The Ole College Try

So Sinickal has called me out about my post that Terrence Cody deserves the Heisman Trophy. He absolutely does. PERIOD!!! However, I know how the whole Heisman voting works, so Cody doesn't have a prayer. So, given that the season is beginning to wrap up with Rivalry Weeks being this weekend and next weekend, I will replace my usual Heisman Watch/Recap of games with an actual sample of what my Heisman ballot would look like if I had a vote (and if I could vote for 5 spots rather than the usual 3).

Despite the fact that I believe Cody deserves the award, he will not get my 1st place vote, as I want to maximize the points for the most deserving candidate out of those that actually have a chance to win. Here is my ballot, bottom to top.

5. Kellen Moore, QB - Boise State. He leads the nation in passing efficiency with a 172.49 QB rating. He has thrown for a nation leading 32 touchdowns, despite 214 fewer passing attempts than second place Case Keenum of Houston (31 TDs in 514 attempts compared to 32 TDs in 300 attempts for Moore). Plus, Moore deserves to get some votes to offset the fact that Boise State has absolutely no chance to play in the BCS championship game, despite its undefeated season (although it should be in a BCS bowl game, likely the Fiesta again).

4. Terrence Cody, DT - Alabama. Please see this column, where I exalt the virtues of Mr. Cody.

3. Mark Ingram, RB - Alabama. Ingram is Sinickal's selection for Heisman at this point, and a strong case could be made for Ingram, as he is 5th in nation in rushing yards and, more importantly, leads the SEC in rushing. He has 1297 yards at a 6.7 yards clip. However, he only has 10 touchdowns, which is significantly less than other top Running Backs, and Alabama's offense is not that scary in total, anyway. He looks like he will be phenomenal next year, and an early season Heisman favorite. However, this year, he isn't even the best running back. That title belongs to ...


2. C.J. Spiller, RB - Clemson. Spiller only has 836 yards rushing this season, but he also has 382 yards receiving, and 1.2 million return yards. (OK - only 734 yards). He also has 4 return touchdowns this year. You read that correctly - 4! And in every game he plays, he is the best player on the field. But he isn't the only multi-threat player in the game. The best multi-threat player in the game is also my Heisman winner to date. This year's Heisman Trophy should go to ...


1. JORDAN SHIPLEY, WR - Texas. Shipley has the statistics: 81 receptions (6h in the nation), 1,096 yards (5th in the nation) and 8 TDs (14th in the nation), as well as 303 punt return yards and 2 punt returns for TD. But more importantly, he is in control of every Texas game. You may turn on the television to watch Colt McCoy, but your eye will migrate to the apparently always open Shipley. He is the one guy every Longhorn opponent has to account for, otherwise it will be a long game, and Texas opponents have had several long games.

Notice that none of my top 5 include the pre-season top 3 of Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow.

Onto the rest of the college football world.

MY NEW FAVORITE PLAYER

DeAndre McDaniel - S - Clemson - I still think that Eric Berry is the best safety, and most likely the best defensive player, in the NCAA, but I have seen McDaniel play 2 whole games, and snippets of others. He is a ball hawk in the true sense of the word, He has 8 interceptions, but he also has 70 tackles, showing he isn't afraid to stick his nose into the running game.

PREDICTED BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME MATCHUP

Alabama v. Texas - Not sure anybody can stop Texas, and obviously, barring a huge upset of Alabama by Auburn or Florida by Florida State, the SEC Champion will be in this game. Right now, that looks like Alabama.

WHAT SEMI LIKELY EVENT TCU, BOISE STATE AND CINCINNATI NEED TO OCCUR THIS WEEK

My assumption of Iowa losing occurred. So now that they are out of the picture for the Championship, TCU, Boise State and Cincinnati all need this to occur this week (Keep in mind other parameters can be met in subsequent weeks, this is just for this week).

Kansas, whose players rally behind Coach Mangino, halt a 5 game slide and defeat Texas. Let's face it, this is much more likely that Chattanooga defeating Alabama or Florida International defeating Florida.

PREDICTED BCS BOWL GAMES

BCS Championship Game - See Above.

Fiesta Bowl - Boise State v. Penn State
Orange Bowl - Georgia Tech v. Cincinnati
Rose Bowl - Oregon v. Ohio State
Sugar Bowl - Florida v. TCU

The Fiesta Bowl will need a big travelling team to counteract Boise State's presence. Penn State is just too attractive of a candidate. Much more attractive than Iowa or Pittsburgh. Oklahoma State could be an option if the beat Oklahoma next week, but without Zac Robinson, that is much less likely.

The Orange Bowl is hoping for a Georgia Tech victory over Clemson in the ACC Championship game. That could pit an undefeated Cincinnati against a one-loss Georgia Tech team. Remember Cincinnati beat Virginia Tech here last year. Of course, Cincinnati needs to beat Pittsburgh in the league, and season, finale to qualify as the Big East Champion.

The Rose Bowl will pit the Big Ten Champion (Ohio State) versus the Pac-10 Champion (likely Oregon, but Stanford, Oregon State and Arizona still in the mix - with Arizona and Oregon playing this week.

The Sugar Bowl will take the SEC second place team (in my scenario Florida), and pit a one loss SEC team against the likely undefeated TCU.

TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

C.J Spiller has 4 total return touchdowns (both kickoff and punt returns combined) this season, and 7 for his career. What is the NCAA record for most return touchdowns in a career, with at least one touchdown return for kickoff and punt? Bonus if you can name who holds the record. Place your guesses in the comments.

LAST WEEK'S TRIVIA ANSWER

Last entry's trivia question was, "USC was torched by Oregon on Halloween evening, October 31. Losing on Halloween allowed USC to keep one streak alive. How many consecutive games have the Trojans won in the month of November?" The answer was 28, before last week's obliteration at the hands of Stanford.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

3. California v. Stanford - Not only is this a big rivalry game, Stanford needs it to stay in the Pac-10 championship hunt.

2. Oregon v. Arizona - Oregon can win the Pac-10, and they are simply exciting to watch. Arizona has come out of nowhere.

1. Harvard v. Yale - THE GAME! Enough said.

The Ole College Try

Here at We Make It Rain, we are going to change up the typical "Ole College Try". Normally I do the analysis of last week's games, and to some extent the entire college season to date, through the glorified term "Heisman Watch". For those loyal readers, that is a simple guise to highlight the great performances, and performers during the game. This week, however, I will highlight that one person who should, but won't, win the Heisman Trophy this year, at least if the season ended this week.

What characteristics make up the traditional Heisman Trophy winner? OK, now take out the fact that the player has to play quarterback (or maybe running back). Let's just look at the entire gamut of players from all positions. First, the player has to play on a contending team. Not necessarily the best team, but at least a contending team. Second, the player has to be a driving and dominant force on that team. Third, the player has to have significant enough statistics for their position. Fourth, that player has to have at least one defining moment or play that the media and public can latch onto and remember forever. (For example, Desmond Howard striking the Heisman pose after a long touchdown reception). We have all of these bases covered already this season. To date, your Heisman winner should be:



TERRENCE CODY.

Let's go through the questions I self posed above.

1. The player has to play on a contending team. Check. Alabama is undefeated, and presupposing a victory against LSU this week, on a crash course with the Gators in the BCS Championship game.

2. The player has to be a driving and dominant force on that team. Check. Between Cody and Rolando McCain, Alabama is a dominant defense, and that dominance starts with the big nose tackle.

3. The player has to have significant enough statistics for their position. Check. Admittedly harder to determine for a nose tackle, given that a nose tackles job is to simply stuff the middle, but Cody does have 17 tackles, 5 for a loss, and even 2 passes defensed. He also has, well, let's just go to the next question.

4. One defining moment or play. Check/Check. Cody's two blocked kicks, one at the buzzer, against Tennessee to seal the victory against the Volunteers. That play was topped only by his celebration seen nationally over and over again on every single replay on every sports channel nationwide.

Therefore, ladies and gentlemen readers, Terrence Cody should be the Heisman Trophy winner. Nevertheless, it won't happen, as a defensive player has never won a Heisman Trophy. For those that want to argue Charles Woodson, I would posit that he only won the Heisman Trophy by virtue of his defensive play in addition to his play as a return man on special teams. Don't forget that his coach also started to play Woodson as a wide receiver late in the year as well, so Woodson was not truly, or at least not solely, a defensive player.



MY NEW FAVORITE PLAYER

Jeremiah Masoli - QB - Oregon - He absolutely eviscerated the USC Trojans for a total of 368 yards rushing and passing. He is what multi-talented (read pass/run QBs) like Tebow and Terrelle Pryor are supposed to be.

PREDICTED BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME MATCHUP

Alabama v. Texas - I have thought that Florida would be in this game. However, their offense has become entirely too predictable, and Alabama's defense is too tough for a predictable offense. I see nobody that can defeat Texas on their schedule. If Florida can start to get their offense on track, which playing Georgia definitely helped, they will be back in this game.

WHAT BOISE STATE AND CINCINNATI NEED TO OCCUR THIS WEEK

First, I am assuming that Iowa is going to lose at some point in time. Boise State and Cincinnati need LSU to defeat Alabama. (Then a one loss Alabama to defeat Florida in the BCS championship game).

TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

USC was torched by Oregon on Halloween evening, October 31. Losing on Halloween allowed USC to keep one streak alive. How many consecutive games have the Trojans won in the month of November?

LAST WEEK'S TRIVIA ANSWER

Last entry's trivia question was, "South Florida's freshman quarterback B.J. Daniels led the Bulls to an upset victory over the Florida State Seminoles. From what hometown does Daniels hail?" The answer, of course, is Tallahassee, Florida, the home of the Seminoles.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

3. Oregon State v. California - Two of the best running backs in the country matched up in this game. Jacquizz Rodgers for the Beavers and Jahvid Best for the Bears. Must see for anyone that likes to watch tough runners.

2. Oregon v. Stanford - Can Oregon follow-up their drudging of USC at a much better than expected Cardinal squad? I say a resounding "Yes", but crazy things have been happending in the Pac-10 this year.

1. LSU v. Alabama - LSU is ridiculously overrated (as is most of the SEC this year), but can make a big statement by defeating the Crimson Tide. (By overrated I mean that Florida and Alabama should be the only teams rated in any poll)

And So It Begins

As we are solidly in the middle of the first weekend of college football, I figure that there is no better time to unveil my pre-season All-American team. Although there are more than 11 offenseive and defensive players listed, the team is selected to account for the various offenses and defenses used around the country (trip receivers, spread, 3-4, 4-3, etc.). I chose to explain my picks in some instances, and not in others. Why? Because I am busy watching football. Now here are the Pepster Preseason All-Americans.

Offense

QB - Colt McCoy, Texas - Led his team in passing and rushing last year, and his completion percentage is off the charts.

RB - Jahvid Best, California; Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech; Jazquizz Rodgers, Oregon State - Best might be the best player in the country, averaging over 8 yards per carry last year.

WR - Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State; Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati; A.J. Green, Georgia - Gilyard is probably the best player nobody has ever heard of, and A.J. Green is the best sophomore receiver in the SEC, not Julio Jones.

TE - Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma; Aaron Hernandez, Florida - Gresham came back instead of being a sure-fire first round draft pick last year and Florida's offensive hopes depend a lot more on Hernandez than people realize.

T - Trent Williams, Oklahoma; Ciron Black, LSU - Both big and strong, and keys to their respective offenses. Black is a fourth year starter. Williams is the only returning starter on the line for Oklahoma.

G - Sergio Render, Virginia Tech; Rodney Hudson, Florida State- Render is a mountain. Tech will need him to jump start their running game.

C - Maurkice Pouncey, Florida - Florida deserves multiple offensive All-Americans, especially since I did not select Jesus at the quarterback position. And frankly, I can't tell the Pouncey brothers apart.

Defense

DE - George Selvie, South Florida; Jan Jorgensen, Brigham Young - Just watch Selvie play and you will see why. Jorgensen is the conference career sack leader, in a conference that does a lot of passing. My apologies to Greg Hardy and Sergio Kindle.

DT - Terrence Cody, Alabama; Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma - Not only are they immovable objects in the middle of the line, they make plays as well behind it.

OLB - Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri; Eric Norwood, South Carolina - Norwood is a beast, while Weatherspoon just makes tackles.

ILB - Brandon Spikes, Florida; Joe Pawelek, Baylor - You know I watch too much football when I place a Baylor player on my preseason All-American team. I think Spikes is the best player on the Gators, but somehow this will be misinterpreted as a dig at Tebow.

Keep an eye on Sean Spence, Miami.

CB - Trevard Lindley, Kentucky; Janoris Jenkins, Florida - Jenkins is a phenomenal athlete, and Lindley has garnered votes for All-American each of the past two years.

S - Taylor Mays, USC; Eric Berry, Tennessee - The easiest position to select on the team.

Special Teams

K - Shane Popham, Wake Forest - Not that I think is particularly that good, just wanted to see if anybody actually paid attention to whom I selected at kicker, and he seems to have kicked 1,000 field goals against FSU.

P - Zoltan Mesko, Michigan - Simply because of his name.

R - Brandon James, Florida - If he sees a hole, he's thinking touchdown.

Forgive me for any typographical errors, I didn't feel like proofreading with games on the television. Stay tuned for my weekly college football updates.