I Watch MTV if I want pretty. I watch ESPN when I want football
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by Billysellers
College football awards are plentiful. There is no doubt about that and there is no doubt that the reason lot of the awards spur up is because of money and a desire to be on ESPN. But what actually makes a football award special and what awards are actually worth paying attention to. I made up my mind for a few specific reasons why I was going to cover The O'Brien this season...but first, here is why i didn't choose the others.
The Bronco Nagurski...Great award, not a long history. The award began in 1993, and honors the nation's outstanding defensive player of the year, so it just was not around long enough for me. Plus, defense is great, but it is not that exciting. I support the award but voting on a quality defensive player of the year is highly subjective. Think about it...if you are a safety that leads your team in tackles, what does that say??? It says your defense stinks up front and players are running into you in the secondary.
The Chuck Bednarik Award...honors the "defensive player of the year". Hmmm....this one is in it's 13th season. Again not long enough for an ward to have any street cred with me.
The Doak Walker...I like this one, it represents a lot of what is great in college football, clock management. The longer you have the ball and the more you run, the better of your time will be. The only reason i did not choose to get into this award is due to a long standing strife I have had with SMU. ha ha ha. I know its silly, but its a personal thing. So let me say this, I think the award is worthy of any and all recognition it gets...just keep it clean and represent players who were not like the SMU of old, which paid for play. Good luck to whomever wins it this year though, I think Mike Hart might just get it!!!
The Biletnikoff Aard...nation's best receiver. All I have to say is this, who throws him the ball...That's right, The QB. Nuff said.
The Heisman...Obviously it s a pretty good award, but who votes for the dang thing. They have people grandfathered into voting...or should I say Great Great Great grandfathered into voting. Some of these guys probably don't even watch football anymore and that is a shame. Plus it only an award for someone "pretty". I watch MTV if I want pretty. I watch ESPN when i want football.
The Thorpe Award...nation's best DB. Pretty cool but no one knows who these guys are. I like Jim Thorpe, but again, defense is a reactionary position. Your play does not dictate the offense, the offensive strategy will be very much the dictator of defensive scheme. Sorry, no Love for the defenders.
The John Mackey Award...Let's see. Most good offenses count on solid tight end play, and I appreciate that. But....the award has only been around for 7 years. Too young to even be in the conversation.
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award... It's only for Seniors. Give me a break, all the good ones get drafted after a year or two.
Lou Groza Award...Soccer players in pads. I don't think so.
Ray Guy Award... Again, Soccer...
Rimington Trophy...Nation's best center. Other than snapping the ball to the QB which is pretty important...it is a pretty boring position.
Vince Lombardi Award... Great name...I love Vince Lombardi! BORING position! Lineman? Seriously?
Now the reason I went with The O'Brien. The O'Brien symbolizes the most prestigious position in all of sport. The Quarterback. There is no position that requires full team buy in, strategic thinking and leadership like QB. I love the award because it is simply the most prestigious QB Award available and it represents all that is good in the wide world of sports; character, leadership, tenacity, diligence...The list goes on. Check out what The O'Brien is doing this year and for years to come.
While we have so many trophies and awards handed out yearly, it almost feels like a little league game, there are a few that are truly noteworthy and will outlive the media marketing and integrated approaches to make money. The O'Brien is one at the top of the list.
