats (he once led the team in tackles, think about that for a second) to show just how dominant a defensive tackle the youngest of the Selmons was, but the most incomparable stat of all was this:

In his entire career on the gridiron at the University of Oklahoma, Lee Roy Selmon was knocked off his feet one time. ONE time.

The culprit? The gargantuan man who could de-cleat a force as mighty as the great Lee Roy Selmon?


His brother, Dewey.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

The story I always heard on that one is that he was never knocked off his feet by one person in a game or in practice. Same story, different slant. Just think if he played today in the 24/7, in your face, MTV like video age. He's be plastered all over the place(but I bet he'd be as humble as ever.). Imagine all the awards/honors he won while only appearing on TV once - in his last game. He's a man that will be truly missed.

 

[BigTime]

What a tremendous Sooner. Prayers for the family.

RIP