Heisman Prognostication

Lev Davidovich Wuerffel    College Football, Florida Gators, Sports     BCS, Colt McCoy, Heisman, Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow

The Heisman will be awarded tonight, and my esteemed co-writer no longer has a vote, so that’s one less for Timmy, I presume. I figure Tim will end up third, actually. Despite all the talk we’re hearing about it here in the Southeast, where I live, most voters are going to be swayed by the bigger numbers of the Big 12 duo of Bradford and McCoy. I figure it’s Bradford first, then McCoy and Timmy.

And really that’s as it should be. For years the Heisman has been about gaudy offensive numbers. That’s why uninspiring players such as Andre Ware and Ty Detmer and Eric Crouch have won. Timmy’s reward is in Heaven, aka the BCS Championship Game.  What are your thoughts and predictions, o readers?

The Return of the Bubble Boy

GoneGator    Florida Gators     Florida Gators, Percy Harvin

Can Florida win without Bubble Boy?

That’s the nickname I gave Percy Harvin last year as various injuries and nicks kept the college game’s most dangerous player out of a few contests and curtailed his playing time in many others. I would joke that the Gators should keep Harvin in a bubble during the week, release him on game days for 12-15 touches — keeping him in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber between plays — then return him to his protective bubble until the next Saturday to avoid further injury.

This season, Harvin seemingly shed his Bubble Boy past, playing in every game en route to nine TDs rushing and seven others receiving with 1,133 all-purpose yards (11.8 per touch).

Then a soggy field in Tallahassee last week returned Harvin to his protective bubble when he severely sprained his ankle.

Harvin’s status is questionable for today’s SEC title game against Alabama. And I’m worried about the Gators’ offense and chances without him.

Yes, there are plenty of other speedy weapons in the holster — James, Demps, Rainey — but none has displayed Harvin’s flair for the dramatic game after game after game. And do not underestimate Harvin’s leadership. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Gators’ offense sputtered last season (relatively speaking) as Harvin sputtered.

I hope all of this doesn’t matter. I expect Harvin will suit up today, and offensive coordinator Dan Mullen will find a way to get Harvin the ball enough to make a difference in the outcome. I’ll take even an 80-percent Harvin just to give the top-ranked Crimson Tide something to think about.

I’m reminded of one of the closing scenes from “The Princess Bride,” when farmboy-turned-dread-pirate Wesley is lying half-dead in bed, staring down his sword-bearing nemesis Humperdink.

“I’m only lying here because I lack the strength to stand,” Wesley said. “Then again, perhaps I have the strength to stand after all.”

That line was enough to get Humperdink to throw his sword to the ground and surrender. Now, I don’t believe Alabama is gonna do that today at the sight of Harvin’s No. 1 jersey, but then again, perhaps Harvin does have the strength to strike fear in the Tide.

Let the bluffing begin.

Gators win in landslide; Obama next?

GoneGator    Florida Gators, Politics     Barack Obama, GOP, Tim Tebow, W

Congratulations to the Florida Gators, who yesterday avenged Georgia’s insulting 2007 on-field team celebration by spanking the Bulldogs in a 49-10 beat-down in Jacksonville.

The Gators’ landslide included quarterback Tim Tebow’s school record-breaking 37th career touchdown run and three interceptions of future NFL top draft pick Matthew Stafford. Florida held a 49-3 fourth-quarter lead in an unmistakable landslide victory.

Now it’s Barack’s turn. He’s making an aggressive push in Arizona, Georgia, South Carolina and other traditional GOP states in his pursuit of electoral votes. Obama doesn’t just want to win — he wants to secure a mandate. And we’re not talking about the “mandate” W claimed in 2000 when the Supreme Court handed him a victory in an election Al Gore won at the polls.

Yesterday I canvassed for Obama, speaking with dozens of undecided voters. (The majority said they will be voting for Obama.) Today I’ll be making calls to more undecided voters.

What can you do to help Obama to victory Tuesday?

Of Gators and presidential politics

GoneGator    College Football, Florida Gators, Politics     Barack Obama, Florida Gators, John McCain, Roanoke, Sarah Palin, Virginia

The next five days could be a boom or bust for me personally.

Saturday afternoon, my Florida Gators take on the Georgia Bulldogs in a game that likely will determine the East representative in the SEC Championship Game. Win Saturday, Gators, and you enter the national championship conversation.

Yet as great as that would be, I’d gladly accept a Gators loss in exchange for a Barack Obama victory next Tuesday.

A good friend and I will be canvassing for Obama this weekend in the very red Roanoke, Virginia region. Life as a Democrat here can be disheartening. Last night, while driving through the countryside and mountains that I call home, I counted dozens of McCain/Palin signs in yards and on rear windows. You know how many Obama signs I saw? One.

This is an area Sarah Palin would call the “real America.” You know, folks who love guns, hate all taxes (even those that pay for their schools, roads, medical care, parks, bridges, etc.), and want to bomb the hell out of every last “towel-head” on the planet. Too many still believe Obama is Muslim. That he wants to take their guns away. That he will tax-and-spend the nation into oblivion. They refuse to listen to evidence of the contrary.

Which is why I fully expect my friend and I will not enjoy the response we get to our efforts.

Please don’t get me wrong — I love the people here. They are warm, friendly, hard-working and down-to-earth. I count many McCain supporters among my best friends. I just wish they’d open their minds a bit more.

So undaunted, we will push forward this weekend. Because while I have no expectation of Obama winning in southwest Virginia, I do think he can compete closely enough to impact the statewide results.

So Go Gators.

Go Barack.

Let’s get a two-fer to remember always!