Last week, I argued that Colt McCoy essentially won the Heisman with his performance against Texas A&M. I said that it was his to lose. Based on what happened in the Big XII championship game, I think he lost it. What a dreadful game by McCoy. He and Mack Brown nearly threw away a chance to go to the national championship game with poor clock management at the end of the game. At the end of the day, I think McCoy possibly threw away the Heisman
I had a chance to go down to the ACC Championship in Tampa, Florida Saturday to watch Georgia Tech’s high powered triple option offense against Clemson. It was a very entertaining game to watch in person and something, quite frankly, that the ACC needed. However, there is one player in the game that I came away most impressed with, one that I think signifies what the Heisman trophy means. That player is Clemson running back C.J. Spiller.
Obviously, you and I have heard of C.J. Spiller. He plays in a BCS conference for one of the top programs in the ACC. I have had the pleasure of watching a good bit of him over the past four years, but Saturday night was the first night I have watched him in person. Watching Spiller live gives a greater appreciation for him. I think he is the most electrifying player college football has had since Reggie Bush.
He single-handily almost won the game for the Tigers. He finished with 233 yards on 20 carries and four touchdowns. Those numbers earned him the MVP of the game, even in defeat (editor’s note: This is the first time the game’s MVP was awarded to a player on the losing team). Tech fans were outraged at this after the game, but I think it was the right decision. Sitting at Raymond James Stadium, you just felt all the Tech fans on edge when Spiller had the ball in his hands. Out of all the candidates, did anyone close the season better than Spiller?
For the season, his numbers speak for themselves. He has 1,145 yards rushing on 201 carries and 11 touchdowns. He has 445 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Those are excellent numbers. What takes him to the next level are his numbers in the kicking game. He has four kickoff returns for touchdowns. In total, he has over 900 return yards, which includes kickoff and punt return yardage. He is a legitimate threat to score every time he touches the ball. He also is the only player this season to score at least one touchdown in every game.
I realize people are dead set on giving the Heisman Trophy to McCoy, Mark Ingram, or maybe Tim Tebow. But Spiller deserves an invite to New York, at the very least. If I had a vote for Heisman, my vote would be for C.J. Spiller. And memo to those who coordinate the Heisman trophy – Loyal Homer really want a Heisman vote!
I hope you guys enjoyed your Thanksgiving break. I certainly did. Now I can go shop for a new pair of jeans that fit my ever enlarging waist! Food and watching football will do that to you (though I did teach my little cousins the nuances of the triple option… perhaps Georgia was eavesdropping on my lesson as the ‘Dawgs managed to stop Georgia Tech’s triple option Saturday night). After watching numerous games over the weekend and seeing highlights of several more, I have decided that the real winner of the Thanksgiving Football Feast was Texas quarterback Colt McCoy.
Coming into the weekend the Heisman race was wide open. The list of possible contenders was as long as the list of bowl games (okay, maybe not that long), including McCoy, Tim Tebow, Mark Ingram, and Toby Gerhart near the top of the list. But guys like Clemson’s C.J. Spiller had the opportunity to make big impressions with a big performance in a rivalry game. Ingram was a dud against Auburn, though his team managed to escape the Iron Bowl with a victory. Spiller returned the opening kickoff against South Carolina and did nothing else in a disappointing upset loss to South Carolina. Gerhart had a phenomenal game against Notre Dame with 205 yards rushing and three touchdowns (and also one passing). Tebow was his usual self in a victory over an overmatched Florida State. But what McCoy did against rival Texas A&M was nothing short of remarkable and it made him the clear frontrunner in the Heisman race.
All he did was rack up 479 yards of total offense, including 175 yards on the ground, totaling five touchdowns. The game against the Aggies was much tougher than most thought it would be. Rallying behind an amazing performance by quarterback Jerrod Johnson (who had 439 yards of total offense himself), the Aggies were in prime position to pull the upset in this see-saw battle. The Longhorns only led by seven at the half and the Aggies actually cut it to three a couple of times in the second half, but the Longhorns were able to respond and escape the Home of the 12th man with a victory. I was talking to a friend of mine the day after the game and he said, “Colt McCoy single-handily saved Texas’s season last night. He won the game for them.” My friend was right. If Texas lost that game, it would have all but eliminated any chance at a national title and would have thrown the national championship door wide open for teams like TCU and Cincinnati. Instead, he left College Station as the clear-cut favorite in the race for the Heisman.
McCoy still has to have a solid game this week against Nebraska in the Big 12 championship to close the deal on the Heisman, especially with Tebow playing that day as well in the SEC championship. But it is McCoy’s to lose now and he can thank his Heisman-like performance against Texas A&M for that.
Continuing with the theme of football week here at The Sports Debates, we bring another compelling topic to the America’s collective football fan conscience – college football power conference supremacy. This is an argument heard all around the country, from noisy drunks in your backyard to the casual conversation between friends over email… “MY team’s conference is BETTER than YOUR team’s conference.” Instead of ending another battle royale in fisticuffs or worse – Tom Cable style – we shall settle the matter more humanely. We hope.
What makes the Big XII the best conference for the upcoming, here-before-you-know-it 2009 college football season is that it does not even need both divisions of the conference to be the best conference in college football. The Big XII South is loaded top to bottom, with two national title contenders in Texas and Oklahoma expected to battle for the division championship along with a perpetually dangerous Texas Tech and sleeper du jour Oklahoma State waiting to break through to the conference championship. A down but occasionally dangerous Texas A&M, followed by an offensively explosive Baylor team, round out the division.
Consider the Big XII North a sleeping giant. Missouri won the division last year on the strength of an excellent quarterback in Chase Daniel. However, the quarterback waiting to take the reins at Missouri is former Parkway West High School’s signal caller, Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert was widely believed to be the best quarterback recruit in the country two years ago… if not for that Terrelle Pryor fellow. An always dangerous Kansas team returns ANOTHER senior quarterback to the conference in Todd Reesing, and Nebraska is beginning to regain their storied form under now second year head coach Bo Pelini. (We do not have to pretend that Iowa State or Kansas State are any good.)
The Big XII is stacked as a conference in both divisions, from top to bottom. But, the SEC is a good conference, too. Why is he Big XII better? It comes down to coaching, recent history, and star power.
Coaching
Texas coach Mack Brown and Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops are national brands. All college football fans know their names and their reputations (somewhere Mack Brown is pointlessly clapping on the sidelines). However, it is important to acknowledge the other minds and up and coming coaching talent in this very competitive conference. Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, the mad scientist, is one of the more innovative minds in coaching today, and perfect for the Red Raiders. Likewise, Bo Pelini is ideal for the Cornhuskers to again instill the confidence and toughness Tom Osborne Nebraska teams used to have. Perhaps the fastest rising star in the Big XII coaching ranks is Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy. Known mostly for a tirade designed to protect a player, he is also the offensive coordinator and has recruited well enough to position his offense as one of the best in the country every season. Despite the recent dominance of the Oklahoma Sooners in conference play, they are never a sure bet to win Bedlam with Gundy stalking the opposite sideline.
Recent History (2008)
The top three teams in the strongest division in the SEC, the SEC East, lost a combined 10 games last season. The Big XII’s strongest division, the Big XII South, had only five total losses in their top three teams. The SEC had just three teams with 10 plus win seasons, while the Big XII had four… and another two teams that won nine games.
Sure, I get that 2008 is not 2009. But, while the SEC has seen a lot of turnover in the conference’s star power (the NFL’s number overall draft pick in Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, for one of many possible examples), the Big XII returns their best players.
Star Power
While Tim Tebow is the SEC’s undisputed best player (it is not even close), the Big XII boasts last year’s Heisman Trophy winner AND runner up. Sleeper Heisman candidate, wide receiver Dez Bryant, also plays in the Big XII at Oklahoma State. While the Big XII is primarily known for their offense – and it should be – it has excellent defensive stars, too. Baylor middle linebacker Joe Pawelek was in the top 10 in the country in tackles (he had 128 total) and interceptions (he grabbed six). Nebraska’s massive defense tackle, Ndamukong Suh, plays in a four point stance and wreaks havoc on opposing centers, drawing many double teams and still managing to pressure and sack the quarterback. Oh, and the dynamic Suh also returned two interceptions for touchdowns in 2008… and caught one as a fullback in the goal line package.
Traditionally college football conferences, if they have one good team, are top heavy. That is, they have one excellent team that dominates the conference competition, and the remaining teams accept the beat down (and the payday). The Big XII is an exception. The Big XII South ALONE is an exception.
The interesting thing to consider about these conferences is that they are largely different. While the SEC has historically built teams based on superlative defense, the Big XII dominates with unmatched offensive capabilities. While the Big XII is closing the gap on defense with standouts like Pawelek and Suh, the SEC’s collective offense is stuck in neutral (even with the great Tim Tebow… I mean, did Auburn even score an offensive touchdown last season?).
The Big XII has better teams, more depth, great coaches, the momentum of recent success, and tremendous personnel. It is clear that the best conference in college football for this season is the Big XII.
Read Sports Geek’s and Bleacher Fan’s arguments on which sleeper Heisman Candidate has the best chance to crack the top three.
It is pretty obvious that three guys are far away the favorites to make it the New York for the Heisman trophy ceremony, as The Sports Debates tackled in a prior debate. Quarterbacks Tim Tebow (Florida), Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), and Colt McCoy (Texas) have distanced themselves – at least in pre-season talk – from other possible contenders. However, there are several other candidates who might be under the radar, so to speak, but who could catapult themselves into the discussion with a strong season. After looking at the way some players finished up last season, and evaluating potential for the upcoming season, I have concluded that if anyone could break up the big three this year it is Georgia Tech running back Jonathan Dwyer.
Dwyer, a junior, is coming off an outstanding sophomore season for the Yellow Jackets. Last year he rushed for 1,395 yards on just 200 carries for an average of seven yards a carry. He also scored 12 rushing touchdowns and one receiving. He rushed for over 100 yards in nine games. He was the ACC conference player of the year, and was on several post-season All-American teams. In the pre-season this year, he has already accumulated some honors. Among others, he is the pre-season ACC conference player of the year and a candidate for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the top running back in college football.
If he stays healthy, Dwyer is going to get the carries. As the B-back in Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson’s hugely successful spread option offense, he is bound to get plenty of carries. What made Dwyer so effective last year is that Johnson was able to keep him fresh. He had twenty or more carries in only four games. Johnson was able to mix and match Dwyer with guys like running back Roddy Jones, making Georgia Tech one of the surprise teams in the 2008 season.
This year, there is more of a bullseye on the Yellow Jackets. In most pre-season polls the Yellow Jackets are ranked in the top 15. Along with Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech is considered one of the favorites in the ACC. With that pressure comes more attention as well. The Yellow Jackets, and Dwyer, will not sneak up on anyone. If the Jackets and Dwyer get off to a fast start – which is entirely possible – then the national spotlight will increase. Dwyer will get more attention on national sports shows, and people in regions outside the Southeast will get to know the D-Train.
In order for Dwyer to make this run for the Heisman, the Yellow Jackets are going to have to succeed as a team. That is very important to Dwyer’s campaign. If they struggle as a team, then Dwyer’s candidacy will struggle. Back in 1999, Georgia Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton put up gaudy numbers, but he played on a team with a horrendous defense. That definitely hurt his chances to win the Heisman (he finished second to Ron Dayne).
It is going to be tough to break into the top three. There is no denying the talent those three have. But if anyone can crash the party in the Big Apple, it is Jonathan Dwyer.
Every year there are surprise Heisman Trophy candidates. We have already debated which of the “Big Three” of 2009 will win the Heisman Trophy this season. Now it is time to debate which sleeper could spoil the year end party at the Downtown Athletic Club. There is a huge list of potential sleepers. The list includes Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry, Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead, Ohio State quarterback Terylle Prior, Penn State running back Evan Royster, Penn State quarterback Daryl Clark, Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant, California running back Jahvid Best, Clemson running back C.J. Spiller, and Georgia Tech running back Jonathan Dwyer. They are all good possibilities – but one stands above the rest, patiently waiting at the intersection of patience and ability. The award is easier for a quarterback to win, and the sneakiest of this sleepy bunch is Ole Miss’ Jevan Snead.
For Jevan Snead to get on the radar of the 870 Heisman Trophy voters, all he has to do is do something he has already done – win. Snead delivered a masterful performance in last year’s Ole Miss-Florida game, outdueling Florida’s Tim Tebow (a athlete Percy Harvin, perhaps a primary reason why Tebow has been as successful as he has been) by throwing for two touchdown passes and running for one more. In the 2008 season, Snead threw for 26 touchdowns in a pro style offense, and ran for three others. He enters this season no longer as the new kid on the block (he transferred out of Texas after losing the quarterback duel to that Colt McCoy guy), having gained the respect of his peers as the undisputed leader of the team.
Ole Miss has a favorable schedule, too. They host Alabama and LSU and play their toughest road game at a rebuilding Auburn. Early in the season they face their toughest road tests of the season against South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Ole Miss could be a surprise undefeated team. We all know how college football poll voters love surprise undefeated teams. The opportunity to play the underdog role in a nationally televised SEC championship – perhaps against Florida, again – is ideal. Then Snead would only need to do something ELSE he has already done – beat Tebow.
Besides his great statistics, Snead also has earned the respect of coaches within his conference. South Carolina head ball coach Steve Spurrier voted Jevan Snead as his top quarterback in the conference over Tim Tebow (… don’t tell me you believe that hogwash that Spurrier made a “mistake” on his ballot?).
Plus, Snead comes from a school that is no stranger to Heisman candidate quarterbacks… though he will be the first one with Manning on the back of his jersey. And, it sounds dumb, but Jevan Snead is a memorable name. The sound of it… it is one of a kind. The kind of name that is hard to forget.
It is much easier for a quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy. While Snead is facing an uphill climb against three other established quarterbacks in college football, there is a path for him to win the trophy. If he can outplay Tebow heads up (like he did last year), match him in statistics (despite Tebow’s softball schedule), and sit back and watch Same Bradford and Colt McCoy split votes, Snead could win the 2009 Heisman Trophy. It is not a sure thing – but I would not count him out.
Football fans often compare and contrast college and professional football. You can argue all day about the passion of each fan base for each school/team. You can argue about the style of football for each level. And, like we are today, you can argue what is the better criterion for evaluating a college player. Is it by the success he experiences while in college, or is it his pro potential?
Does college success guarantee pro success? It most certainly does not. There are many examples to back this up. Quarterback’s Charlie Ward, Danny Wuerffel, Colt Brennan, and any Texas Tech quarterback (sorry Mike Leach, don’t get mad at me) are examples that immediately come to mind. There have been guys who have been successful on a smaller level in college but have starred in the NFL. Brett Favre and Jerry Rice come to mind, as they starred at Southern Miss and Mississippi Valley State, respectively. There have even been guys like former Georgia running back Terrell Davis who did very little in college yet thrived in the NFL for a period of time. I am guessing very few non-UGA fans even remember him playing in Athens.
Bleacher Fan has asked what the best criteria are when evaluating college football players. It is easy to answer that question. You evaluate based on pro potential. The ultimate goal is to get to the next level in anything you do, and that is no different in football. When you are interviewing for a job straight out of college, you are not only presenting your resume but you are also presenting yourself. You are hired not only for your GPA but also by the way you conduct yourself in the interview. Chances are you are hired because the employer sees POTENTIAL in you. They are not going to hire you if they think you will not grow in the position.
It is hard to evaluate players like Brennan and former Red Raider QB Graham Harrell. Brennan passed for over 14,000 yards and 131 touchdowns in three years at Hawaii, but he fell to the sixth round in the 2008 draft mainly because scouts were concerned (and rightly so) that his stats were heavily inflated by a gimmicky pass happy offense that would not work in the NFL. Harrell had a similar problem. He threw for nearly 16,000 yards and 134 touchdowns in his career at Texas Tech. Yet, he also played in a gimmicky offense that lets the quarterback throw the ball 60 times a game. He was not drafted at all. He currently plays for Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL. Red Raider coach Mike Leach did not understand why Harrell was not drafted, and someone like Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee was, which set off a mini-controversy between Leach and Aggie coach Mike Sherman.
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow has taken a lot of criticism regarding his pro potential due to the fact that he plays in a very unique spread offense at Florida. Time will tell whether or not he can succeed in the NFL. The main difference between him and Brennan and Harrell is that Tebow possesses a physical nature to his game while the other two were somewhat finesse. Contrarily, you have someone like quarterback Mark Sanchez, who played in a pro-style offense at USC and who played under a coach with NFL experience in Pete Carroll.
If the ultimate goal is to see who can put up the best numbers on the field and on Playstation 3, then yes, you evaluate by the stats and what kind of numbers he has in college. If the ultimate goal is to make it to the NFL, then you look at the entire repertoire and decide if the guy is ready for the NFL. That determines true success.
Read Sports Geek’s argument that performance at the collegiate level is the measure by which college athletes should be rated and evaluated, and Loyal Homer’s argument that the players potential to perform in the NFL is a better standard by which to gauge and evaluate them.
When the media’s pre-season All-SEC team was announced at the beginning of the month, there was no surprise seeing Tim Tebow’s name. There was some surprise, though, in the fact that he was NOT the name on top of the list. Somehow, there was another player in the SEC who garnered more of the 64 votes than Tebow did (granted, it was only one more vote, but it was enough to cause a buzz!). That person was defensive back Eric Berry of the Tennessee Volunteers.
Berry’s place at the top of the list is not without justification. He was a unanimous All-American last year, and is expected to set a new NCAA record for interception return yards very early in the 2009 season. The surprise lies in the fact that Tim Tebow, a favorite to win the 2009 Heisman Trophy award (which would be his second) and the leader of the reigning national champion Florida Gators, has been a dominant presence in the media since becoming the first player in NCAA history to both rush for AND pass for at least 20 touchdowns in the same year, 2007. He was expected to receive the most votes.
When considering the accomplishments Tebow has already racked up, add to those accomplishments the expectations for Tebow and the Gators this year – I do not think anyone would have disagreed if Tebow was named a unanimous selection. So you can imagine our surprise when he not only fell short of the unanimous vote, but also was not even the top vote getter on the list!
It made us wonder what, exactly, was the criteria these voters were using when they cast their ballots?
There can be little doubt that Tim Tebow is one of the most accomplished players in college football history. He has two national championships, has one Heisman award, and is a favorite this year to add to both of those totals. Eric Berry cannot boast a resume like that. What Berry CAN claim, at least in many media circles, is that he has a greater likelihood to move on and be successful in the professional ranks.
Berry is already considered to be a top prospect for the NFL Draft next year. His head coach at Tennessee, Lane Kiffin, is a former NFL head coach and agrees that Berry will be a very likely success at the next level. For Tim Tebow, on the other hand, expectations are not as high. Many believe that Tebow will move on to the NFL, but few expect him to continue as a successful quarterback once he leaves the college game.
So the question posed to Sports Geek and Loyal Homer today is:
Which is the better criteria by which to evaluate a college player, college success or pro potential?
NCAA Football is generally considered to be a feeder system into the professional ranks. Does that mean that a player’s potential to take the next step should be the key benchmark by which to rate their success? On the other hand, is a players ability to produce and succeed within the college game the better standard, even if that player is not likely to see continued success once they move on to the professional game?
Sports Geek will argue that the better measure is the player’s collegiate resume. While the NCAA football programs are viewed unofficially as a feeder system into the NFL, they are NOT minor league organizations. NCAA football is a separate entity from the NFL, and accomplishments and credentials garnered while in that game should be evaluated on their own merit, not how they would translate into a professional game.
Loyal Homer will argue that a player’s professional potential is the better barometer for evaluating their talent. Athletes at the highest level of college football are expected to move on to the NFL, so that naturally should be the standard by which those players are evaluated and compared against one another. If fans and the media expect those players to move to the next level of the game, then the best method for rating those players is to determine their likelihood of success.
The 2009 Heisman Race should be an exciting one to watch. To begin with, 2009 will feature the first time in history that two previous Heisman winners (Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford) will contend in the same year for another Heisman award. Added into that mix is Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, and although he has not won a Heisman yet, many consider him just as likely a contender as Bradford and Tebow.
Between those three, which candidate has the best inside track to win the Heisman in 2009?
Sports Geek will argue that Colt McCoy should be the favorite this year, and Loyal Homer will argue for Tim Tebow.
As far as Bleacher Fan is concerned, though, the conversation begins and ends with Sam Bradford.
Bradford, who will be the top pick in the NFL draft when he eventually does go pro, surprised many experts last year by declining to enter the draft, instead returning to Oklahoma for the 2009 season.
For many of the same reasons that the reigning National Champion Florida Gators are once again pre-season favorites for the title in 2009, Bradford (who is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner) should be considered the favorite to win the 2009 award, becoming the first person since Ohio State’s Archie Griffin to win back-to-back Heismans in the process.
Having also won the Davey O’Brien award as the top quarterback of 2008, Sam Bradford is without a doubt the best passer in college football. His production cannot be matched by any other player in the game, and the fact that he has another year of experience under his belt will help him to at least match, if not exceed, his results from last year.
I can hear many of you out there questioning why, based on that logic, Bradford would be considered a favorite over Tim Tebow, who has also won the award. The reason for that is because of the manner in which the two quarterbacks won their respective Heismans.
Tim Tebow was recognized as the 2007 winner due in large part to a single accomplishment, becoming the first person in NCAA Football history to run AND pass for 20 or more touchdowns in the same season. Tebow’s feat truly was an amazing accomplishment, and definitely one worthy of winning the Heisman. But, those accomplishments are difficult to repeat and impossible to rely upon. When you consider Tebow’s overall talent, he is not even close to the caliber of player that Bradford is.
Bradford, on the other hand, won the Heisman in 2008 because of his all-around play at the quarterback position. A much more prolific passer than his Florida or Texas counterparts, Bradford threw for 4,720 yards and threw 50 touchdowns, only eight interceptions, and posted a completion percentage of 67.9%. Compare those numbers to Tebow, who threw for only 2,746 yards, 30 touchdowns, and a completion percentage of 64.4%, or to Colt McCoy’s 3,859 yards, and 34 touchdown passes.
As impressive as those numbers are, his career numbers are much more astounding. In two years, Bradford has thrown for 86 career touchdowns, exceeding the numbers that Tebow (67) or McCoy (85) have been able to throw in three years. And while career statistics are not a factor in awarding the Heisman for any single season, they do serve as an indication of what to expect from him in the future.
Bradford also had the opportunity to play head-to-head against both McCoy AND Tebow last year. While the games against McCoy’s Longhorns and Tebow’s Gators amounted to Oklahoma’s only losses, it was not for a lack of performance on the part of Bradford.
During the Texas game, McCoy threw 28 completions on 35 attempts, gaining 277 yards and one touchdown pass. Bradford blew those numbers away in the game, throwing 28 of 39 for 387 yards and five touchdown passes. As for the National Championship game, Tebow was responsible for throwing 18 of 30 for 231 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Bradford went 26 of 41 for 256 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. In both of those losses, Bradford still performed as good as, if not better than, his counterparts on the other side of the field.
Despite his astonishing performance in 2008, the loss to the Gators in the National Championship game has left Bradford feeling as if he still has something to prove, and he has made that his mission for the 2009 season. With teammates like offensive tackle Trent Williams, tight end Jermaine Gresham, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, and linebacker Ryan Reynolds all returning for another year, Bradford feels confident that he can lead the Sooners to their first National Championship since 2000. Thanks to a schedule that includes opponents like Brigham Young, Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State, he will have plenty of opportunities to prove his dominance against top-tier talent. It will definitely not be an easy road, but Bradford is another year older, another year wiser, and I expect that he will turn in yet another season of staggering numbers on his way to his second Heisman Trophy!
Kickoff to the 2009 college football season is less than three weeks away! It has been a long time since last year’s BCS Championship game! Every offseason seems long, but this year’s seems really long. Maybe it is because three high profile quarterbacks chose to return to school instead of chasing after the fame and fortune of the NFL. Those three profile quarterbacks will be profiled today as we debate who has the inside track to becoming this season’s Heisman Trophy winner. I believe that Tim Tebow is a step above Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy.
The Florida Gators are a consensus number one. They play an exciting style of football in the country’s best conference (sorry, Bleacher Fan). Depending on how the season shakes out, they are sure to be on national television virtually every week. Therefore, exposure is not a question and never has been, not when Tim Tebow and Chuck Norris are often used in the same joke sometimes. (You know you have all gotten those email forwards comparing the two with Tebow’s name being inserted in the place of Norris! If you haven’t gotten the email, here is a list of Tebow jokes! It is pretty funny.).
Tebow’s credentials speak for themselves. He won a national championship as a freshman and as a junior. As a sophomore, his team struggled somewhat with so many underclassmen on defense, but Tebow flourished, easily winning the Heisman trophy. He made a late charge last year, but Bradford was just having too strong of a season, as was McCoy.
This season, he is almost (thanks to Steve Spurrier or his director of football operations Jamie Spernois) a consensus all-SEC pre-season coach’s pick. Coming off a season in which he accounted for 42 touchdowns (30 passing and 12 receiving), how could you not rate him as the preseason favorite? Since January 11th, when he announced he was returning for his senior season, he was been perceived as one of, if not the, favorite to hold the trophy up in December. But, Tebow will tell you he did not come back for the Heisman. He did not come back for individual trophies and records. He came back for one and only one reason. He came back to win his third BCS Championship. If he wins a third national championship, and has an outstanding senior season, he has to be considered perhaps the greatest college football player ever. Perhaps that is a debate for early next year.
I know there are a lot of Tim Tebow haters out there. Some of them live in Athens, Georgia. Some of them live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Heck, they are scattered all across the nation, as some feel Tebow gets too much love from the national media. But, love him or hate him, there really is not any question as to who the pre-season Heisman favorite is for the 2009 college football season. His numbers and his play completely back up that assessment.
This is perhaps the most level debate that The Sports Debates has had in its history. I knew coming in to today that I was going to really struggle with this topic. After reading the strong cases of both Sports Geek and Bleacher Fan, I was no closer to a verdict. I was literally ON THE FENCE… more so than ever. But while scarfing down a chicken sandwich for supper, I weighed the pros and cons in my head and came up with a verdict that is sure to light a fire under the losing side. After much consideration, I have sided with Sports Geek.
I did not necessarily relate to all of Sports Geek’s argument. I’m not as big on his “injury” point as he obviously is. The majority of collegiate players that play football will finish playing football after their eligibility is up. Even then, the great ones take out heavy insurance premiums to cover themselves in case of injury. Just in the past week it was revealed that Tim Tebow has taken out around $2M in insurance policies against injuries. Texas quarterback Colt McCoy has taken out a similar policy.
Bleacher Fan brought some interesting points to the table about the value of education, and that is not to be taken for granted. In the age we’re living in, it is a valid point. Bleacher Fan also gave some interesting figures about the average debt of a college student. Every writer at The Sports Debates has accumulated college debt. I can’t even see the light at the end of the tunnel on my college debt!
Let’s explore a hypothetical story. Let’s say an 18-year-old from Vienna, Georgia has signed a scholarship to play football between the hedges in Athens. I realize most of you, including you Bleacher Fan, have no idea where Vienna, Georgia is, but that really doesn’t matter. Vienna is in Dooly County, one of the poorest counties in the state. This kid gets a full ride to the University of Georgia. He has his education essentially paid for. That’s the good news. The bad news is that football is going to be his life for the next four plus years. Being from an area that doesn’t have a high median income per family, he probably doesn’t have a lot of extra cash lying around. But, he really is limited in the kind of part time job he can get due to his football responsibilities, especially during the season. Even during the “off-season,” he still has weight lighting, individual workouts, and other responsibilities that go with being a football player (including summer classes). He basically doesn’t have enough cash to take his girlfriend out to eat at the local Longhorn Steakhouse. He doesn’t have the money to be a normal college kid.
I see no harm in giving kids like this a “supplement” to help them out. Like Sports Geek said in the argument (and this essentially is what swayed me), the universities, the majority of them at least, have lots of money coming in through various endeavors. We’re talking MUCHO dinero! It’s unfair how much these colleges are making off of these “amateur” athletes.
I’m not sure what the answer is to formulate how much money each player should receive. It would take a ridiculous amount of research by the NCAA to determine that. But the athletes really do need a slice of the big pie, and folks, it is a big pie. There will still be enough money to keep the universities happy and the athletic departments afloat!
Posted by Loyal Homer 
