Welcome to the return of the almost weekly perspective of college football. For those that don't remember, I write this column as if every player is a Heisman Trophy candidate. Why? Because it is ridiculously ludicrous that the networks, including the World Wide Leader, nay, especially the World Wide Leader, emphasize the Heisman Trophy race all season. Consider this my sarcastic homage to stupid reporting.
Heisman Watch
Quarterback Edition
Favorite - Dak Prescott - So long as Mississippi State keeps winning, Prescott is the odds on winner should the Heisman go to a quarterback (which as of now is not likely).
Rising - Connor Holliday - Washington State - He has thrown for 3,052 yards - tops in the FCS (second place has 2,165), and in a year in which the running backs are dominating, Holliday's statistics make him a worthwhile Heisman candidate.
Falling - Marcus Mariota - Oregon - Still a phenomenal player having a great season, but the loss at home to Arizona knocks him out of the favorite's seat, especially in a year with running backs like those below.
Running Back Edition
Favorite - Todd Gurley -Georgia - He is 6th in the FBS in rushing yards with 773 and 8 touchdowns, but no player in the NCAA is more important to his team than Gurley. For those that are watching the game, he is easily the best player in college.
Melvin Gordon - Wisconsin - Right now he will be second in the Heisman race if I had a vote. Third in the FBS with 871 yards (only 7 behind first place), and he is a difference maker on offense. Might have jumped Hurley this week if the Badgers didn't lose to Northwestern.
Ameer Abdullah - Nebraska - Leads the FBS in rushing yards with 878, but has not risen further than 3rd as he only gained 45 yards against a tough Michigan State defense in the Cornhuskers loss this weekend.
Sleeper - None - the top three are the top three. Period.
Wide Receiver Edition
Favorite - Amari Cooper - Alabama - Second in the FBS in yards and receptions, and even though Alabama fell to Ole Miss this week, he still caught 9 passes for 91 yards.
Kevin White - West Virginia - Fourth in receptions and first in yards in the FBS, and is about the only person who could challenge Amari Cooper for the Biletnikoff Award.
Sleeper - None. Most of the quality receivers have already established themselves.
Defensive Edition
3. Hau'oli Kikaha - LB - Washington - The senior linebacker has 7 sacks on the season and is really making a name for himself in an offense-laden conference.
2. Vic Beasley - DE - Clemson - He is finally starting to live up to his pre-season hype, and his sack strip and fumble recovery-return for a touchdown of Jacoby Brissett is the type of play that makes everyone take notice. His last two or three games have been outstanding.
1. Gerod Holliman - S - Louisville - The sophomore had another interception this week, giving him 7 for the season, in only 5 games! He has had at least one interception in every game that he has played.
Player to Watch
Nick Marshall - QB - Auburn - Suddenly it is the Auburn Tigers who look in control of the SEC West, which should assure them a run into the playoffs. Of course, this division is so tough the winner could escape with two losses, and none of the toughest teams in the country make the final playoffs.
My New Favorite Player
JoJo Kemp - RB - Kentucky - He rushed for 131 yards and 3 touchdowns on only 17 carries as the Kentucky Wildcats defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks. Despite the fact that the SEC East is hugely down this year, Mark Stoops is quietly building up a very good and athletic team in Lexington.
Players of the Week
This section will be more week specific as the season goes forward, but for the first week, it is hard to differentiate the players of the week from the players of the season, as the season has only lasted 1 week.
5. Melvin Gordon - RB - Wisconsin - He was at it again gaining 259 yards against Northwestern. Would likely be ranked higher if the Badgers were not upset.
4. Dax Prescott - QB - Mississippi State - So instrumental in the Bulldogs victory over the Aggies this week. He finished 20-26 for 268 yards and 2 Touchdowns passing, and 77 yards and 3 Touchdowns rushing.
3. Todd Gurley -RB - Georgia - He ran all over Vanderbilt gaining 163 yards and scoring 2 touchdowns in a 44-17 victory. His numbers would have been much higher if not for the fact that this game was over early.
2. Connor Holliday - QB - Washington State - He was 49-70 for 734 and 6 touchdowns. This was not a game for mere stat padding, however, as the Cougars needed every single one of those yards as they defeated Cal 60-59.
1. Mike Bercovici - QB - Arizona State - Although not as gaudy as Holliday's numbers, Becovici's 27-45 for 510 yards and 5 Touchdowns is more impressive given that the Sun Devils defeated the USC in Los Angeles.
Goat of the Week (Player Edition)
Treon Harris - QB - Florida - Leads the Gators on two scoring drives to win 10-0 by day, gets himself into a situation where a sexual assault is being investigated with him as the suspect, leading to his suspension pending the investigation by night. I don't know if he did anything criminal, or even wrong, but has he not been paying attention the past year?!
Goat of the Week (Coach Edition)
Brady Hoke - Michigan - Because they are awful, he gets the pick again this week.
Predicted Playoffs/Championship Match Ups
Auburn (1) v. (4)Baylor/Michigan State (3) v. (2)Florida State
Auburn (1) v. Florida State (2)
I hate predicting rematches, but we could be on the route. I know that Ole Miss and Mississippi State are ranked higher than other teams right now, but they play each other and Auburn, not to mention other tough games. I have said it since Michigan State lost to Oregon opening weekend, that they are going to end up in the playoff. Notre Dame is the wildcard, and I am not sold on them yet. I probably should have them in Baylor's spot right now, but might as well take some chances.
Final Unbeatens
We have 10 unbeaten teams remaining, which means that we lost 7 this past weekend alone. Here is where I rank them (in terms of how I think the team is, not how long they will remain unbeaten).
1. Auburn
2. Florida State
3. Mississippi State
4. Mississippi
5. TCU
6. Baylor
7. Notre Dame
8. Arizona
9. Georgia Tech
10. Marshall
Rant(s) of the Week
How on earth do we have game-ending and game-winning plays where the snap occurs after the play clock hits zero? For the second time this season, the Florida Gators take the lead on a field goal in which the play clock is clearly 0 at the time the ball is snapped. Now, admittedly, the snap occurs very quickly after the clock hits zero during normal speed, but in replay it is obvious.
The official word from the NCAA is that the back judge watches the play clock, and then when it hits 0, he looks to the play. If the ball is then in motion, no penalty. Why not just have a buzzer or some apparatus in the hand of the back judge that vibrates the instant the clock hits 0, so that the back judge only has to concentrate on the snap of the ball, and he can supplement the buzzer by paying attention to the clock when necessary?
Kentucky and Tennessee each lost games because of this - although Florida would have had another opportunity, just from 54+ yards (plus an addition (6:20) this week to beat Tennessee.
Under Performance of the Week
Wisconsin - There is no way that the Badgers should have lost to Northwestern. Melvin Gordon had a great game, but the rest of the offense was nonexistent, as the team had 138 passing yards total for the game.
Last Week's Trivia Answer
The two colleges that each have three players start at quarterback this year in the NFL are:
North Carolina State: Mike Glennon, Phillip Rivers and Russell Wilson (as both NC State and Wisconsin claim him); and
Michigan State: Kirk Cousins, Brian Hoyer and Drew Stanton
Trivia Question of the Week
Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley, with his sack/strip/fumble recovery/touchdown this week has tied the Clemson career sack record with 28 sacks. With whom is he tied?
Match up(s) to Watch
Honorable Mention - West Virginia v. Texas Tech - Not because this is that important of a game, but because 145 points could conceivably be scored in this game!
4. Oregon v. UCLA - Two teams that in just one week went from playoff contenders to hoping to enter the Pac-12 Conference championship game. Both are offensive-minded, so a lot of points could be scored in this game. Which team rebounds the best?
3. Ole Miss v. Texas A and M - The second straight huge game for both of these teams against division rivals. The Aggies cannot afford their second conference loss, meanwhile the Rebels can continue their fantastic start to the season.
2. TCU v. Baylor - One of two top 10 match ups of unbeaten teams. TCU is a lot better than anybody really knows, and Baylor can score against anyone.
1. Auburn v. Mississippi State - The second straight big game at home for the Bulldogs. No doubt exists that this is the Game of the Week.
Showing posts with label Todd Gurley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Todd Gurley. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
The Ole College Try
Welcome to the return of the almost weekly perspective of college football. For those that don't remember, I write this column as if every player is a Heisman Trophy candidate. Why? Because it is ridiculously ludicrous that the networks, including the World Wide Leader, nay, especially the World Wide Leader, emphasize the Heisman Trophy race all season. Consider this my sarcastic homage to stupid reporting.
Heisman Watch
Quarterback Edition
Favorite - Marcus Mariota - Oregon - Did nothing to bother his Heisman chances during the bye week. Still the best odds to win, out of the running backs.
Kenny Hill - Texas A and M - Still second until the voters decide to start giving Jameis Winston another look.
Dark Horse - Bryce Petty - Baylor - He has over 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns for a very explosive offense. If, by chance, Baylor gets through the Big-12 unscathed and ends up in the playoffs, he is going to be the primary reason why.
Falling - Jameis Winston - Florida State University - Team fell behind again, and although he orchestrated a great comeback against a good opponent, some voters still might not like him.
Running Back Edition
Favorite - Todd Gurley -Georgia - He is 8th in the FBS in rushing yards, and nobody controls a game like Gurley does.
Melvin Gordon - Wisconsin - Gurley and he are likely 1-2 right now in the Heisman voting, with Abdullah likely third, of fourth at the lowest. Gordon is a home run threat every time he touches the ball.
Rising - Ameer Abdullah - Nebraska - Leads the FBS in rushing yards iwth 833, and is more than on pace to eclipse the coveted 2,000 yard mark.
Sleeper -David Cobb - Minnesota - Third in the FBS in rushing yards, and people most likely realize who he is now that the Gophers defeated Michigan in the big house.
Wide Receiver Edition
Favorite - Amari Cooper - Alabama - Second in the FBS in yards and third in receptions, but only because Alabama was on a bye. Still easily the best receiver in college.
Kevin White - West Virginia - Also on a bye, but still really the second best wide receiver in college, without question.
Rising - Rashad Greene - Florida State - Really taking the reins as the offensive leader and playmaker for Florida State. He is 10th in receptions and 5th in yards in the FBS.
Defensive Edition
3. Jeff Luc - LB - Cincinnati - The senior leads the FBS with an average of 16 tackles per game.
2. Gerod Holliman - S - Louisville - After giving him praise last week, all he did was step up and have another interception this week!
1. Shane Ray - DE - Missouri - 8 sacks, and is trying to follow in the footsteps of former teammate Michael Sam in winning SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Although, truth be told, I am still waiting for a defender to really put his individual mark on this season.
Player to Watch
Nelson Spruce - WR - Colorado - He had 19 receptions for 176 yards and 3 Touchdowns in the Buffaloes 59-56 loss to California.
My New Favorite Player
Jacoby Brissett - QB - North Carolina State - He was no Jameis Winston, but he sure as heck scared the Seminoles into thinking he was, at least for the first half of the game. Brissett finished with 350 yards and 3 touchdowns - with no interceptions - against the top-ranked Seminoles. Brissett, the transfer from the University of Florida out of national high school power Dwyer in Jupiter, Florida, was the show for the day.
Players of the Week
This section will be more week specific as the season goes forward, but for the first week, it is hard to differentiate the players of the week from the players of the season, as the season has only lasted 1 week.
5. Russell Hansbrough - RB - Missouri - The Junior made the most of his 10 carries, scoring 2 touchdowns late in the fourth quarter to cap Missouri's come-from-behind win at South Carolina.
4. Nelson Spruce - Colorado - His 19 catches for 179 yards would normally rank higher, except for the fact that they came in a 56-59 loss.
3. Melvin Gordon - Wisconsin - Rushed for 181 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 27-10 win versus South Florida. Would also normally rank higher, except it was South Florida.
2. David Cobb - Minnesota - Scored zero touchdowns, but his 183 yards rushing and 50 reception yards allowed Minnesota to control the ball in their upset at Michigan.
1. Todd Gurley -Georgia - Finished the day with 208 yards and 2 touchdowns in a tough fought victory over the Tennessee Volunteers, 35-32.
Goat of the Week (Player Edition)
Christian Hackenberg - QB - Penn State - The team was supposed to have turned the corner, and the reason why is the steady hand of the sophomore quarterback. He finished the game 22 of 45 for 216 yards and a QBR of 12.7 in the shellacking the Nittany Lions took at the hands of the (not even close to being a) juggernaut that is the Northwestern Wildcats.
Goat of the Week (Coach Edition)
Brady Hoke - Michigan - See the rant below.
Predicted Playoffs/Championship Match Ups
Oregon (1) v. Michigan State (4)/Alabama (3) v. Oklahoma (2)
Oregon (1) v. Oklahoma (2)
Last week I had Florida State slide out of the playoffs, and they rewarded me by letting a surprise North Carolina State team pass through their entire defense. When they play a team that can actually pass, like Miami, we might see historic numbers. Again, Michigan State bounces back into the Top 4 in a weak Big 10 after the SEC teams all start to cannibalize each other, beginning this week.
Final Unbeatens
We have 17 unbeaten teams remaining. Here is where I rank them (in terms of how I think the team is, not how long they will remain unbeaten as, for example, there are several meetings between unbeatens this week, one has to lose.
1. Oregon
2. Oklahoma
3. Alabama
4. Auburn
5. Florida State
6. Texas A and M
7. Mississippi State
8. Nebraska
9. Baylor
10. Mississippi
11. UCLA
12. Notre Dame
13. TCU
14. BYU
15. Georgia Tech
16. Arizona
17. Marshall
Rant(s) of the Week
My rant this week is about Brady Hoke leaving Shane Morris in the game after a horrific (illegal) hit that most likely gave Morris a concussion, and if it didn't, the hit definitely left him dazed and woozy. He knew it, Hoke knew it, the players knew it, the fans in the stadium knew it, the announcers knew it, and those watching at home knew it. A little set up ...
Shane Morris, the Michigan quarterback, dropped back to pass in last week's game against Minnesota. After the pass, Minnesota defensive end Thieren Cockran hit Morris late, up under the chin with at best, his shoulder pad, and at worse, his helmet. A late hit penalty was called and the Big Ten office is reviewing the play to see if targeting should have been called, which would result in a suspension for Cockran.
Morris was obviously dazed, at best, and even stumbled only to be caught by offensive lineman Ben Braden before falling to the ground. Morris is waiving off any medical staff and/or substitutes, but he is clearly woozy, Hoke, the coach for the University of Michigan left him in for a play before substituting in Devin Gardner, whose helmet came off during the subsequent play.
Because Gardner's helmet came off he must leave the game for at least one play according to NCAA rule 3-3-9, which reads: "a. If during the down a player’s helmet comes completely off, other than as the direct result of a foul by an opponent, the player must leave the game for the next down. The game clock will stop at the end of the down.".
What happens? Hoke sends Morris back into the game.
A few years ago nobody would have thought twice about this, but we have evolved, we are smarter and we know better. We have experienced Mike Webster, Dave Duerson, Andre Waters, Junior Seau and most recently, Jevon Belcher. What we know now is that hits to the head hurt, make it easier for subsequent hits to cause even further damage to the player, and can lead to long term problems. This doesn't even take into account that at the time of the hit the player isn't thinking straight and has the proverbial "cobwebs".
Anyway, so it is clear that Brady Hoke messed up by first not taking Morris out, second, by putting Morris back into the game, and third, by not acknowledging his mistake during any of the subsequent press conferences. The Athletic Director and President of the University have now acknowledged that the system has "failed" its student-athletes.
Given this last admission, I am going to go ahead and take it as a given that Hoke is at fault here. If he didn't see what Morris was going through, he is in charge of the coaching staff that are supposed to see such things. Even if he erred by leaving Morris in the game, it was even more egregious that he PUT HIM BACK IN!!! Hoke deserves to be fired. Full disclosure - I do not care about the University of Michigan, so I could care less about their won-loss record. I do realize it is the losses that are going to do more with his firing than anything else, but not from my standpoint.
So Hoke messed up, but he isn't the only one. The offensive coordinator should have known better, but if he was busy looking at his play chart trying to determine what play to call next, the quarterbacks coach, or someone else on the offensive staff should have seen Morris. Apparently they did not. The coaching staff failed.
How many times have you seen an injury occur on the field and then players start waiving or asking for the training staff? Let me answer that for you - countless. Sometimes you even see opponents asking for the staff. None of Michigan's players did that for their quarterback. Not even offensive lineman Braden - who had to catch Morris from falling down. Morris's teammates failed him.
I also put a bit of blame on the NCAA rule requiring a player to leave the field when their helmet comes off during a play. Without that asinine rule, Gardner would not have had to come out of the game and Morris would not have had to gone back into the game. NCAA, please revisit some of these stupid rules that make absolutely no sense.
Football is not going to be a great game soon if injuries - especially unnecessary preventable injuries - keep taking all of the players off the field, and keep the next generations of players from even starting to play the game.
Under Performance of the Week
Penn State - They were absolutely annihilated by a Northwestern squad that had already lost to California and Northern Illinois - and Penn State lost at home. Supposedly the Nittany Lions were on the verge of being back. They are not.
Last Week's Trivia Answer
Ameer Abdullah set the Nebraska total yardage record in the game against Miami, breaking the school record held by JOHNNY RODGERS.
Blake Sims of Alabama had 484 yards of total offense against Florida, breaking the record of 457 yards held by Scott Hunter.
Trivia Question of the Week
Two colleges have 3 quarterbacks that have started games in the NFL. Name the schools. Bonus points if you can name the players.
Match up(s) to Watch
4. Arizona v. Oregon - Oregon's first really big test, and it is a chance to show that Arizona belongs. Wait, this game starts at 10:30 EDT on Thursday, and it is competing with an NFL game? Never mind.
4. LSU v. Auburn - Would likely be number 1 if LSU had not be absolutely and thoroughly trounced by Mississippi State. Nevertheless, still a very important game. An LSU loss and they are out of the SEC West race. An Auburn win and they are very much in the national championship race.
3. Nebraska v. Michigan State - As you see from above, I have Michigan State in my playoff - projecting forward to the end of the season. That cannot happen unless they can find a way to slow down Ameer Abdullah. It is possible for Nebraska to vault their way into the national playoffs conversation with a win.
2. Texas A and M v. Mississippi State - Can Kenny Hill really play? Was Mississippi State's victory over LSU a fluke? Which team wants to stay in the division/conference/national title race?
1. Alabama v. Ole Miss - The biggest game for Ole Miss in forever, and ESPN is correct in sending GameDay down to this game. I am still not sold on Ole Miss, but they have an experienced quarterback and some good rushers on defense. If they can make this close, or even win, this could springboard the Rebels into a phenomenal season. Alabama is, well, Alabama.
Heisman Watch
Quarterback Edition
Favorite - Marcus Mariota - Oregon - Did nothing to bother his Heisman chances during the bye week. Still the best odds to win, out of the running backs.
Kenny Hill - Texas A and M - Still second until the voters decide to start giving Jameis Winston another look.
Dark Horse - Bryce Petty - Baylor - He has over 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns for a very explosive offense. If, by chance, Baylor gets through the Big-12 unscathed and ends up in the playoffs, he is going to be the primary reason why.
Falling - Jameis Winston - Florida State University - Team fell behind again, and although he orchestrated a great comeback against a good opponent, some voters still might not like him.
Running Back Edition
Favorite - Todd Gurley -Georgia - He is 8th in the FBS in rushing yards, and nobody controls a game like Gurley does.
Melvin Gordon - Wisconsin - Gurley and he are likely 1-2 right now in the Heisman voting, with Abdullah likely third, of fourth at the lowest. Gordon is a home run threat every time he touches the ball.
Rising - Ameer Abdullah - Nebraska - Leads the FBS in rushing yards iwth 833, and is more than on pace to eclipse the coveted 2,000 yard mark.
Sleeper -David Cobb - Minnesota - Third in the FBS in rushing yards, and people most likely realize who he is now that the Gophers defeated Michigan in the big house.
Wide Receiver Edition
Favorite - Amari Cooper - Alabama - Second in the FBS in yards and third in receptions, but only because Alabama was on a bye. Still easily the best receiver in college.
Kevin White - West Virginia - Also on a bye, but still really the second best wide receiver in college, without question.
Rising - Rashad Greene - Florida State - Really taking the reins as the offensive leader and playmaker for Florida State. He is 10th in receptions and 5th in yards in the FBS.
Defensive Edition
3. Jeff Luc - LB - Cincinnati - The senior leads the FBS with an average of 16 tackles per game.
2. Gerod Holliman - S - Louisville - After giving him praise last week, all he did was step up and have another interception this week!
1. Shane Ray - DE - Missouri - 8 sacks, and is trying to follow in the footsteps of former teammate Michael Sam in winning SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Although, truth be told, I am still waiting for a defender to really put his individual mark on this season.
Player to Watch
Nelson Spruce - WR - Colorado - He had 19 receptions for 176 yards and 3 Touchdowns in the Buffaloes 59-56 loss to California.
My New Favorite Player
Jacoby Brissett - QB - North Carolina State - He was no Jameis Winston, but he sure as heck scared the Seminoles into thinking he was, at least for the first half of the game. Brissett finished with 350 yards and 3 touchdowns - with no interceptions - against the top-ranked Seminoles. Brissett, the transfer from the University of Florida out of national high school power Dwyer in Jupiter, Florida, was the show for the day.
Players of the Week
This section will be more week specific as the season goes forward, but for the first week, it is hard to differentiate the players of the week from the players of the season, as the season has only lasted 1 week.
5. Russell Hansbrough - RB - Missouri - The Junior made the most of his 10 carries, scoring 2 touchdowns late in the fourth quarter to cap Missouri's come-from-behind win at South Carolina.
4. Nelson Spruce - Colorado - His 19 catches for 179 yards would normally rank higher, except for the fact that they came in a 56-59 loss.
3. Melvin Gordon - Wisconsin - Rushed for 181 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 27-10 win versus South Florida. Would also normally rank higher, except it was South Florida.
2. David Cobb - Minnesota - Scored zero touchdowns, but his 183 yards rushing and 50 reception yards allowed Minnesota to control the ball in their upset at Michigan.
1. Todd Gurley -Georgia - Finished the day with 208 yards and 2 touchdowns in a tough fought victory over the Tennessee Volunteers, 35-32.
Goat of the Week (Player Edition)
Christian Hackenberg - QB - Penn State - The team was supposed to have turned the corner, and the reason why is the steady hand of the sophomore quarterback. He finished the game 22 of 45 for 216 yards and a QBR of 12.7 in the shellacking the Nittany Lions took at the hands of the (not even close to being a) juggernaut that is the Northwestern Wildcats.
Goat of the Week (Coach Edition)
Brady Hoke - Michigan - See the rant below.
Predicted Playoffs/Championship Match Ups
Oregon (1) v. Michigan State (4)/Alabama (3) v. Oklahoma (2)
Oregon (1) v. Oklahoma (2)
Last week I had Florida State slide out of the playoffs, and they rewarded me by letting a surprise North Carolina State team pass through their entire defense. When they play a team that can actually pass, like Miami, we might see historic numbers. Again, Michigan State bounces back into the Top 4 in a weak Big 10 after the SEC teams all start to cannibalize each other, beginning this week.
Final Unbeatens
We have 17 unbeaten teams remaining. Here is where I rank them (in terms of how I think the team is, not how long they will remain unbeaten as, for example, there are several meetings between unbeatens this week, one has to lose.
1. Oregon
2. Oklahoma
3. Alabama
4. Auburn
5. Florida State
6. Texas A and M
7. Mississippi State
8. Nebraska
9. Baylor
10. Mississippi
11. UCLA
12. Notre Dame
13. TCU
14. BYU
15. Georgia Tech
16. Arizona
17. Marshall
Rant(s) of the Week
My rant this week is about Brady Hoke leaving Shane Morris in the game after a horrific (illegal) hit that most likely gave Morris a concussion, and if it didn't, the hit definitely left him dazed and woozy. He knew it, Hoke knew it, the players knew it, the fans in the stadium knew it, the announcers knew it, and those watching at home knew it. A little set up ...
Shane Morris, the Michigan quarterback, dropped back to pass in last week's game against Minnesota. After the pass, Minnesota defensive end Thieren Cockran hit Morris late, up under the chin with at best, his shoulder pad, and at worse, his helmet. A late hit penalty was called and the Big Ten office is reviewing the play to see if targeting should have been called, which would result in a suspension for Cockran.
Morris was obviously dazed, at best, and even stumbled only to be caught by offensive lineman Ben Braden before falling to the ground. Morris is waiving off any medical staff and/or substitutes, but he is clearly woozy, Hoke, the coach for the University of Michigan left him in for a play before substituting in Devin Gardner, whose helmet came off during the subsequent play.
Because Gardner's helmet came off he must leave the game for at least one play according to NCAA rule 3-3-9, which reads: "a. If during the down a player’s helmet comes completely off, other than as the direct result of a foul by an opponent, the player must leave the game for the next down. The game clock will stop at the end of the down.".
What happens? Hoke sends Morris back into the game.
A few years ago nobody would have thought twice about this, but we have evolved, we are smarter and we know better. We have experienced Mike Webster, Dave Duerson, Andre Waters, Junior Seau and most recently, Jevon Belcher. What we know now is that hits to the head hurt, make it easier for subsequent hits to cause even further damage to the player, and can lead to long term problems. This doesn't even take into account that at the time of the hit the player isn't thinking straight and has the proverbial "cobwebs".
Anyway, so it is clear that Brady Hoke messed up by first not taking Morris out, second, by putting Morris back into the game, and third, by not acknowledging his mistake during any of the subsequent press conferences. The Athletic Director and President of the University have now acknowledged that the system has "failed" its student-athletes.
Given this last admission, I am going to go ahead and take it as a given that Hoke is at fault here. If he didn't see what Morris was going through, he is in charge of the coaching staff that are supposed to see such things. Even if he erred by leaving Morris in the game, it was even more egregious that he PUT HIM BACK IN!!! Hoke deserves to be fired. Full disclosure - I do not care about the University of Michigan, so I could care less about their won-loss record. I do realize it is the losses that are going to do more with his firing than anything else, but not from my standpoint.
So Hoke messed up, but he isn't the only one. The offensive coordinator should have known better, but if he was busy looking at his play chart trying to determine what play to call next, the quarterbacks coach, or someone else on the offensive staff should have seen Morris. Apparently they did not. The coaching staff failed.
How many times have you seen an injury occur on the field and then players start waiving or asking for the training staff? Let me answer that for you - countless. Sometimes you even see opponents asking for the staff. None of Michigan's players did that for their quarterback. Not even offensive lineman Braden - who had to catch Morris from falling down. Morris's teammates failed him.
I also put a bit of blame on the NCAA rule requiring a player to leave the field when their helmet comes off during a play. Without that asinine rule, Gardner would not have had to come out of the game and Morris would not have had to gone back into the game. NCAA, please revisit some of these stupid rules that make absolutely no sense.
Football is not going to be a great game soon if injuries - especially unnecessary preventable injuries - keep taking all of the players off the field, and keep the next generations of players from even starting to play the game.
Under Performance of the Week
Penn State - They were absolutely annihilated by a Northwestern squad that had already lost to California and Northern Illinois - and Penn State lost at home. Supposedly the Nittany Lions were on the verge of being back. They are not.
Last Week's Trivia Answer
Ameer Abdullah set the Nebraska total yardage record in the game against Miami, breaking the school record held by JOHNNY RODGERS.
Blake Sims of Alabama had 484 yards of total offense against Florida, breaking the record of 457 yards held by Scott Hunter.
Trivia Question of the Week
Two colleges have 3 quarterbacks that have started games in the NFL. Name the schools. Bonus points if you can name the players.
Match up(s) to Watch
4. Arizona v. Oregon - Oregon's first really big test, and it is a chance to show that Arizona belongs. Wait, this game starts at 10:30 EDT on Thursday, and it is competing with an NFL game? Never mind.
4. LSU v. Auburn - Would likely be number 1 if LSU had not be absolutely and thoroughly trounced by Mississippi State. Nevertheless, still a very important game. An LSU loss and they are out of the SEC West race. An Auburn win and they are very much in the national championship race.
3. Nebraska v. Michigan State - As you see from above, I have Michigan State in my playoff - projecting forward to the end of the season. That cannot happen unless they can find a way to slow down Ameer Abdullah. It is possible for Nebraska to vault their way into the national playoffs conversation with a win.
2. Texas A and M v. Mississippi State - Can Kenny Hill really play? Was Mississippi State's victory over LSU a fluke? Which team wants to stay in the division/conference/national title race?
1. Alabama v. Ole Miss - The biggest game for Ole Miss in forever, and ESPN is correct in sending GameDay down to this game. I am still not sold on Ole Miss, but they have an experienced quarterback and some good rushers on defense. If they can make this close, or even win, this could springboard the Rebels into a phenomenal season. Alabama is, well, Alabama.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
The Ole College Try
Welcome to the return of the almost weekly perspective of college football. For those that don't remember, I write this column as if every player is a Heisman Trophy candidate. Why? Because it is ridiculously ludicrous that the networks, including the World Wide Leader, nay, especially the World Wide Leader, emphasize the Heisman Trophy race this early in the season. After all, who knew who Jameis Winston was at this time last year. Consider this my sarcastic homage to stupid reporting.
Heisman Watch
Quarterback Edition
Favorite - Marcus Mariota - Oregon - Has 806 yards passing with 8 TDs, plus an additional 3 rushing touchdowns. Would likely have had more if game one was not such a blowout for the Ducks. Most impressive was his 318 yard 3TD game against Michigan State.
Clint Trickett - West Virginia - First he comes out before the Alabama game and admits that he first kiss was Nick Saban's daughter, and then they almost win the game. This past week he throws for 511 yards and 4 TDs against Maryland, in a performance in which he was almost unstoppable.
Rising - Kenny Hill - Texas A and M - He is trying his best to make the Aggies' fans and supporters forget Johnny Manziel.
Dark Horse - Brandon Doughty - Western Kentucky - Already 1,459 yards and 12 TDs, with only 2 interceptions.
Falling - Braxton Miller - Ohio State University - Injuries will get you every time.
Running Back Edition
Favorite - Todd Gurley -Georgia - 329 yards rushing in his first two games, including an impressive 198 against Clemson, a game in which he also returned a kick 100 yards for a touchdown. 131 yards in the loss to South Carolina. To date he has not had more than 20 carries in a game.
Rising - D.J. Foster - Arizona State - 510 yards on only 54 carries, means that Foster is someone to watch in the PAC-12 this year.
Sleeper - Jacobi Owens - Air Force Academy - 431 yards rushing, for the Air Force Academy. Plus, one of the academy players needs some love besides Navy Quarterback Keenan Reynolds.
Wide Receiver Edition
Amari Cooper - Alabama - 33 receptions, 454 yards, and easily the best wide receiver in the country.
KD Cannon - Baylor - The freshman has only 14 catches, but leads the NCAA with 471 yards and 5 of his 14 catches have been for touchdowns..
Nelson Spruce - Colorado - Has an NCAA leading 6 touchdown receptions.
Defensive Edition
3. Myles Garrent - DL - Texas A and M - The freshman has only 14 tackles so far, but 5 1/2 sacks, including at least 1 sack in each game! Now that's production.
2. Amarlo Herrera - LB - Georgia - So far, the leading tackler in the SEC.
1. Nobody has really stepped up and separated themselves yet. They will!.
Player to Watch
Maty Mauk - QB - Missouri - Missouri lost a lot of players off its SEC East championship team, but with Mauk, Missouri has a fighting chance to return to the SEC Championship game.
My New Favorite Player
Thurston Armbrister - LB - Miami - Playing next to Denzell Perryman Armbrister is quietly having a fantastic season to date, but that is not why he is here. Armbrister is my new favorite player because when Arkansas State tried to fake punt, one of their receivers fell down like he was dead, even folding his arms before the fall. The fake punt was intercepted, and the receiver, not knowing what was going on, got up, at which point in time Armbrister laid a hellacious block on the receiver. Serves him right for trying to be clever.
Players of the Week
This section will be more week specific as the season goes forward, but for the first week, it is hard to differentiate the players of the week from the players of the season, as the season has only lasted 1 week.
5. Bo Wallace - Mississippi - The elder statesman among SEC quarterbacks threw for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns.
4. Amari Cooper - Alabama - He had 8 receptions for 135 yards, and was virtually unguardable the entire game.
3. Bryce Petty - Baylor - He threw for 416 yards and 4 TDs, along with 0 interceptions for the explosive Baylor offense.
2. Tyler Murphy - Boston College - The quarterback ran for 191 yards in the Eagles upset of USC.
1. Clint Trickett - West Virginia - See above.
Goat of the Week (Player Edition)
Kelvin Rainey - PR - Louisville - What looked to be shaping up to be a really nice season for Louisville, considering they lost Teddy Bridgewater and many others to graduation, now looks like it is going to be average at best. Rainey's fumble at his own 25 lead to Virginia's game winning field goal.
Goat of the Week (Coach Edition)
Mark Richt - Georgia - How Todd Gurley only gets 20 carries is absolutely astounding. I understand not wanting to wear him out, but the reason you rest players during the season is so they are fresh for these close conference, nay divisional, games.
Predicted Playoffs/Championship Match Ups
Oregon (1) v. Baylor (4)/Alabama (3) v. Florida State (2)
Oregon (1) v. Florida State (2)
To be honest - I am not confident in any of these, as I can easily see any or all of these four teams stumbling.
Rant(s) of the Week
No real rant at this point - BECAUSE COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS BACK.
Under Performance of the Week
USC - Still on some scholarship probation, which hurts depth, but for a team some picked as the dark horse to win Los Angeles, and some even thought they had enough talent to compete for the PAC-12, this weeks stinker against Boston College is the easiest under performance of the week.
Last Week's Trivia Answer
N/A this week.
Trivia Question of the Week
Since I have mentioned Clint Trickett twice already in this blog, I will bring him up again. He threw for 511 yards in the match up against Maryland. Which West Virginia QB holds the record for most passing yards in a game, and which Mountaineer Quarterback holds the record for career passing efficiency? This could be the same QB for both, or could be 2 different quarterbacks. No cheating ...
Match up(s) to Watch
4. Oklahoma v. West Virginia - Two throw first quarterbacks, especially with Oklahoma's starting running back injured. More importantly for this game is watch the stands. Should be some very good scenery from both schools there.
3. Auburn v. Kansas State - A Thursday night game on the road in Manhattan, which is a pretty tough place to play. Should provide a really good test for the Tigers/Plainsmen/War Eagles.
2. Miami v. Nebraska - Miami's second big road test, but its first big game since opening on the road at Louisville. Has true freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya truly developed in the last month as much as Miami's coaches say he has? We shall see.
1. Clemson v. Florida State - Clemson is not the team they were last year after losing Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins, but neither is Florida State. This game just became more interesting with Heisman Trophy winning Quarterback Jameis Winston suspended for the first half of the game.
Heisman Watch
Quarterback Edition
Favorite - Marcus Mariota - Oregon - Has 806 yards passing with 8 TDs, plus an additional 3 rushing touchdowns. Would likely have had more if game one was not such a blowout for the Ducks. Most impressive was his 318 yard 3TD game against Michigan State.
Clint Trickett - West Virginia - First he comes out before the Alabama game and admits that he first kiss was Nick Saban's daughter, and then they almost win the game. This past week he throws for 511 yards and 4 TDs against Maryland, in a performance in which he was almost unstoppable.
Rising - Kenny Hill - Texas A and M - He is trying his best to make the Aggies' fans and supporters forget Johnny Manziel.
Dark Horse - Brandon Doughty - Western Kentucky - Already 1,459 yards and 12 TDs, with only 2 interceptions.
Falling - Braxton Miller - Ohio State University - Injuries will get you every time.
Running Back Edition
Favorite - Todd Gurley -Georgia - 329 yards rushing in his first two games, including an impressive 198 against Clemson, a game in which he also returned a kick 100 yards for a touchdown. 131 yards in the loss to South Carolina. To date he has not had more than 20 carries in a game.
Rising - D.J. Foster - Arizona State - 510 yards on only 54 carries, means that Foster is someone to watch in the PAC-12 this year.
Sleeper - Jacobi Owens - Air Force Academy - 431 yards rushing, for the Air Force Academy. Plus, one of the academy players needs some love besides Navy Quarterback Keenan Reynolds.
Wide Receiver Edition
Amari Cooper - Alabama - 33 receptions, 454 yards, and easily the best wide receiver in the country.
KD Cannon - Baylor - The freshman has only 14 catches, but leads the NCAA with 471 yards and 5 of his 14 catches have been for touchdowns..
Nelson Spruce - Colorado - Has an NCAA leading 6 touchdown receptions.
Defensive Edition
3. Myles Garrent - DL - Texas A and M - The freshman has only 14 tackles so far, but 5 1/2 sacks, including at least 1 sack in each game! Now that's production.
2. Amarlo Herrera - LB - Georgia - So far, the leading tackler in the SEC.
1. Nobody has really stepped up and separated themselves yet. They will!.
Player to Watch
Maty Mauk - QB - Missouri - Missouri lost a lot of players off its SEC East championship team, but with Mauk, Missouri has a fighting chance to return to the SEC Championship game.
My New Favorite Player
Thurston Armbrister - LB - Miami - Playing next to Denzell Perryman Armbrister is quietly having a fantastic season to date, but that is not why he is here. Armbrister is my new favorite player because when Arkansas State tried to fake punt, one of their receivers fell down like he was dead, even folding his arms before the fall. The fake punt was intercepted, and the receiver, not knowing what was going on, got up, at which point in time Armbrister laid a hellacious block on the receiver. Serves him right for trying to be clever.
Players of the Week
This section will be more week specific as the season goes forward, but for the first week, it is hard to differentiate the players of the week from the players of the season, as the season has only lasted 1 week.
5. Bo Wallace - Mississippi - The elder statesman among SEC quarterbacks threw for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns.
4. Amari Cooper - Alabama - He had 8 receptions for 135 yards, and was virtually unguardable the entire game.
3. Bryce Petty - Baylor - He threw for 416 yards and 4 TDs, along with 0 interceptions for the explosive Baylor offense.
2. Tyler Murphy - Boston College - The quarterback ran for 191 yards in the Eagles upset of USC.
1. Clint Trickett - West Virginia - See above.
Goat of the Week (Player Edition)
Kelvin Rainey - PR - Louisville - What looked to be shaping up to be a really nice season for Louisville, considering they lost Teddy Bridgewater and many others to graduation, now looks like it is going to be average at best. Rainey's fumble at his own 25 lead to Virginia's game winning field goal.
Goat of the Week (Coach Edition)
Mark Richt - Georgia - How Todd Gurley only gets 20 carries is absolutely astounding. I understand not wanting to wear him out, but the reason you rest players during the season is so they are fresh for these close conference, nay divisional, games.
Predicted Playoffs/Championship Match Ups
Oregon (1) v. Baylor (4)/Alabama (3) v. Florida State (2)
Oregon (1) v. Florida State (2)
To be honest - I am not confident in any of these, as I can easily see any or all of these four teams stumbling.
Rant(s) of the Week
No real rant at this point - BECAUSE COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS BACK.
Under Performance of the Week
USC - Still on some scholarship probation, which hurts depth, but for a team some picked as the dark horse to win Los Angeles, and some even thought they had enough talent to compete for the PAC-12, this weeks stinker against Boston College is the easiest under performance of the week.
Last Week's Trivia Answer
N/A this week.
Trivia Question of the Week
Since I have mentioned Clint Trickett twice already in this blog, I will bring him up again. He threw for 511 yards in the match up against Maryland. Which West Virginia QB holds the record for most passing yards in a game, and which Mountaineer Quarterback holds the record for career passing efficiency? This could be the same QB for both, or could be 2 different quarterbacks. No cheating ...
Match up(s) to Watch
4. Oklahoma v. West Virginia - Two throw first quarterbacks, especially with Oklahoma's starting running back injured. More importantly for this game is watch the stands. Should be some very good scenery from both schools there.
3. Auburn v. Kansas State - A Thursday night game on the road in Manhattan, which is a pretty tough place to play. Should provide a really good test for the Tigers/Plainsmen/War Eagles.
2. Miami v. Nebraska - Miami's second big road test, but its first big game since opening on the road at Louisville. Has true freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya truly developed in the last month as much as Miami's coaches say he has? We shall see.
1. Clemson v. Florida State - Clemson is not the team they were last year after losing Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins, but neither is Florida State. This game just became more interesting with Heisman Trophy winning Quarterback Jameis Winston suspended for the first half of the game.
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