| After last week, I don’t see any way you can rank Miami (Fla.) QB Ken
Dorsey as a legitimate Heisman candidate. His shortcomings have shown up way too
many times this year. Miami was very lucky to have beaten Virginia Tech last week. If
Virginia Tech had even a decent quarterback — I’m not talking about a Michael
Vick but an average to average-plus college quarterback — it would have won that
game. Hokies QB Grant Noel completed 4-of-16 passes for 81 yards with
four interceptions.
As for the Heisman Trophy race, the only one of the top contenders you can say is
legitimate is Florida QB Rex Grossman. Grossman failed on a two-point
conversion that would have given him a chance to come back and tie it, which would have
clinched the award.
In my opinion, Grossman is still a legitimate candidate, but three players should be
considered ahead of him: Fresno State QB David Carr, who had another
brilliant performance, acrobatic Wisconsin WR Lee Evans and Luke
Staley, the very productive Brigham Young running back.
Texas QB Chris Simms continues to be a disappointment in big games. In
the first half against Colorado last Saturday, Simms threw three interceptions, lost a
fumble and had poor reads and judgments. His turnovers led to 26 Colorado points.
In Oregon’s victory over Oregon State, Ducks QB Joey Harrington
had a disappointing game overall and fumbled the ball away with one minute, 38 seconds
left in the game to give Oregon State a chance to win the game. He was bailed out by CB Rashad
Bauman, who picked off a pass. In fairness to Harrington, it should be pointed
out that the game was played in a driving rainstorm.
With regard to the Rose Bowl, if Tennessee beats LSU, you have to put the Vols in. If
Tennessee doesn’t, who goes? Oregon would be a viable possibility. But the computer
might choose Nebraska over Oregon, which would be a total fraud. Nebraska did not even
play for a conference championship. If they want to pick someone other than Oregon, the
team to consider is Colorado, which destroyed Nebraska and beat an outstanding Texas team
at the end of the year.
In two games last Saturday, two coaches were bailed out by their players. Colorado
coach Gary Barnett made a ridiculous call for a fake punt, and it
backfired, almost costing his team the game. Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer’s
decision to go for two points early in the game almost came back to bite Tennessee, but it
stopped Florida on a two-point try at the end of the game.
Throughout the college football season, I’ve noticed that there are very few
coaches and quarterbacks who know how to use the clock correctly. How often do you see a
college team nursing a lead in the fourth quarter that does not run the play clock down to
one or two seconds left?
The top two offensive tackles in the college game — Mike Williams
(Texas) and Bryant "Mount" McKinnie (Miami) — suffered
injuries Saturday. It is hoped that both will prove not to be serious. If they are serious
injuries, both teams would be hurt in bowl games, and they also could have an impact on
the NFL draft.
In my opinion, this year further exemplifies why the BCS is a joke. The idea of
deciding the national championship matchup with computer chips, writers and coaches is
absurd. The only way you can decide is on the field. You can come up with a simple enough
playoff plan that would include the bowls and make everyone happy if the college
administrators wouldn’t be holier-than-thou hypocrites about the whole thing.
Although S Ed Reed had two big interceptions against Virginia Tech and
seems to get all the credit as the top Miami (Fla.) defensive player, the Hurricanes’
best and most valuable defensive player has been CB-KR Phillip Buchanon. |
