There You Have It

The Heisman

Sophomore running back Mark Ingram of The University of Alabama won the Heisman Memorial Trophy at the Nokia Theatre in Manhattan last Saturday night. Ingram won over Toby Gerhart of Stanford in the closest voting total ever for the prestigious award.

Although I find him deserving and do not quarrel with him winning, Ingram would have been fourth on my ballot behind DT Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska, running back Gerhart and Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who I would have voted first in 2008.

Congratulations to Ingram and The University of Alabama, who although being one of the most storied college football traditional powers, has never brought home the award. Roll Tide!

Gators Escaping Media Scrutiny

Just this past week, from a perspective of the Miami Hurricanes, Sun Sentinel Columnist David Hyde wrote a column blasting the media for not playing fair when covering the states police blotter.

While over time Miami has a well deserved reputation as a team some real unsavory characters, it is Florida that is the states problem child these days. And, you would never know it. "Florida players have punched women, stolen property and been involved with guns and drugs. Yet nobody on ESPN is so much as reporting this. Nobody at Sports Illustrated is saying the Florida team picture should be taken from the front and the side" opined Hyde.

Since Randy Shannon became coach, the 'Canes have had only one arrest. Just prior to that, a player was murdered and there was that hideous brawl with FIU on the field. Miami will have to really work to overcome their reputation.

Sadly, Florida State has had several recent issues, with most members of the receiving corps having been arrested. Preston Parker, perhaps the Seminoles best player as 2008 approached, was booted from the team after a second arrest. But, Florida State does have a Rhodes Scholar defensive back in Myron Rolle and graduates more football players than any other BCS state school.

While Florida has a great story Heisman winner Tim Tebow, Florida does lead the state in arrests over the last couple years and added to the list last night as cornerback Janoris Jenkins was tasered and arrested. It will be on page 5 above the classified ads in Tuesdays Orlando Sentinel. Hyde issued a warning to Urban Meyer and Florida: "You're one ugly story or video moment from turning those 23 arrests under Meyer into national fodder. He better get a handle on this."

Well, there is this. As reported by larrybrownsports.com, Tim Tebow was sitting courtside for Saturday nights Orlando Magic win over Cleveland in seats you and I cannot afford. And, he is unemployed, for the time being. As you may imagine, those courtside seats down there in Tiger Woods neighborhood are rather expensive. But, hey, its all good in Gatordome. At least for now, but all good things come to an end, and it can't come soon enough for us anti-gators here in O-Town.

H/T THE WIZ OF ODDS BLOG

The Heisman

Sam Bradford, quarterback of the top ranked Oklahoma Sooners, won the Heisman Memorial Trophy Saturday night in Manhattan. The three finalists were all very deserving as they all had brilliant seasons and possess top notch leadership skills.

My ballot, if I had one, would have been as follows:

1. Colt McCoy, Texas
2. Tim Tebow, Florida
3. Sam Bradford,Oklahoma

I landed on McCoy primarily distancing himself based on his completion percentage, which was mind boggling. And before my Gator fans cry foul, I would have voted Tebow in '07 simply on his astounding numbers.

All three of these young competitors are superior representatives for their respective universities, college football and life in general. We could learn a lot from these outstanding young men, each of whom has remaining eligibility. This is not good for those who compete against Florida, and that just happens to be my boys. Congratulations Sam! Boomer Sooner!