Colt McCoy BCS Championship Postgame Interview

Last night’s BCS Championship game lived up to its billing. Not because Colt McCoy led his team to victory on a white horse, or not because of Mark Ingram’s Juggernaut-type performance. Both went out early in seemingly unfortunate situations. But the constant twists and turns forced other players to rise to the occasion.

We’ve all seen Tim Tebow react to similar situations with intensity, emotion and class.

You can always expect the same from Colt McCoy. Best of luck next year, buddy.

Peter Thamel of the New York Times reflects on The Agony of Colt McCoy.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Davey O’Brien Semifinalists Announced — No Time To Ponder

When the 15 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien Award were announced on Monday, one noteworthy candidate was left off of the list. Apparently the “elite group of journalists, broadcasters, commentators and former winners” didn’t believe Florida State QB, Christian Ponder, was worth a look. Is it safe to say that a large degree of subjectivity goes into the selection process?

The O’Brien honors the nation’s best college quarterback of the year and inspires student-athletes to triumph both on and off the field. By recognizing and honoring athletes who excel in both sports and academics while exhibiting strong character and leadership, The O’Brien aims to help instill a lifelong moral fiber in each candidate.

Christian Ponder – Florida State Seminoles | GETTY—–

So what if Florida State’s record is 3-4.

Ponder has racked up impressive stats. The junior signal caller from Colleyville, Texas has passed for 2,176 yards (6th) and completed 70 percent of his passes (4th). And while he struggled with turnovers last season, he has only thrown 1 INT this season (vs. 13 in 2008). His direction has resulted in 12 scores through the air, and 2 on the ground. His 155.8 passer rating ranks tenth in the nation.

Fans can still help determine which of the semifinalists advance as finalists by voting at voteobrien.org. Fan votes account for 5% of the process in each round. So far, Jake Locker leads the fan voting with 24% of the vote. By the way, Washington is 3-5 this season.

Popularity: 26% [?]

New Heisman Candidates Emerge For 2009

Tim Tebow & Sam Bradford went down early…and hard. [Reinke|AP Photo, Jenkins|AP]—–

This college football season has been enigmatic at best. But the uncertainty has also realigned the Heisman race…not to mention two of the three top Heisman candidates suffered serious injuries early on, and Colt McCoy started off slower than anyone expected.

A new group of candidates has emerged. Ok…let’s not use “emerged”. Based on their performances last season, Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford were placed on the pedestal before the first snap was taken. But now those that were destined to be noticed are getting the attention they deserve. Despite the discernable nepostism in the beginning, we can focus on some new candidates for now.

My Top 5 Heisman candidates through Week 5:

[5] Jahvid Best. There’s no denying his talent. His acceleration is second-to-none. His video game moves are responsible for many broken ankles. (Random stat warning) He’s second among active players in number of career rushing attempts of 70 or more yards [thanks, HP]. But Best’s Heisman run is quickly coming to a halt. Oregon held him to 55 yards and USC to 47 yards…both resulting in only 3.4 yards per carry. Assuming he and his team can get back on track, he’s still worth a top nod. One more poor performance would definitely knock him off his perch. Next opponent: UCLA (3-1)

[4] Colt McCoy. Colt may have had a sluggish start, but the gunslinger is beginning to show his true colors once again. Coming off a bye week, McCoy doesn’t boast the huge Heisman stats in yards and TDs. Despite 5 picks to date, he has completed 71.0 pct of his passes, which is second in the nation. And he’s still sitting on a respectable passer rating of 151.0. Next opponent: Colorado (1-3)

[3] Tony Gerhart. Tony who? Tony “Leads The Nation In Rushing” Gerhart. With 650 yards rushing and 8 TDs, he’s the current pacesetter for rushing yards and only two scores away from the touchdown title. It’s also worth pointing out that the Stanford running back shares a conference with three other names you’ve probably heard: Jahvid Best, Joe McKnight and Jacquizz Rodgers. And don’t forget the exiled LaGarrette Blount. It’s probably safe to say that Stanford is 4-1 as a result of Gerhart’s efforts not to mention they’re #1 in the Pac-10. Next opponent: Oregon State (3-2)

[2] Tony Pike. While it may be surprising to most college football fans that Cincinnati is undefeated and ranked #8 in the nation, it’s more surprising that they’re the highest ranked team in the state of Ohio. While the debate for the best team rages on, there’s no debtate as to which Ohio QB is better. Pike has racked up nearly 1,500 yards through the air resulting in 13 TDs. No. 23 South Florida will arguably be Pike’s stiffest competition. This natoinally-televised matchup will be his best opportunity to impress voters. Next opponent: University of South Florida (5-0)

[1] Jimmy Clausen. Jimmy’s got a gun, and he’s definitely on a run. Despite the fact that the Irish can thank their lucky charms that they’re 4-1 (last three wins by 3, 2 and 7), Jimmy continues to shine brightly beneath the watchful eye of Touchdown Jesus. He boasts the highest passer rating (179.3) and is fourth in passing yards (1,544) with nearly 40% of those coming from playmaker, Golden Tate. But most impressive might be the scarcity of turnovers. He’s thrown 2 INTs to his 12 TDs thus far. Next opponent in 2 weeks: USC (4-1)

Don’t Forget These Guys. When your three sexiest Heisman hopefuls don’t pan out, the Heisman race becomes such a crap shoot. The five guys on the list above might be the most photogenic, but there are a handful that are making their case week after week. Up until last night, Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert had impressed fans and experts with his athleticism. University of Miami QB Jacory Harris reminds me of Pat White — a great talent that just doesn’t seem to attract enough Heisman attention to make a case. If you ask him, he’s definitely made one.

Jake Locker is more than just the signal caller for the University of Washington. He’s their leader…their savior. As he goes, they go. He plays well under pressure and is unphased in big game situations. While he may not garner Heisman consideration, he’ll undoubtedly be one of the most sought after QBs in the upcoming NFL draft.

While Jevan Snead was destined to do big things at Ole Miss, teammate Dexter McCluster has shown why he’s just as important to that offense. Neither will separate themselves as the superstar, but their team better for it. Alabama should give them every opportunity to highlight their respective talents.

University of Houston QB Case Keenum may make the best case to be in that list above. He’s already passed for nearly 1,700 yards and 13 TDs…the only blemishes on his stat sheet are 2 INTs. The Cougs suffered an unfortuntate loss to UTEP last week after two impressive wins against Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. The remainder of their schedule gives Houston an opportunity to bounce back and therefore Case another moment in the spotlight.

Alabama QB Greg McElroy—–

Under The Radar…For Now. Alabama QB Greg McElroy has flown way under the radar. It’s probably because his numbers aren’t eye popping. But his passer rating of 165.5 ranks fifth nationally. Tim Tebow isn’t the only leader to use an eye bulging, red-faced “talkin’ to” to get his team fired up. McElroy used some choice words in their win over Kentucky before leading them down the field on a 97-yard scoring drive.

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2009 NCAA Football — Don’t Overlook These Quarterbacks

At a recent Pigskin Preview luncheon in San Antonio, ESPN College Football Analyst Todd Blackledge warmed up the audience with an analogy passed on to him by one of his former Penn State teammates. He said “quarterbacks are like tea bags…put him in hot water to see how strong he really is”.

Don’t forget about Zac Robinson. He won’t let you.—–

Quarterback is perhaps the most prominent position in today’s football game. Focus on the spread offense has resulted in a reduced number of carries for running backs placing the outcome of games squarely in the hands of the field general. Perhaps that is why more and more often, the frontrunner Heisman candidates are QBs.

This year we see three familiar faces leading the Heisman race: Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford. They’re certainly deserving of the attention. Unfortunately a handful of great players will be overshadowed by their amplitude.

Zack Robinson, Oklahoma State. The 6-3, 218-pound QB showed made his statement as a dual threat. He complied 3,064 passing yards and 562 yards on the ground. With the exception of the game against Texas Tech in 2008, Robinson scored through the air or on the ground at least once per game. And speaking of hot water, the Cowboys will open its season against one of its formidable opponents of the season at home against Georgia.

Williams will keep opponents on their heels.—–

Juice Williams, Illinois. In 2008, Juice amassed 3,173 yards through the air and 719 more on the ground. That’s more passing yards and rushing yards than Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy respectively. He also threw for 22 TDs, which could conceivably get a boost with WR Arrelious Benn at his side (see 7-to-9.com). Hopefully the team can put the 5-7 2008 season behind them.

Jevan Snead, Ole Miss. Is it ridiculous to assume Jevan will compete with Colt McCoy once again? This time it’s for the Heisman. The native Texan, and former Longhorn, got better with age throughout the 2008 season. After his Rebels knocked off the Florida Gators, they had two disappointing loses. Ole Miss proceeded to win its last five games as well as a Cotton Bowl victory against Texas Tech. In those final six games, Snead threw for 16 TDs and only 3 picks. Now that he’s finally settled in Oxford, perhaps he can carry that momentum into this season.

The Rest. After the three QBs listed above, there are several others worth watching. Terrelle Pryor of Ohio State didn’t have extraordinary stats in 2008. But he did lead the Big Ten in passing efficiency. Penn State QB Daryll Clark will be another Big Ten standout. He kept picks in the single digits and passed for over 2,500 yards. Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett has the potential to flourish under Bobby Petrino’s offense. Robert Griffin at Baylor boasts a wealth of athleticism. A tough conference schedule will likely keep him out of top player consideration, but he’ll be exciting to watch. There are others that have definitely garnered some attention, but these preseason favorites shouldn’t disappoint.

Popularity: 23% [?]

Final AP Poll Leaves Utah Hangin’

While it appeared that Utah was the compassion play for the AP poll going into last night’s BCS National Championship game, they will have to settle for #2.

After a rather sloppy title game, I was even more convinced that an undefeated Utah would receive more momentum to climb to #1 in the AP poll. I should have known better… Utah was precluded from any chance in hell of being crowned the champion since the beginning — thanks, Bowls Contrived in September.

Some sports writers agree with me.

James Lang/US Presswire—-

USC ruined its chances early by losing to Oregon State as did Texas by losing in the final seconds to Texas Tech. Too many ‘what ifs’ and question marks. Each of the top 4 AP poll teams — Florida, Utah, USC and Texas — has an argument for the #1 spot. But how can you deny an undefeated Utah that beat top tier teams the top?

Florida, of course, finished #1 in the AP poll after edging out the Sooners last night. But the contest was tied early in the 4th quarter, 14-14. Florida bounced back late in Tim Tebow fashion (with help from Percy Harvin, of course). He turned a prosaic contest into a poetic display…putting his team and the crowd on his back and wielded it like a true Heisman-deserving college football player would. He took the ball under his wing a couple of times and he didn’t hesitate to lay the hammer down on Sooner defenders. Regardless, the game as a whole was blah. Can you settle for a champion that resulted from such an odd contest of two ‘powerhouses’?

I guess we’ll have to.

BCS National Championship Game in 3D
It appears that some viewers have already posted their thoughts of the game on AVS Forum. Despite some minor technical difficulties, there was a resounding “WOW” amongst the crowd. There were those that thought that 3D sports broadcast technology is not ready for prime time.

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That Just Happened — I’d Give A Kidney For An NFL Cheerleader

While I wouldn’t actually give one of my kidneys for an NFL cheerleader, I’d devote a few minutes to checking out the NFL Cheerleaders: Best of 2008 on NFL.com. There are 72 photos that should keep you busy. Let me help out a little: 1, 24, 30 (middle), 42 (both), 50, 51, 57 and 70 (go Bucs).

Divorce can be messy. When 50% isn’t good enough, some spouses might choose — I don’t know — a kidney as well. A New York doctor gave a kidney to his wife while they were married. He’ll settle for $1.5 million as opposed to getting the kidney back. Really?

Looks like Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones got the boot in Dallas last night. I don’t see any other team giving the guy another shot. Jerry Jones was his best bet. Sorry, Pacman. *Awa-awa-awa*

Wardriving is no longer necessary. A company based in San Francisco called Autonet Mobile has developed a router that uses 2.5 and 3G networks allowing you to surf the Internet from your car. The service costs $29.99 for 1GB of data/mo. or $59.99 for 5GB of data/mo. This opens things up for road ragers everywhere. “Get off your damn laptop and watch the road!”

In case you missed my post or haven’t heard, the 2009 FedEx BCS National Championship will be shown in 3D. Visit the link to see if it’s showing in your city and where. From what I’ve seen, tickets are anywhere between $13 and $16.

Popularity: 23% [?]

Hey, BCS. Thanks For Nothing.

The BCS has been busted again. So what now?

The Million Dollar Band may have shown the Utes Marching Band how it’s done, but the Utah football team has induced vertigo causing more BCS turmoil. After spanking the Crimson Tide 31-17, the Utes improve to 13-0 on the season.

Should they be #1?

Why not? They played like the #1 team suffocating Alabama’s offense with eight sacks, three turnovers, and held the Tide to just 36 rushing yards (they averaged over 196 per game this season). And Utah executed impeccably on offense — including some risky 3rd and long trickery to keep a drive alive late in the game — thanks to the leadership of the unsexy Heisman shoulda been, Brian Johnson.

The unfortunate part is that they won’t be voted #1 in the final BCS poll. Of course, that’ll be Florida or Oklahoma. Perhaps Utah will earn the ultimate respect from the AP…right?

Probably not. Of the 4 non-BCS teams that have gone undefeated through bowl games (Utah did it twice, Boise State in 2006, Marshall in 1999 and Tulane in 1998), Utah achieved the highest AP poll rank after their win over #20 Pitt in 2004. Even though the Sooners were throttled by USC 55-19 in the Orange Bowl, they still finished above the [undefeated] #4 Utah Utes.

What they’ve done is seal their spot as the #2 team in the nation.

What about Texas? Given the poor play of the Big Ten in the bowl games (currently 1-5 in bowl games), we’ll assume the ‘Horns pull it out…handily. Why shouldn’t they be #2?

While I absolutely despise the USC Trojans, they certainly deserve a voice for the #2 spot after putting Nittany Lions to sleep for the season in the Rose Bowl.

Whatever happens on January 8th, I can’t possibly be satisfied. The BCS was nothing but a contrived championship format that rewarded the current darlings. Wait. Or was that the Heisman? Nevermind. Regardless, the BCS (Bowls Contrived in September) blew it again…it’s incredible, it’s sickening, it’s time for change.

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