Here’s a link to the full story on the Holiday Bowl being interested in the Oregon State football team if it loses the Civil War that ran in Tuesday’s GT. It has more details than yesterday’s blog.
Here’s a link to the Oregon scouting report, and here’s a link to OSU’s view of the Ducks.
On the postseason honors voting, I vote for several. I do the Heisman, Lott Trophy, Doak Walker and nominate for the FWAA of All-American teams.
Schools flood my e-mail and snail mail with propaganda promoting their top players. It’s what they do. However, UTEP did the unthinkable.
The Miners tried to buy me off – with a buck. That’s right, my vote is worth only $1.
Seriously, many other sportswriters received a dollar bill with a mug shot of RB Donald Buckram in place of George Washington’s face.
At first my wife pointed out how that’s illegal, being counterfeit. Then I looked at it closely, and noticed it was a real dollar with Buckram’s face pasted on it.
The bottom line is it’s pretty unethical of them to do that. There wasn’t even a letter talking about Buckram. The bill was wrapped in a blank paper. It really looked like UTEP was trying to slip us a bribe.
My wife asked me if I was going to keep it. I said that I can’t even buy a beer with that. I can’t even afford the cover to a strip club where a dollar bill still gets something.
Buckram must be up for the Walker Award. Now that UTEP did that, I will not even vote for him due to this move.
And while on the topic of postseason awards, please give me your thoughts on the Heisman vote. I know you all think Quizz is No. 1. He’s legit vote. However, give me your take on the other candidates – McCoy, Tebow, Gerhart or anyone else.
21 comments
angrybeaver says:
Nov 24, 2009
Tebow hasn't been himself since the concussion an shouldn't even be a candidate, but with the way college football works these days he'll probably win it. My honest opinion is that Gerhart should win. He's carried that team. McCoy is having a fine year but it's Texas and they'd be fine without him. I view the Heisman as the equivalent of the MVP in baseball–where would the team be without the player. Stanford would be in the cellar instead of vying for a nice bowl.
tommiet says:
Nov 24, 2009
Toby Gerhart.
JuneauJim says:
Nov 24, 2009
The Heisman is to football what Sarah Palin is to politics – a distraction from what is really important that the media feeds on because they fear what will happen if they don't cover it.
And in a year or two, we'll all try to remember who won it and whatever happened to that guy (see Eric Crouch, Chris Weinke and Gino Toretta).
And if you watched the USC OSU game a few weeks ago, you'd think Matt Barkely was going to win….
beeverluv says:
Nov 24, 2009
If it's really between Tebow, McCoy and Gearhart then the Heisman just doesn't mean what it used to mean. All the talk of being on a 'contender' is just silly. Should we ask Tebow to give his Heisman back since he was on an 8-4 team?
This year he's played a schedule full of teams like College of High School and Pee Wee Football University. Add that to a conference full of absolutely terrible offenses, and we should not only expect Florida to be undefeated. We should expect them to have a #1 defense, a number one offense and a QB with numbers far surpassing his season of two years ago.
Colt McCoy is a decent consideration, and he'll probably get it. But his numbers are inflated because Texas kept him in games that were out of hand well into the fourth quarter… again against a very weak schedule.
Mark Ingram is another consideration. Imagine Gearhart with a QB who's favorite receiver is the ground. Alabama does have one of two SEC wins against a ranked nonconference opponent (Va Tech). But if you watched the game, you probably saw two defenses struggling to contain two horrible offenses. If you didn't, then you didn't watch the game.
Quizz should be considered, and he should probably win Pac 10 offensive player if the Civil War goes well. But Gearhart should get the Heisman because he has just been the best and most consistent player in college football this year.
I think Suh of Nebraska should also be in the running, but what do I know?
beavsfan10 says:
Nov 24, 2009
Umm…. Mark Ingram anybody? This is the guy who is #1 on most other people's list and he would be #1 on mine as well. He has been the best, and most consistent, player on a great team this year. Tebow's numbers in SEC games are mediocre at best and McCoy had a tough time getting things going for about half the season. And why in the world would anybody give it to Gerhart? Yes, he is a great player and had a great year but his team has 4 losses (one of them to the Beavs). So if any Pac-10 player deserves it then it would be Quizz or maybe even Masoli but not Gerhart. A team that finishes 4th or 5th in conference cannot have a Heisman trophy winner.
beeverluv says:
Nov 24, 2009
Why would anyone give the Heisman to Tebow two years ago? How many losses did his team have? And why should Ingram be the outright #1? Because the 'absolutely awesome' Alabama team can beat the likes of Chattawho'sit, North Tex-Mex and Florida Intramural? I would kill to have an SEC schedule and still be considered good after the Beavs stomp the likes of the Mississippi schools and Arkansas. Of course, we would need Stricherz' crew to help us beat Tennessee if we were as good as the 'absolutely awesome' Alabama team.
What's the argument against Kellen Moore/Boise State? Something about a soft schedule? Well, between Alabama and Boise State they have one game played against a top ten team. If people actually looked at schedule strength and ignored the rote hype about the SEC and its inherent greatness, then LSU wouldn't even be ranked.
beavsfan10 says:
Nov 25, 2009
Are you kidding me? Tim Tebow had 32 passing touchdowns and 23 rushing touchdowns that season setting an FBS record. His team also went 9-3 in the regular season. Gerhart's number are not even close to being that impressive and his team already has 4 losses with one more game to go. I think that argument is a week one. Also, while I realize most people on the west coast seem to think the SEC is so overrated then tell me why they have won the past 3 National Championships? I am a DIEHARD Beavers fan but I live in Athens, GA and I can tell you that there IS a difference in playing an SEC game than a PAC-10 game. It is something you cannot fully appreciate until you go to an SEC game and feel the atmosphere for yourself.
beeverluv says:
Nov 25, 2009
First of all, Tebow is a QB, and Gerhart is a RB. That you would pooh pooh one whole position for another is interesting. That you ignore Gerhart's stats when they are superior to Ingram's over the course of a much stronger schedule and in a much tougher conference is also interesting.
You said, "A team that finishes 4th or 5th in conference cannot have a Heisman trophy winner."
Well, despite playing their usual powderpuff schedule, the 2007 Florida Gators were 5th in their conference. So much for my 'week' argument, eh?
Why have they won the last three BCS titles? First of all, 'they' haven't. LSU and Florida have. Five words come to mind… Ohio State and Bob Stoops. Don't get me wrong. I think Florida and Alabama are good teams this year. I think the rest of the SEC would populate the bottom of the Mountain West. And in a bowl game, I think TCU would stomp these teams. I think Texas is on a par with TCU. But it's hard to tell since they've played nobody all year either. If you're overhyped, you are ranked #1 in the 'preseason'. If you don't play anybody worth a damn, you remain #1. I didn't say these schools were stupid. I just think the people who buy into it every year are stupid.
And don't huff at me for what you think football is in the South. I lived it for too long. I went back to Baton Rouge in 2004 when the Beavs played at the Swamp against a BCS champion LSU team that was returning 43 starters and 61 All-Americans. It was nothing compared to even ten years previous. You should have seen football in the South when there was a Big 8 vs. a SWC vs. an SEC. And nobody was afraid to play against real teams. They were actually proud of what their teams were capable of rather than the slinking, scheming, money-grubbing morass that they've become.
beavsfan10 says:
Nov 27, 2009
Well I guess I should have mentioned that only ONE team can win a national championship every year so when I said "they" I meant just ONE team from the SEC each of those years. And yeah Florida played there 'normal powderpuff schedule' that year which include eventual National Champion LSU and UGA which finished that year ranked #2. Compared to Stanford's daunting schedule this year which include a LOSS against a 4-7 Wake Forest team. And Bama's schedule was MUCH tougher this year compared to Stanford's. Alabama has played 4 teams ranked in the top 25 this year at the time of their meeting with 2 being at home, 1 on the road, and 1 at a neutral site. Oh and yeah they are undefeated compared to Stanford at 4 losses.
beeverluv says:
Nov 28, 2009
'at the time of their meeting' = HYPE
After a team's opponents lose enough, 'at the time of their meeting' is all you can say for a schedule. Stanford has played against four teams who are currently ranked. Three of them were ranked 'at the time of their meeting'. Washington was also ranked 'at the time of their meeting'… mostly because of the hype after losing a somewhat close game to an LSU team with an absolutely terrible offense and beating USC with USC's coaching staff.
Maybe Alabama would like to take on a middle of the road Pac 10 team like Arizona. Iowa wasn't afraid to play them. The SEC is so horrified of good mid-major teams that none of them have the confidence to take on a Boise State, TCU, BYU or Utah in a non-conference game.
Then again, they don't play anyone as tough as those teams until they face them in a BCS bowl and lose–see Utah/Alabama. It's absolutely hilarious that the SEC and Big 12 are the loudest voices against non-BCS schools attaining any respect, but they are such wusses that they can't schedule them. And when someone does schedule them–or draws one in a bowl that the non-BCS school 'clearly does not deserve'–they lose.
So this dovetails nicely into the reason the BCS championship has defaulted to the SEC the last three years:
Hype, powder-puff schedules, Bob Stoops and Ohio State
And this still doesn't validate your contention that an SEC fifth place Florida deserves a Heisman winner while a Pac 10 third place Stanford doesn't in the face of your contention that NO fourth or fifth place team deserves one.
beeverluv says:
Nov 28, 2009
And please don't give any excuses for Alabama getting demolished by a far inferior Utah last year. A team is only as good as it shows on the field. The Tide were stomped by a much better team, and I could hear the Ducks' fans advising Bama's fans on every excuse in the book for their loss.
A loss by any other name….
Tweets that mention Cliff: Beavers links, postseason awards « Cliff Kirkpatrick -- Topsy.com says:
Nov 24, 2009
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ean says:
Nov 24, 2009
If Quizz has a big game verse Oregon I hope you give him consideration. When you factor in his receiving yards (and that TD pass) his numbers are off the charts. Don't forget that the majority of his receiving yards are hard fought with catches near or behind the line of scrimmage. While I am not sure if Quizz is the best candidate and not sure yet if he deserves your vote I hope that the reason you don't vote for him (if you so chose) is because you feel he there is a more deserving candidate and not because you are afraid of looking like a home town biased journalist. I really am not sure who deserves it. It doesn't seem like Texas, Florida, or Bama have faced tough competition this year. To me it is still a wide open race.
ean says:
Nov 24, 2009
Cliff,
Kind of off topic but has Langsdorf and Rilay considered incorporating the zone read that Oregon runs into their Wildcat formation. That seems like it would be a good play to run with Quizz and either James or Stevenson. They run a similar play with James running the sweep but it is also a play that risks getting blown up in the backfield. It would also be good practice for the defense. Anyway, love the blog, keep the good stuff coming.
ckirkpatrick says:
Nov 24, 2009
OSU's overall running is a zone running approach.
osbeavs says:
Nov 24, 2009
I personally think that Gerhart deserves the vote. Teams key in on him knowing that he is the "stud". Gerhart in spite of this still rumbles off strong numbers against everyone. I am really bothered by the hype around Ingram, he has faced poor rush D and gets a lot of attention because he plays for Bama. If I am not mistaken you don't just vote for a number one in the Heisman, you get to rank a few? I would put Gerhart in the number one slot. The second/third is a toss-up between the average qb's this year. I would consider giving Quiz a vote in a lower slot at least. He is the core of our offense and teams key in on him all the time, he still has great stats.
meadowstone says:
Nov 24, 2009
My vote goes to QUIZZ of course but…I hate the ducks and Masoli but the reason I hate him so much is because he is so good. He has the stats and Oregon has a great record (other than the Boise fiasco). without Masoli we wouldn't be having an epic Civil War this year.
PS This is the first time I've ever supported a Duck!!!
joebeav says:
Nov 25, 2009
There is a reason we love Quizz and it because he changes games. When looking at stats many people leave receiving yds off Running Backs stats. Here is a look at total yds for the top backs in the country, including Quizz. I would say Quizz is better than Gerhart. He averages 10 yds a game more and has a better yds per touch average.
Quizz
Rushing
GAtt YardsAvg. TDAtt/GYards/G
11239 13135.491921.73119.36
Receiving
GRec.YardsAvg. TDRec./GYards/G
1167 436 6.5116.1 39.6
Totals
GTouches YardsAvg. TDTouch/GYards/G
11303 17495.7 2027.55159
Gerhart
Rushing
GAtt YardsAvg. TDAtt/GYards/G
11282 15315.432325.64139.18
Receiving
GRec.YardsAvg. TDRec./GYards/G
119 11612.8900.8 10.5
Totals
GTouches YardsAvg. TDTouch/GYards/G
11291 16475.662326.45149.68
Ingram
Rushing
GAtt YardsAvg. TDAtt/GYards/G
11205 13996.821218.64127.18
Receiving
GRec.YardsAvg. TDRec./GYards/G
1125 2259.0032.3 20.5
Totals
GTouches YardsAvg. TDTouch/GYards/G
11230 16247.061520.91147.64
OS_Beaver says:
Nov 25, 2009
Hi Brooks. No plyer has had a bigger impact on getting his team in place for a conference championship than Jacquizz Rodgers. He is likley to finish with over 20 rishing TDs, plus receiving and passing TDs. He has had us in a position to go to the Rose Bowl for 2 years in a row and if he was healthy last year and we tackled we would have gone. Gerhardt has a team that is out of the race with two weeks still left. That is not good enough. SI and ESPN both have Quizz around 6th place currently in Heisman positioning and he deserves to be Top 3 with a win over the Ducks and be invited to NY. If we go to our first Rose Bowl since 1965, to me he is an equal legend to Terry Baker and has earned the Heisman! HE has been THE Darkhorse this year and really fits what it is about..November..when he leads his team to a shot at greatness. East coast media is biased so if you pick McCoy or Tebow this is a shame. Quizz Rodgers does the most for his team!
PorcupineBeaver says:
Nov 26, 2009
Cliff, please tell me you were being sarcastic and joking about seeing the UTEP dollar bill as a "bribe"/"unethical" and that I missed the humor you intended.
.
ckirkpatrick says:
Nov 26, 2009
Of course it's not a true bribe. I would want more money than that. The point is that it looks bad for the school do something.