A quick diversion

After watching that unbelievable Redskin game (and hoping RGIII is okay) with a winning performance by my MSU guy, and now a kind of comical Giant/Saints game going on, I got football on the brain.  Food can take a break, i'll sort of get this off my chest...  Maybe consider it to be a palate clearing entry…

Last night while we were enjoying the Madrigal Dinner at St. Mary’s City State House ,this year’s winner of the Heisman Trophy, emblematic of the nation’s “best” (one of my favorite stupid words) football player.

I have to admit I was sorry that Manti Te’o didn’t win, regardless of what team he represents, although his team is in the Championship game, with a lot to do of the defense.  I’m trying to be reasonable here, but really, somebody nicknamed “Johnny Football”?  A (so far) one season wonder, with his resume being he beat the vaunted Alabama team on their home turf.  Not taking anything away from that accomplishment, but I can’t help wonder if A&M lost that game, would he have won the trophy?  He’s a (redshirt) freshman, the first ever frosh to win the award.  Manti is a senior who played in all 38 games in his Notre Dame career, starting 36 total games including 35 consecutive contests for the Irish, boasting 324 tackles, 157 solo stops, 28.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, six pass breakups and two forced fumbles.  THAT is a body of work! Probably being a totally defensive player worked against him.  After all, everybody knows that quarterback is the most important position on the team.  Maybe Football Johnny will go on to an illustrious college (and pro?) career; let’s check his stats four years from now unless he goes starry eyed pro.  Although he didn’t win the Heisman, remember that quarterback from the Irish team that was to be the next Johnny Unitas?  How’d that career turn out? 

I heard a snippit of his acceptance speech, going on about “when I was a kid”.. he just turned 30 this week, not very far removed from a kid..  Our next chance to see him will be against Oklahoma on January 4^th in the Cotton Bowl.  After watching the Sooner’s game against the Irish, who knows what will happen.

Maybe the RG III phenomenon had something to do with it..  flashy, grab the ball and run is all the rage now.   Maybe that helped when Johnny was paired with a defensive player who has played year in and year out.  Who knows..we’ll see how Johnny is an a year or so…  I hope Manti shines in the Alabama game when it’s played sometime in the next century…

 

okay, go
DFD