The Peyton Saga Continues

In this the NFL’s grandest of weeks, it is rare that a story not directly related to the Super Bowl gets as much or more coverage than the big game itself; however, it is also rare that one of the games all time greatest players finds himself in a deep dispute with the only team he has ever known. 

The unrest and uncertainty regarding Peyton Manning’s future is, from my estimation, more talked about than another one of the all time greats, Tom Brady, going for his 4^th Super Bowl victory!  It’s a pretty unprecedented situation when you really reflect on it.  In just about any other season imaginable, every talking head in the sports world would be talking Brady, Brady, Brady, Eli, Brady, Eli, Brady, Brady, Brady.  I mean Eli has got to be thinking, “Man, is there anything I can possibly do and not have my bro overshadow me?  The guy doesn’t even play all year and he’s still a bigger story than me, and I’m starting in the freakin  Super Bowl, geez!”  If Eli can manage to obtain that 2^nd ring, he may finally step out of that shadow, but for now the Peyton cloud still looms overhead.   

With all of that said, the attention that the Peyton situation is garnering is not unwarranted.  It goes to show you what kind of player he is, and how important he is to football and this league.  The mini soap opera that is going on between Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay has seemed quite bitter at times, although the two insists they are currently on decent terms.  The drama is sure to heighten when they meet next week to discuss the future.  It is always an interesting time when an elite iconic player like Peyton reaches the twilight of his career.  A team, the Colts in this instance, must decide whether it is more beneficial to them to spend big bucks to hang on the face of the franchise for the next 3-5 years, or to part ways and draft the next up-and-comer and try to build for the next 8-10 years.  It really comes down to a business decision; which route will yield them the best return for their money.  It certainly would be difficult to not try to hang on to a guy who has a Super Bowl ring and oh yeah, a NFL best 4 MVP awards. 

So, what if the Colts do decide to go in another direction?  For starters, Peyton was medically cleared Thursday morning by doctors unaffiliated with the Colts.  That seems to go a long way in answering the question of whether or not he will ever be able to physically perform again.  Assuming that he is able to come back near 100% health, Peyton makes any team in the NFL and instant contender.  Yes, it’s a bold statement, and no, you can’t say that about many players in history.  Peyton Manning is simply that good.  He has started since day one of his career, and has led to Colts to double digit wins in every season except 2 in his 13 years as the play caller.  He doesn’t play this year and they win 2 games.  That’s how important he is to the Colts.  Every NFL insider/guru has their own list on likely Peyton destinations or those who are showing interest in getting him.  I am not an insider so I won’t speculate where he will end up, but I will say this, unless you are the Saints, Patriots, or Packers (maybe throw the Giants in there too) you should be very interested because you don’t have a quarterback who even sniffs the level of play you will get from Peyton Manning.

What AB Sees: 

I personally have been shocked by Jim Irsay’s treatment of this whole situation.  He has insisted on airing almost every aspect of this situation out in a public forum, and has even taken some metaphoric jabs at Peyton via twitter and other social media.  Mr. Irsay may want to look around Lucas Oil Stadium, the millions he has made, and the simple ability he has to host an event like the Super Bowl and reflect on how all of it became possible.  The answer is Peyton Manning.  The Colts are the team that Peyton built, and apparently it only took their owner one season to forget it.  Irsay’s handling of this situation has been immature and really disrespectful to a man who has meant everything to his team and his city.  The guy actually seems eager to get rid of the guy who is arguably the greatest QB of all time!  Maybe he is smarter than everyone else, but I have a hunch, if Peyton does leave, that it will not take long for Mr. Irsay to realize he had a pretty good thing going!

Derek Dooley: The Once and Future Coach

**The following is part 1 of a 2 part blog examining the subject that is in the forefront of the Tennessee Volunteer universe:  should he stay or should he go?

Part 1-  Why Derek Dooley’s job should not be in question!

In the minds of many Tennessee fans, defending the job that Coach Dooley has done over the past two seasons is a tall order to say the least.  With the lasting memory of the first loss to the University of Kentucky in 27 years seared into their memories, even some of the most level headed and mild-mannered Vol supporters have begun to call for Dooley’s head.  However, a careful examination should always precede a changing of the guard.  Here are my top 5 reasons Dooley should stay:

1.       Another coaching change will mean yet another setback for the program.  With all of the coaching turnover that has taken place since the end of this season, many have proposed that it is simply time to send Dooley packing as well and completely revamp the program.  That would bring about the hiring of Tennessee’s fourth head coach in the last five years.  Is that really what you want for your program?  What this team needs more than anything is some kind of continuity.  The program is still reeling from the departure of the Kiffin administration.  If Dooley leaves, the program will yet again have to start from scratch in rebuilding.  Players and recruits will depart, and those that remain will be forced to adapt to yet another head coach’s style and personality.  It may not sound that bad, but it’s a lot to take on for a group of kids trying to find themselves as people and as football players.  It also begins to quickly diminish the reputation of the UT program.  People begin to view the job, which once was a beacon of stability, as one driven by a trigger happy administration and fan base.  Who would want to take a job where a two year win or be fired precedent is set?  It becomes a job that sets guys up for failure.   

   

2.       You cannot assume that different will equal better. Boy, has Tennessee learned this one the hard way.  There were very few fans rushing to the defense of Coach Philip Fulmer in 2008; because, whoever they hired was going to be better than Phil.  How’s that working out for you?  I don’t think you can make the argument that Derek Dooley is in the upper echelon of collegiate coaches; however, to automatically determine that his replacement will be better is a fallacy.  Name me a guy out there who is a can’t miss hire that would actually take the job?  Perhaps he is out there, but it’s not as simple as it may seem.  Also, it is worth noting that outside of the Kentucky game (which was in every way an embarrassment) Derek Dooley’s team has won every game in which they were favored.  If you believe in the old saying that you have to win the ones you’re supposed to, then Dooley passes that part of the test.  No, just winning those games is not good enough when you are the head coach at Tennessee, but it is easy to take those kind of victories for granted.

3.       Dooley took over a depleted upper-class.  As I alluded to in reason 1, (as well as an earlier blog entry) the Lane Kiffin regime left Dooley an inheritance of a decimated group of Juniors and Seniors.  How good would any program be if you were to take away nearly an entire Jr. class and couple it with a damaged senior class?  I do not necessarily buy the argument that all of UT’s difficulties can be blamed primarily on youth, but I do think that upper-classman leadership is an underrated commodity in college football.  Of course, teams like Alabama and LSU have great young players that are getting the job done, especially on defense; however, take a glance at the fantastic Jr. and Sr. players that are on the field with them leading the way.  Older guys provide an example and a foundation for the younger guys to learn from and build upon, but due to coaching changes, dropped commitments, and transfers, Tennessee’s cupboard was essentially bare of those types of players the past two seasons.

4.       He has managed to recruit reasonably well.  Given the situation in which he took over, Dooley has managed to salvage some very respectable recruiting classes.  Even amidst threats of NCAA sanctions, numerous coaching changes, and sub-par seasons, Dooley has managed to put together 3 (assuming the current class remains near its current no. 12 ranking) consecutive top 15 classes.  However, his problem here is that even being no. 10 or no. 12 often still leaves you no. 6 or no. 7 in the SEC.  Yet, it is still a fairly impressive feat given that Tennessee is not necessarily the natural draw it was ten or so years ago.  Much of this stems from Dooley’s engaging personal manner.  He is an intelligent man and an entertaining speaker.  One would have to imagine that his demeanor, confidence, and articulateness are impressive in the living rooms of recruits.

   

5.       He has managed to keep his players out of trouble.  Everything about Derek Dooley would suggest that he is a man of honesty and integrity.  These are traits that he seems to value in passing onto his players.  If nothing else, one can say that they have seen less Vol players in the blotter during the Dooley era when compared to the Kiffin year or the later part of Fulmer’s tenor.  I am not suggesting that there have not been any instances or that every player associated with the team is now a model citizen, but it does seem that Derek Dooley has instilled a much needed level of discipline in most of his players.  Nothing reflects more poorly on a coach or a school than to repeatedly have incidents in which athletes have legal confrontations.  It is simply embarrassing, and it suggests that the coach does not have control over his team.  Luckily for Dooley, most of his problems have been primarily on the football field.  

The Premature Anointing of James Franklin

Disclaimer:  The following is not as much of an indictment of Vanderbilt Coach James Franklin himself as it is a response to the irrational amount of love the Mid-State media seems determined to shower upon him.

Let me start of on a positive note and just say that I do think Franklin is a good coach and was a quality hire for Vandy.  It’s hard to deny that he seems to have brought a real change of attitude and interjected a wave of confidence that has permeated the Vanderbilt football program. However, if he would devote a bit more of his time to coaching and less time as a salesman of himself, his team might be able to find a way to turn some of those moral victories into actual victories. 

Different coaches have different personalities and styles, and honestly, I don’t mind coaches who tend to display cockiness.  You certainly want your coach to believe strongly in what he is teaching and to believe his team is going to win, but there is also something to be said for exercising some humility from time to time.  While the way Franklin conducts himself in interviews, press conferences, and other media appearances may be entertaining at times, his arrogance and overly cocky demeanor often leaves me asking, “What have you ever won?”  The local media seems insistent lately upon comparing Vandy and Franklin to UT and Dooley.  The topic of discussion is logical enough, but the eternal praise they pour upon Franklin would make you think he’s just one step shy of being the football equivalent of the “second coming.”  On the other hand, Derek Dooley receives almost 100% negative coverage.  (Yes much of the Dooley criticism is warranted, but I will not spend any time here discussing Dooley for the sake of brevity.)  However the tiebreaker in most situations will always revert to head to head competition and who prevailed.  As I recall, Tennessee and Vanderbilt did play this year right?  How did it go?  I am not suggesting that a coach defeating another coach in one game definitely proves he is superior; however, if you believe that coach A is significantly better than Coach B, you would expect Coach A to win more often than not, especially when Coach A’s team is favored. Just saying.

The bottom line is that Vandy was 6-7 this year.  No, that’s not a bad season bad Vanderbilt standards, but it seems odd that the coach of a 6-7 team has emerged the apparent “anointed one” in the eyes of the media.  I would posit that James Franklin has yet to do much more than Bobby Johnson was able to do at Vandy(not to mention his "unbelievable season" came using Johnson's players); Franklin has simply been much more outspoken in doing it.  What is Franklin’s signature win that proves he is poised for greatness?  Should wins against Wake Forest, Connecticut, and Ole Miss really render you the Great White Hope?  I know Vandy fans are very excited about the current direction of the program and rightfully so, but I would be fairly cautious of my expectations becoming too great too quickly if I was Vandy fan.  The reason being is that you are headed for a brutal 7 game stretch to open the 2012 season and you're going to be favored in 1, maybe 2 of those games.  Thus, you're staring down the barrel of probably starting next year 1-6 or 2-5 at best.  That is really going to make the remainder of the season an uphill climb.  Also, you likely find yourself coachless in a year or two when Franklin moves on and you realize your team was little more than a spring board for the man to which you have devoted your heart.  He will also take many of his recruits with him and you will find your cupboard more bare than when Franklin first arrived.  I hate to say it but I see a lot of similarities between Franklin and Lane Kiffin.  How's that working out for Tennessee right now?  I suppose though, as with all things, only time will tell!

Staff Picks for the NFL Playoff! You kidding me!!

The staff sat down earlier this week and wrote down our picks.  Please leave a comment, or better yet call into the show to tell us how right you think we are or perhaps how dumb we are!

Stan’s Picks

Offensive ROY - Cam Newton.  He set Peyton Manning's rookie passing yards record which should have secured everyones vote.  A.J. Green deservedly gets honorable mention.

Defensive ROY - Aldon Smith.  He was a half sack shy of tying Jevon Kearse's rookie sack record of 14.5 so he gets my vote.  Von Miller deservedly gets honorable mention.

Offensive POY - Drew Brees.  His new 5,476 passing yards in a season record will likely stand for a very long time.

Defensive POY - Jason Pierre-Paul.  Lost in the obscurity of playing for a bad defensive team, Pierre-Paul has put up insane numbers including 86 Tackles(20+ more than the next defensive lineman), 16.5 sacks, and a blocked kick.

MVP - Aaron Rodgers.  A 122.5 QB Rating along with 46 touchdown passes to only 6 interceptions while leading the Packers to a 15-1 record and homefield advantage throughout the playoff...yeah it's a no brainer.

Coach of the Year - Gary Kubiak.  Probably a huge dark horse to win the award, he did a remarkable job keeping the Texans focused on the task at hand dealing with injuries at key positions all season.  Credit coaching for having backups who step in and perform at a high level.

Surprise Playoff Team - New York Giants.  Eli Manning is the most under appreciated player in the NFL.  This team has major talent and players with postseason experience.  Not to mention a defense that is opportunistic at creating turnovers....this recipe was successful for the Saints and Packers in recent years.

AFC Playoffs

Bengals at Texans.....Texans

Steelers at Broncos.....Steelers

Steelers at Patriots.....Patriots

Texans at Ravens.....Ravens

AFC Champion: Ravens

NFC Playoffs

Lions at Saints.....Saints

Falcons at Giants.....Giants

Saints at 49ers.....Saints

Giants at Packers.....Packers

NFC Champion: Packers

Super Bowl

Packers vs Ravens.....Packers

AB’s Picks

MVP- Aaron Rodgers (Packers)     Rodgers has managed to discount-double-check his way through one of the better seasons in recent memory.  His play has been nothing short of artistic, and his passing numbers are not quite as big as Brees or Brady only because the Pack have had comfortable leads they could sit on in many of their games.

Offensive POY-Drew Brees (Saints)    NFL record holder for passing yards in a season is enough said.

Defensive POY-Terrell Suggs (Ravens)   With the Ravens defensive getting a bit older; Suggs has really stepped up this year and has put up some gaudy stats across the board.  His play is one of the main reasons the Raven’s defensive is still feared.

Offensive ROY-Cam Newton(Panthers)  The guy threw for over 4,000 yards as a rookie, and you may not see that again for a long time.  I’d say this rookie record holder answered all those who weren’t sure if he could play at this level.

Defensive ROY-  Von Miller(Broncos)   At the midway point in the year this guy was a serious candidate for overall POY honors.  He has cooled down a bit but still gets my nod for biggest first year difference maker on that side of the ball.

Coach of the Year- Gary Kubiak/Wade Phillips(Texans)    The Texans have experienced so much adversity this season but continued to win and keep their squad where they need to be, in the playoffs.  If Kubiak wins this award he should somehow share it with Phillips who has done a masterful job with that defense all year.

Playoff Picks: 

Sleeper Team:  Steelers-Sounds strange to have them as a sleeper, but as a no. 5 I think they qualify.  They have an excellent defense and a team full of guys who know how to win.

AFC

Wild Card:

Cincinnati vs. Houston:  Two rookie QB’s make for a unique playoff matchup.  Cincinnati pulls out a hard fought victory.

Pittsburgh vs. Denver:  I would like to see Tebow pull this one out, but I just don’t think they will be able to put up enough points to come away with the win. Steelers win.

Divisional:

Cincinnati vs New England:  Don’t see Andy Dalton and company pulling this upset.  Pats win.

Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore:  Battle of two great defenses, but my sleeper keeps rolling as Steelers win.

Championship:

Pittsburgh vs. New England:  Gotta stick with my pick, Steelers pull it off.

NFC

Wild Card:

Detroit vs. New Orleans:  The Lions have had a great year and are a great young team, however Brees and that offense will be too much to handle.  Saints win.

Atlanta vs. New York Giants:  Atlanta is the sexy, but Eli has quietly had an outstanding year and don’t think you can count the Giants out: Giants win.

Divisional:

New Orleans vs. San Francisco: Saints keep marching.

New York vs. Green Bay:  Awfully hard to bet against Rodgers, so I won’t. Green Bay wins.

Championship:

New Orleans vs. Green Bay:  What a matchup!  This is the game to watch in the whole playoff picture. Packers pull it out in a classic game.

Superbowl:

Steelers vs. Packers:  Great offense vs. great defense. Defense wins championships according to the old adage.  With that being said, Packers repeat 28-13.

Brian’s Picks

1.

 Rookie of the Year – Cam Newton

Defensive Rookie of the Year – Aldon Smith

Offensive Player of the Year – Rob Gronkowski

Defensive Player of the Year – Terrell Suggs

Coach of the Year – Jim Harbaugh

MVP – Drew Brees     

2.

The Detroit Lions can put up a ton of points, so I want to pick them to be my sleeper of the playoffs. 

3. 

AFC Wildcard Round

Cin vs. Hou (Hou)

Pit vs. Den (Pit)

Divisional Round

Pit vs. NE (NE)

Hou vs. Bal (Hou)

Conference Championship

Hou vs. NE (NE)

4.

NFC Wildcard Round

Det vs. NO (Det)

Atl vs. NYG (Atl)

Divisional Round

Det vs. SF (Det)

Atl vs. GB (GB)

Conference Championship

Det vs. GB (Det)

5.

Superbowl

Detroit Lions vs. New England Patriots

New England Wins!! 42-35

Andrew’s Picks

Offensive ROY – Cam Newton – All he did was break Peyton Manning's rookie   record for passing yards, and set the QB record for rushing TD's in a   season.

Defensive ROY – Aldon Smith – Flip a coin between him and Von Miller. They     were both spectacular. I went with Smith since he had 14 sacks, compared             to 11.5 for Miller.

Offensive POY – Drew Brees – Broke Dan Marion's single season record for         passing yards, and had 46 TD's to boot.

Defensive POY – Jared Allen – He played on a horrible team, but it was no fault   of his. His 22 sacks was .5 a sack shy of tying the single season record.

NFL MVP – Aaron Rodgers – He was doing the “Discount Double-Check” quite often this season. His 122.5 QB rating was almost 12 points higher than         Brees. He threw 45 TD's to 6 Ints. That is the definition of a “Wow” stat!

Coach of the Year – Jim Harbaugh – The Niners were 6-10 in 2010, and      Harbaugh got them to 13-3 this season. Also, they are in the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Potential Surprise Playoff Team – Houston Texans – Their running game is outstanding, and they rank 2^nd in the league in total defense. If TJ Yates plays well, the Texans could make some serious noise.

Playoff Predictions – AFC

            Bengals @ Texans – Texans

            Steelers @ Broncos – Steelers

            Steelers @ Patriots – Patriots

            Texans @ Ravens – Ravens

            AFC Champ – New England Patriots

Playoff Predictions – NFC

            Lions @ Saints – Saints

            Falcons @ Giants – Giants

            Giants @ Packers – Packers

            Saints @ 49ers – Saints

            NFC Champ – Green Bay Packers

Super Bowl – Green Bay – 38  New England – 24

Mark’s Picks

MVP - Aaron Rodgers
Off. ROY - Cam Newton
Def. ROY - Von Miller
Coach of Year - Jim Harbaugh
 
Picks
Atl - 35
NY - 28
 
Pitt - 31
Den - 14
 
Super Bowl
 
Green Bay - 34
New England – 17

Yup, that’s all we got from Mark! 

Gary not present.

The Crew's Letters to Sports Santa.

The UGO Sports Saturday crew sat down earlier this week and composed our letters to Santa asking him for one sports gift.  Out Sports “Stan”dard trivia this week will involve you the listeners letting us know what your request to “Sports” Santa would be.  Please call in Saturday morning between 8 and 10 and let us know what you want for Christmas this year.  You may also submit your request by going to our show site at ugosportssaturday.com.  The top three requests, as voted on by our staff, will be our weekly winners.  We would love to hear from all of you!

Dear Santa,

My name is Adam Bates, AB my friends call me (I’m sure you knew that).  I am 26 years old, and I have been at least decently good this year.  So, for Christmas this year I am only asking for one thing: could you please help bring Major League Baseball back to relevancy?  I know it’s a tall order, but if you can visit millions of kids all in one night I believe you can fix this. It’s truly sad to see our “national pastime” slowly fade into oblivion as each year goes by.  Even those who still claim to be fans pay little real attention until about September.  And do kids even collect baseball cards anymore?  The game has been greatly tarnished by strikes and steroids scandals over the last couple of decades, and it may take a lot to bring it back to prominence.

 In my opinion, nothing would go further than instituting a salary cap.  This would slow large market teams from sucking up all of the biggest stars and promote less talent disparity among the teams.  Simply put, it would make it a bit more like the NFL in the way it is ran.  I think it would change the culture of the business, and people would start to care at least a little bit more about this once great league.  Not that long ago, people lived and died by baseball.  The World Series used to be on a level similar or maybe even greater than the current Superbowl.  With so much more competition in the entertainment industry we may never again see baseball at this level, but with your help I think we can do a lot to restore integrity and interest in the MLB.

Thanks Santa,

AB

Dear Sports Santa,

There is one thing I’ve always longed for more than anything else in my “sports life,” and since I’m asking for one “wish” then I’m going to use it for one thing I’ve always wanted.  I would like you to bring a Major League Baseball team to Nashville.  A new stadium development is about to pass for the city which will place a perfect baseball venue in downtown Nashville.  What better way to reward this new venue than with a MLB franchise rather than one of their minor league affiliates?  The defending American League East champions, the Tampa Bay Rays, would be perfect.  Their current situation is bleak; they rarely sell out games, and their organization fields a wonderful product that deserves better.  Also, the Summer months in the midstate are largely dull, leaving fans longing for football because it’s really all there is to look forward to during that time period.  The amazing sportsfans in the state of Tennessee DO NOT DESERVE THIS!  So I’m pleading to you Sports Santa, bring the Rays to Nashville and give them the homefield advantage they deserve.

I’ll leave you Oreos,

Stan Ledbetter

Dear Santa,
 
How is Mrs. Clause and the reindeers? I hope they are ready to go. The big day is drawing near. Make them all drink plenty of fluids and get their full 8 hours, so they can perform all of their Christmas Eve duties with ultimate precision. Santa, I've tried to be good this year. I really did. I hope you can bring me what I want!
 
Santa, I only want one thing for Christmas. That one thing is for you to give Tennessee AD Dave Hart the resources and fortitude that it's going to take to fire Coach Derek Dooley after this upcoming football season. With each passing day, it becomes increasingly clear to me that Dooley is not the right fit for Tennessee. I believe that Dooley will only produce marginal success at best as UT's head coach. And as proud a program as UT is, they should not have to settle for mediocre results. I truly feel that Tennessee is still one of the few "Plum Jobs" that is out there in college football, and I think with the right mindset by the search committee, that UT can hire a top notch coach. Tennessee has the resources available, (and when I say resources, I'm talking $$$$$) but they have shown a reluctance lately to "come off the hip" with it to hire a coach. This can't happen again, or else UT will be stuck with either another unproven coach or a re-tread coach. Dave Hart has seen what it takes to go out and hire a top coach (Saban) and it is my hope he can take that experience and use it to his advantage in his impending coaching search that he will perform next Fall. All of Vol Nation is in a state of despair currently. We need someone to get UT out of its current funk, and Dave Hart needs to be that person. And soon!
 
Santa, this is my wish, and I know you can make it come true. And if you do, I promise I will do my best to be a good boy from now on. Please make this happen, Santa!
 
I love you,
 
Andrew Robertson

Dear Sports Santa

“CHING”…. “CHING”….”CHING”….  Can’t you hear those sleigh bells ringing? Oh please Santa if I could have anything in my little sports world I would wish to go back to January 30, 2000.  Mike Jones….”WHO”….Mike Jones stops Kevin Dyson on the one yard line to clinch a St. Louis Rams victory in Super Bowl XXXIV.  The call (Mike Keith and Pat Ryan):  "McNair drops, throws, right side for Dyson. He dives for the end zone!"…. "He didn't make it."…. "He came up one yard short. The Rams win by a yard!"    Yes ranked #35 on ESPN.com’s greatest moments of the past 25 years (as of 2007) is one of the plays that I will personally remember for the rest of my life.  Santa, I am not asking for a time machine to go back to the year 2000 so I can replay “The Play”, I am merely asking for you to make Kevin Dyson’s right arm 1 yard longer (Pre-2000).  Just one yard can’t be that big of a deal right?  If you appease my wishes I swear I’ll be good for the rest of the weekend till after Christmas.  If at all possible could you also maybe make sure that Matt Sims never gets anywhere near a Tennessee Vols football game again?  I really appreciate it Santa, you jolly rascal!

Your Lil Buddy,

Brian Dearing

PS – Could you maybe this year leave me cookies and milk instead of the other way around? I know those pockets have to be swole to be able to afford all those toy parts

Tim Tebow in Perspective (A slightly different take on Tebow-mania)

Imagine you are one of the most accomplished players in college football history.  You have a Heisman trophy and two national championships.  You were the first player to rush for 20 and pass for 20 touchdowns in a single season.  During your career you broke rushing records previously held by guys like Emmitt Smith and Hershel Walker.  You did all of this while playing QUARTERBACK in the toughest conference in America with coach’s game-planning to stop you week after week.  Simply put, you may just be the best college football player in the history of the sport.  Life is pretty dang sweet, right?  Now imagine being told repeatedly that you are not a first round pick.  Imagine that after one of the most celebrated quarterback careers in the history of college football that you may be asked to change positions in the NFL.  Imagine every part of your mechanics being constantly scrutinized as expert after expert predicts you won’t be a success.   

Tim Tebow isn’t the first player to be subjected to harsh criticism upon entering the NFL, but he is probably the best and definitely the most polarizing. Rarely (if ever) has any individual player in the history of sport enumerated more success while simultaneously coming under more scrutiny than Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos.  It seems that no amount of winning is enough to silence or even stifle critics of Tebow’s play.  It is a true oddity for the skill and abilities of such an accomplished and winning player to be continually questioned at such an elevated level.  We all know that his throwing motion is far from orthodox, and we all knew that he was a so called “system” QB coming out of college. However, last time I checked textbook mechanics pale in comparison to wins, and seriously, isn’t every quarterback a “system” quarterback?  That argument really needs a pillow no matter who you’re talking about.

We know he is unparalleled as a running quarterback, but the point of contention comes with his throwing right?  Conventional wisdom is he isn’t a good enough passer to have long term success in the NFL.  It is easy to see why many NFL insiders and former players have discontent for Tebow’s style of play.  He doesn’t fit the formula that everyone has always believed is necessary to win in the NFL of today.  Of course, the only thing that could get in the way of this is facts.  Tebow is the all time SEC leader in passing efficiency.  That’s right, he ranks above two Manning brothers, Matt Stafford, Tim Couch, JaMarcus Russell, etc.  He also had a passer rating 20 points higher than Peyton’s college mark.  No, I don’t think Tim Tebow is a better passer than Peyton Manning, but it’s hard to ignore those numbers. 

Tebow has been told at every level that he couldn’t play QB.  Yet, his determination has led him to be able to prove all of the “experts” wrong.  Currently, Tebow ranks among the top half of NFL QB’s in passer rating.  As a runner, his average yards per carry, 5.5, equal the best starting running back in the league.  Also, the real key to Tebow’s success, he does not turn the ball over!  He leads the NFL in best interception percentage.  Sure he throws less and runs more than conventional quarterbacks, but his Broncos have won 6 in row.  That is not luck.  Sure, the Broncos have been the beneficiaries of some good fortune, good calls, and timely plays, but honestly, what winning streak doesn’t involve those things?

What AB Sees:

Those who attribute Tebow’s success to simply luck or believe it to be a fluke are not seeing what is really there.  Tebow’s apparent knack for making clutch plays is not a mystery.  The guy has been succeeding and winning football games his whole life.  What sets Tebow apart are those intangibles that most people just do not have today.  He has always been outspoken and unapologetic about his faith in Christ Jesus.  Despite much ridicule, baiting, and joking, Tebow has always held to his faith with dignity and class.  Whether you are religious or not, you have to respect anyone who unashamedly stands up for what they believe in with such passion and vigor, even in the face of people constantly trying to tear him down.  His leadership qualities, determination, and confidence are, I believe, directly correlated to his faith.  He seems to be unafraid of failure; maybe because, unlike most prima donna athletes, he believes in something far greater than himself.  His teammates sense this about him, and easily gravitate toward his positive attitude.  He plays the game with integrity, sportsmanship, and humility.  As a friend of mine put it best earlier this week, “Tim Tebow is everything we say athletes aren’t anymore.”  I couldn’t agree more.  I am neither a Florida fan nor a Bronco fan, but how you could dislike Tim Tebow I’m just not sure.

I heard a guy on a sports talk show early this week who called in to say that no one (no preacher, book, family member, or friend) had done more to reaffirm his lost faith than Tim Tebow.  I don’t know Tim in any way, shape, form or fashion, but I have a suspicion that he would tell you that stories like that one are the real crowning achievements of his life.  Here’s to long career Mr. Tebow, God Bless!

The Great BCS Debate: Why College Football Fans Only Think They Want a Playoff!

It’s another year, and just like every season since 1998 the college football world finds itself amid much debate and turmoil.  During the past few weeks it has been difficult to turn on a sports related TV or radio program without being inundated with talk of instituting a playoff system in college football.  It has become commonplace for hosts, journalists, and fans to throw out broad based generalities to argue against the current BCS ranking system.  “It’s a flawed system.” “We all agree the current system is terrible.” “The BCS is a joke.” These are just a few of the repetitive statements that stick out in my mind.  While each season never fails to add its’ own complicated situations and scenarios that challenge the BCS system, is it really as bad as it is being portrayed?

To say that the BCS has been controversial since its implementation would be like saying Will Muschamp is emotional on the sidelines (an understatement of the highest order).  In light of the impending rematch between LSU and Alabama for this year’s championship, people seem to be more adamant than ever in pursuing a playoff system in lieu of the BCS.  However, as is often the case, most really have failed to put into perspective all of the unintended consequences that would surely result from such a drastic move.  I realize I’m standing with the vast minority here, but YES, I am going to stand up for the much hated BCS. 

Take a quick look around at all the BCS has given the college football fan.  Under the current system college football has risen to a level of popularity that would have been hard to imagine a couple decades ago.  From coast to coast people live and breathe the sport.  Just look at the stadiums, the coverage, and the ratings; they speak rather loudly.  But why do people care so much?  Why is it so popular?  Why will tens of thousands of people fill up a stadium to watch a game in which one team maybe favored by 30 or more points?  Because, under the BCS system, every regular season game is life and death for a team in contention.  Can you say that about any other sport?  The BCS is a system predicated on teams not losing, ever!  Many would point to this as a tragic flaw in the system, I say that it is the sole reason that college football is all that it has become.  It is why most fans never miss a game.  It is why this year’s regular season matchup between LSU and Alabama was the most widely viewed in history.  For a team that is competing for a national championship, the regular season schedule can hold any number of matchups that in effect become bowl games, title games, or championship games in a sense.  There is no room for a letdown from the first game to the last.  A team has to play at their highest possible level for all 12 or 13 games in order to get a shot at the title.  It’s a phenomenon you won’t find in any other league.

In my view, the institution of a playoff will greatly diminish part of the uniqueness and excitement of the college game.  People often draw analogies to the current format for the postseason tournament in college basketball and how popular it has become.  I will certainly agree that March Madness is an absolutely awesome spectacle to take in; however, I will also tell you that outside of those few weeks in March, college basketball is largely irrelevant.  The reason is that the regular season simply doesn’t mean very much.  Yes, you have to win your games and do well enough to impress the selection committee, but teams have plenty of room for missteps.  Then there is the NFL argument to consider.  I am aware that the NFL is wildly popular and operates under a playoff system but still manages to have very meaningful regular season games.  A similar system would be detrimental to college football as we know it.  If you have a large playoff format, anywhere from 10 to 16 teams or more, you will have to reduce the number of regular season games.  It’s inevitable.  This would not be a good situation.  It would be nearly impossible for a team to have more than one or two games outside of their conference, if that.  Therefore, teams would be at the mercy, much more so than they are now, of how good or bad their conference is.  It would be even more difficult to evaluate who should be in or out of the playoffs than it is now to determine who is in or out of the BCS bowls.  For instance, how will you fairly choose who should get into a playoff between a SEC team with 2 loses or an undefeated mid-major?  For this reason, a playoff system would eventually lead to the abolition of conferences, or at least they would become so restructured they wouldn’t retain any of their current identity.  Is that really what you want for college football?  Age old rivalries will perish, and decades of history and tradition will give way to new super-conferences.

What AB Sees: 

To put it very simply, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it!  Yes, I admit that there have been situations in which rational arguments can be made for teams that didn’t get a fair shake, but I also believe the BCS has done much more good than harm.  Now, think hard, can you honestly name a single BCS national champion that did not deserve the title?  People want to see the best two teams play for the title, and while there is no perfect system, I think the BCS has given us that by and large, including this year.  Going back to the basketball argument, do you really think that Butler has truly had the second best team in the nation the past two years?  That system, as exciting as it is, tends to reward the team who gets hot at the right time, with very little emphasis put on a team’s entire body of work.  College football loses big time if something like that takes place.  People are interested in college football year-round.  They keep up with coaching moves, recruiting news, practice reports, and any piece of news they can attain.  It is a type of fanfare that is second to none.  From the opening weeks of the season on, people love to play out hypothetical situations, matchups, and rankings.  That will largely fall by the wayside if you lose the BCS.  This year’s aforementioned “Game of the Century” wouldn’t have been advertised as such because everyone would assume that both teams would make the playoffs.  Therefore, the game would have garnered less attention.  Case and point would be this past weekend’s basketball matchup between #1 Kentucky and #2 North Carolina.  Perhaps I just missed them, but I don’t recall endless promotions or any fancy taglines related to this game.  Sure, it was a big game, but it wasn’t even comparable in ratings or interest to a marquee football matchup.  The reason being that ultimately it doesn’t really matter that Kentucky won that game; both teams will almost certainly get into the tournament as high seeds regardless of the outcome.  Yes, I know, as it turned out the LSU vs. Alabama did not keep either team from reaching the title game.  However, Alabama snuck in via a statistical anomaly that would likely not happen again for 100 years.  Everything had to play out just right for them to get their second shot at LSU, and it just so happens that this time it did.  

The current movement that seems to be afoot involves the institution of a 4 team playoff (in which #1 plays #4 and #2 plays #3 and the winners meet for the ‘ship) or perhaps a so called “plus 1 game.”  While I agree that these ideas sound appealing and would ease the grumbles of this season’s particular situation, it is a slippery slope when you start making drastic changes to suit a particular situation in a particular year.  Because, next year will undoubtedly bring with it a whole new scenario that the system may not have accounted for, and we’ll be right back to square one.  For example, let’s suppose that the NCAA was operating under the 4 team playoff and Oregon ended up ranked #4 in the nation behind LSU #1, Bama #2, and OK St. #3.  In this scenario, LSU would have to play a rematch against Oregon first round, and would then likely have to rematch against Alabama in order to claim the title.  So, you have LSU, the consensus #1 team in the nation, having to win not one but two rematches to solidify them as the top team in the nation.  Is that really better than what we have this year?  The fact is that you cannot create a truncated playoff system that will satisfy any given situation that might occur in the course of any given year.  Furthermore, you cannot institute a large playoff system without sacrificing the integrity of the regular season.

Regardless of your personal opinion on the BCS, one has to admit that it certainly fuels discussion.  People love to hate it, and it keeps college football in the forefront of the sports world at least from August to January.  While opinions are many, it is difficult to argue that such a fact is not a positive for the sport.  I say long live college football and long live the Bowl Championship Series!

Not telling you how it is, just what I see!

By Adam Bates