Heisman 2013

Not sure that I have ever been this opinionated on the Heisman voting. It's a great group of some of the most memorable players to ever step on the field. But the last few years have placed a small tarnish on that trophy. Maybe it was always there and the uber-connected world we now live in is just exposing it. This is the first time that I can recall disagreeing with the outcome.

For me it goes back to Reggie Bush a few years ago and him being asked to relinquish the trophy. Like a true sportsman he did just that. Maybe he was guilty, maybe not, but he did the right thing. And now, three of the last four years have all but required voters to investigate legal allegations or prior arrest records against some of the candidates before voting. This year Winston's name was not even listed on 115 of the ballots. What is that saying? (Well...besides the fact that he still won by a landslide).

Sorry UF fans...as a Georgia
fan I couldn't resist posting this.

There is no doubt that the winners have been very talented players that are exciting to watch and deserve recognition for such. But should it go to a freshman with a questionable background or the senior who has been "steady Eddie" for four years? Is the Heisman earned in just one year or is it cumulative efforts and great play? If the freshman is that good will he not prove his Heisman worth in the coming years? Are we voting in talent or integrity or both? Should voters consider how their club will be represented in the future or just right now? Just sayin...

PS: Reference the END-ZONE section of my Wk#13 post.

Wk #15: Done

There was plenty of excitement on the last weekend that included mostly conference championships. There were BCS implications galore before it all started and they changed during the course of the day. Enjoyed every minute...

Well deserved celebration...

The Big 12 has not had a lot of good publicity this season (ie: OSU pay-for-play) but they have been grinding out wins as usual whether pollsters paid attention or not. With Oklahoma taking down OSU suddenly the Baylor-Texas game became the BIG 12 championship game. Had Texas won, Mack might be back. Having lost...maybe not.

Two Cinderella teams played for all the SEC marbles and the possibility of a BCS title game slot. Two teams that were 2 - 14 in conference play a year ago met up in Atlanta with a conference record of 14 - 2. But, alas, the glass slipper can only fit one and Auburn was chosen. I wasn't sure if they both had terrible defenses or really good offenses but their bowl opponents better be prepared for both.

Florida State did as expected although Duke made it interesting the first half. They will have their hands full with the Tiger "Team of Destiny" - especially since FSU was not really challenged this season. Going up against the SEC champs who overcame multiple challenges and pulled off a few miracles will be quite the task. But they have a lot of "tired-of-the-SEC" folks pulling for them.

Meyer welcomed back to reality. 

Ohio State was either having a really off day or they were exposed for the mediocre team they really are. Two seasons of cupcakes can make a team over-confident and eventually embarrassed. But this why we play the game and why we need a play-off system. OSU showed signs of life with a well played 24-point run in the middle of the game (that put Auburn fans on edge) but in the end they were out-coached and ill-prepared for the MSU play-calling and defense. (I was impressed to see that Meyer did not play Marcus Hall much after his 1-finger salute to fans last week).

Click HERE for the 2013-14 bowl match-ups and schedule.

E N D - Z O N E
Was not expecting the Sarkisian nor the Petersen move. I thought they were both very happy where they were and with what they were building. But I suppose we all have our price...

Click HERE for the latest in the coaching carousel.

Wk #14: Whew!

What a week to be thankful for all the ups adn downs in college football. This week was a doozy as we so often see in November. And lest we forget, there is still one more Saturday with the potential to turn it all upside down again...

Fresno State lost in a high-scoring shootout leaving N. Illinois the lone non-AQ team that qualifies for a BCS bowl. Both BYU and Georgia took an entire half to get warmed up before pulling out wins (Georgia was breaking in a new QB...not sure what was going on with BYU since I didn't get that channel). USC lost a close one after winning six straight under a new coaching style (let's hear it for good coaches).

Yea...no one else can believe it either.

Given the chance I imagine Bama and Michigan coaches would take back their final play calls in their games. Both lost by going for the win. Mistake? Not in my book. They were just doing what they are paid and expected to do - win the big one. To do that requires risk taking...risks they had taken before and capitalized on. Just not this time.


Bama and Auburn are both great teams. Both with great talent and coaching. But Bama was just out-coached this time. Auburn was ready and threw in just enough surprises at just the right time to catch a very talented Bama team off-guard. There are those that will say Auburn is on top based on two miracle, last-second, unbelievable, quirky plays. And there are those that will say "better to be lucky than good". Either way - that's college football and that's just fun to watch. (Hey...did Saban walk off the field without congratulating Malzahn? That would be very un-Saban like.)

Go ahead and storm the field. The 2nd
answered "prayer in Jordan-Hare"
in as many games merits it.

Now we are all set for one more weekend to either solidify or jumble up the bowl picture. Today we are looking at an FSU-OSU match-up in the title game (the first time in seven years the SEC is not playing for the title). Both deserving? That will be debated for years. Both had somewhat cupcake schedules but going un-defeated and winning a conference championship (assuming) is deserving regardless of which conference you come from. More deserving than a 1-loss SEC? That too will be debated for years.

E N D - Z O NE 
Before each Saturday my wife often asks "How many games are you planning to watch on Saturday?". Much to her dismay my answer this past week was "Three". But she was thrilled when I told her that they all started at the same time. Yes - she is glad to see the season winding down. That makes one of us...