I remember him as an Eagle and didn't know his college but since it's related to this forum I thought I'd pass it on.

RIP

https://sports.yahoo.com/former-eagles-h...ml?src=rss

SMU Hall of Famer, NFL standout Wes Hopkins dies at 57
"Harvey Armstrong told the newspaper that Hopkins, a teammate at SMU and with the Eagles, had been showing signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease that has been found in numerous former NFL players after their death."

This is sad and tragic. I don't know what the answer is for players, their families or the future of football. I think this problem will be found to be more widespread among numerous sports as more research is done.

A walk-on at SMU who went on to be named Defensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl win over Pitt and Dan Marino. SMU was ranked #2 in the final AP Poll that year. (#1 in a couple of other polls). RIP.

This was mentioned on Tulsa sports radio. Sad deal.

Watched Wes play a lot as an Eagles fan. He was a real hard hitter and a huge part of one of the best pro defenses of all time. Sorry to hear this news.

Whoever was recruiting Birmingham Alabama in 1977 and didn't offer this kid a scholarship ought to be embarrassed. I was working for the SMU athletic department at the time and Hopkins was an obvious stud from Day 1 on the SMU campus. Football is so much easier when you have a solid, consistent guy like Wes Hopkins at Safety covering up everybody else's mistakes.

(09-29-2018 10:36 AM)AusTxPony Wrote:  A walk-on at SMU who went on to be named Defensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl win over Pitt and Dan Marino. SMU was ranked #2 in the final AP Poll that year. (#1 in a couple of other polls). RIP.

Sorry to hear about Wea Hopkins passing.
It was too bad that SMU was passed over forthe NC to a one loss Penn State team. Back then Penn State was the embodiment of a virtuous program. If only SMU had played PSU - thay would have destroyed them.

Hopkins played right before I was old enough to know what was going on but I’ve been told stories of his greatness. Sad day for the SMU family.

wow, so both of Gang Green's safeties (SS Andre Waters) had CTE and died young.

RIP

(10-02-2018 10:19 AM)Meatwad Wrote:  wow, so both of Gang Green's safeties (SS Andre Waters) had CTE and died young.

RIP

Along with Reggie White (breathing issues) and Jerome Brown (auto accident), plus head coach Buddy Ryan (old age?), who built the defense but didn't coach that year. Time, and physical abuse (CTE, playing on astro turf), has a way of doing damage to our minds and/or bodies.

Arguably the best defense of all time. They ranked first in the NFL in fewest passing yards, rushing yards, and total yards allowed. In addition, the Eagles' defense led the NFL in sacks and fumble recoveries and tied for the league lead in takeaways. All this with an offense that lost starting QB Randall Cunningham in the first game, and backup Jim McMahon for a large portion of the year.

As a former Eagles fan, it brings back great memories and sadness of what could have been when Jerome Brown died in the off season crash.

Thanks for refreshing my memories!

(10-02-2018 07:46 PM)sfink16 Wrote:  

(10-02-2018 10:19 AM)Meatwad Wrote:  wow, so both of Gang Green's safeties (SS Andre Waters) had CTE and died young.

RIP

Along with Reggie White (breathing issues) and Jerome Brown (auto accident), plus head coach Buddy Ryan (old age?), who built the defense but didn't coach that year. Time, and physical abuse (CTE, playing on astro turf), has a way of doing damage to our minds and/or bodies.

Arguably the best defense of all time. They ranked first in the NFL in fewest passing yards, rushing yards, and total yards allowed. In addition, the Eagles' defense led the NFL in sacks and fumble recoveries and tied for the league lead in takeaways. All this with an offense that lost starting QB Randall Cunningham in the first game, and backup Jim McMahon for a large portion of the year.

As a former Eagles fan, it brings back great memories and sadness of what could have been when Jerome Brown died in the off season crash.

Thanks for refreshing my memories!

Great defense! But Kotite.

(10-02-2018 07:46 PM)sfink16 Wrote:  

(10-02-2018 10:19 AM)Meatwad Wrote:  wow, so both of Gang Green's safeties (SS Andre Waters) had CTE and died young.

RIP

Along with Reggie White (breathing issues) and Jerome Brown (auto accident), plus head coach Buddy Ryan (old age?), who built the defense but didn't coach that year. Time, and physical abuse (CTE, playing on astro turf), has a way of doing damage to our minds and/or bodies.

Arguably the best defense of all time. They ranked first in the NFL in fewest passing yards, rushing yards, and total yards allowed. In addition, the Eagles' defense led the NFL in sacks and fumble recoveries and tied for the league lead in takeaways. All this with an offense that lost starting QB Randall Cunningham in the first game, and backup Jim McMahon for a large portion of the year.

As a former Eagles fan, it brings back great memories and sadness of what could have been when Jerome Brown died in the off season crash.

Thanks for refreshing my memories!

Jerome's son Dee was a great baseball player (and fullback on the football team) for UCF.