Tebow’s Plight Recalls a Tale of Heismans Past

GoneGator    College Football, Florida Gators, Sports     Florida Gators, Heisman, Oklahoma Sooners, Peyton Manning, Sam Bradford, SEC, Tennessee, Tim Tebow

That Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford won the Heisman Trophy last night came as no surprise to me. The second consecutive sophomore to win the bronze prize had unbelievable numbers for the BCS Championship Game-bound Sooners, and is a very deserving winner.

But two things did surprise me in the final Heisman tally:

• Florida quarterback Tim Tebow garnered the most first-place votes (309 to Bradford’s 300).
• Tebow was not named on 17 percent of the 904 ballots that were tabulated.

Are you kidding me? There are 153 Heisman voters who did not think Tebow was one of the top three players in college football in 2008?

Well, let me share a little story with you. From 1993 through 2002, I was fortunate to be a Heisman Trophy elector as a sports journalist. And at the end of the 1997 season, I left a noteworthy name off my ballot — that of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning. He ended up finishing second to Michigan’s Charles Woodson.

How, you might ask, could I leave such a great quarterback off my ballot then, but criticize those who left Tebow off this year?

Very simple. Peyton Manning never beat Florida.

Manning set 42 NCAA, SEC or school records in four seasons in Knoxville. He led the Vols to the 1997 SEC title, an 11-1 regular season and a spot in the Orange Bowl de facto national championship game (which they lost to Nebraska). And Manning remains the all-time winningest SEC quarterback with a record of 39-5.

But four of those five career SEC losses came to the Gators, by a combined score of 161-86.

Had Manning beaten Florida in ’97, there is no doubt the Heisman (including my vote) would have been his. But the Gators handled Manning in a 33-20 victory over Tennessee. And with that, I decided I could not include Manning on my ballot regardless of how the rest of the season went.

I made a statement. And I took heat from fellow Southern college football writers when I revealed my intentions to those “Heisman watcher” media polls.

To this day, I have no regrets. But those who left Tebow off their ballots this year should.

Unlike Manning, Tebow has beaten all of Florida’s rivals. After the Gators’ lone loss this season, 31-30 to Ole Miss, Tebow vowed to work harder, play harder and push harder the rest of the way. The results: In the final nine games, Tebow led the nation in passing efficiency — completing 64.5 percent of his passes for 1,707 yards, 22 touchdowns and 2 interceptions — while rushing for 439 yards and 10 touchdowns. Florida went 9-0, beat No. 1 Alabama for the SEC title, and earned a spot opposite Bradford’s Sooners in the BCS title game.

What do you think? Was I crazy or justified to leave Manning off my ’97 ballot?

And can you justify anyone dissing Tebow in 2008?

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?

Thank you Mack Brown

GoneGator    College Football     Mack Brown

How about this little nugget out of Fort Worth: “Mack Brown votes for Florida ahead of Texas, OU”. With the Gators edging out Texas by .014 in the final BCS standings, that vote from Coach Brown certainly helped.

Time for My Picks

GoneGator    College Football, Prognostication    

My picks in today’s games that matter, or matter to me — Florida over Alabama by 10, Oklahoma over Missouri by 17, Boston College over Virginia Tech by 4.

If They Lose, Don’t Call Them “CHokies”

GoneGator    College Football     Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech can win an ACC championship today. That would be an amazing accomplishment after losing 12 starters from last season, including eight NFL draft picks. So if the Hokies lose, don’t call it a choke. Call it a building block for a team that features 12 underclassmen on its two-deep offensive roster.

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.

‘Noles Taste Like Chicken

Lev Davidovich Wuerffel    College Football    

But without all that stringy tendon and such. Oh, you know, over the years I should stop enjoying so deeply the flavor of another groin-stomping of the Seminoles, and yet I just don’t seem to ever be able to get enough. The worst thing is that taking a shot of Patron Silver for every TD starts to interfere with my ability to go for a variable-speed run tomorrow morning. But I’ll gut out a cup of coffee during my 35-40 minutes of stretching and then get out there.

Alabama Crimson Tide: you bitches is on notice–we’re coming for you next week, and you can’t shoot all of us after the game!!!

My First Disagreement with Obama

Lev Davidovich Wuerffel    College Football, Politics     Barack Obama, NCAA playoff

I kind of sat on this major policy difference I have with the now president-elect while I was canvassing for him and supporting him in the 24 hours from when he presented it and when we all made him our new king, but now that he’s in this has to be put on the table: Barack HUSSEIN (I’m just sayin’) Obama has declared his support for an eight-team NCAA playoff in college football.

I’m still one of those ancient holdouts who doesn’t really mind the current system that much. I’m not fully against the idea of a playoff if  indeed a way is found to do it that maintains some lower bowl structure and fairly includes the truly best teams (not as easy as it sounds). But you’d have a hard time convincing me that the best team didn’t come out on top in the last five years. The last time a team that had no business winning got over was probably Ohio State in 2001, and even then the problem wasn’t that they were in the game but that the ref boned the ‘Canes with his late bullshit interference call. Anyway, when Barry starts pushing for the playoff, I’ll be standing athwart him for the first time.

Racist asshole booted for Obama slur

GoneGator    College Football     Facebook, Racism, Texas Longhorns

Yesterday, Texas reserve center Buck Burnette lost his spot on the Longhorns football team when coach Mack Brown booted him for “violation of team rules.”

Today, the world discovered the real reason for Burnette’s dismissal: He’s a racist asshole.

After Barack Obama’s victory in the presidential election, here’s what Burnette posted on his Facebook page (which mysteriously disappeared earlier today):

“all the hunters gather up, we have a #$%&er in the whitehouse”

What kind of idiot in this ultra-connected, socially networked world doesn’t realize that Facebook status updates are broadcast not only to your friends, but well beyond? Did Buck really think none of his friends would spread his inflamatory, ignorant statement to the masses?

Did he not consider how his former African-American teammates might feel about such hateful words?

And check out the apology Burnette issued on his Facebook page before it vanished:

“Clearly I have made a mistake and apologized for it and will pay for it. I received it as a text message from an acquaintance and immaturely put it up on Facebook in the light of the election. I’m not racist and apologize for offending you …

You’re not racist? So what motivated you to share your buddy’s text message with the world?

“… I grew up on a ranch in a small town where that was a real thing and I need to grow up …

Oh, so it was just the kid in you speaking. Please, continue.

“… I sincerely am sorry for being ignorant in thinking that it would be OK to write that publicly and apologize to you in particular. I have to be more mature than to put the reputation of my team at stake and to spread that kind of hate which I don’t even believe in. Once again, I sincerely apologize.”

Such an empty, backhanded apology only makes this sad situation worse. We’re obviously talking about a person who is very comfortable using the N word, who runs with others who casually use the N word. (I bet many of those friends are ready to kick Buck’s ass for even apologizing.)

Don’t be shocked in the least that this sort of sentiment is being expressed publicly. Frankly, I expect more stories like this in days and weeks to come.

Especially in Texas. We’re talking about a state in which 23 percent of residents believe Obama is a Muslim, according to a statewide survey last month conducted by the University of Texas. Oh, the irony, Buck.

Coach Brown — major kudos to you for acting swiftly to kick Burnette off the team. It was the right thing to do to preserve team unity.

Buck — I do hope you grow up and join society. You’ve got too much life left to spend it as a hater.

Uh oh … experts on Gators bandwagon

GoneGator    Prognostication     Florida Gators, Penn State

ESPN.com prognosticators are now predicting Florida and Penn State will meet in the BCS title game. Seems they expect Okie State or Oklahoma to take down No. 2 Texas Tech, and the Gators to take out No. 1 Alabama in the SEC title game. I’m in total agreement.