The Bubbies
Welcome to the first annual Bubbies, where I, ol' vtbub, give out awards to the best and worst in college football.
MVP- Darren McFadden RB-Arkansas
The numbers aren't important here, he can run, catch, lineup pretty much anywhere on offense, throw, and win. I'd venture to guess that if he wasn't so valuable as the tailback in Arkansas, his quarterbacking skills would be good enough to try him as a starter. I watched the last two Arkansas games this year, he is the reason they got as far as they did as Casey Dick had to be one of the worst quarterbacks I've seen.
2. WVU's Steve Slaton 3. Texas' Colt McCoy
Player of the Year- Troy Smith Ohio State
In football, like life, you need leadership. Troy Smith provided leadership in bunches. The Heisman Trophy winner isn't the best quarterback i the country, but he won, and won, and won. He didn't beat himself, he rose to the occasion when Ohio State needed him too. He is as close to unflappable as I've seen in college under center. He isn't arrogant, but confident. He probay isn't going to Canton, but he will have a impact on the game at some level in the future, he has coach written all over him. If you were looking for Jim Tressel's legacy at Ohio State, it starts with Smith.
2. McFadden 3. Garrett Wolfe Northern Illinois
Team of the Year- Ohio State
No matter what happens against Florida in Glendale, the 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes were the most prepared, best coached, and strongest team from start to finish this regular season. They played two #1 v #2 games this season, a first if I recall correctly, and one both, including one on the road in Austin. This team is better than the one that beat Miami in 2002 for the title, because they played as a complete team. They go to the title game without a major exploitable weakness.
2. Rutgers 3. USC
Coach of the Year- Pete Carroll USC
This was supposed to be Southern Cal's down year. It was such a down year, they came within a half away from the title game. The Pac 10 title and Rose Bowl are such consolations for a team that lost Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush to Sunday. Yep, no Norm Chow, no Mike Williams, no Carson Palmer. Just Pete.
Yes, they fell short and yes, UCLA made them look goofy, but the defense improved over last year, and between the Oregon State loss and the UCLA loss, they were the best team in the country, and that's with a running game that lost a step and a quarterback who would fluctuate in confidence. Carroll deserves the credit.
2. Charlie Weis ND (7-5 without him) 3. Greg Schiano Rutgers
Now the "Razzies" portion, sorry no pictures.
Most Overrated Player- Brady Quinn Notre Dame
He may be a good player, but if he wasn't wearing the gold helmet, he wouldn't have been a Heisman finalist. For someone who was supposedly so skilled, his ability to handle pass pressure leaves a ton to be desired. His hanging up on the press box against Southern Cal in the second half was a riot. Our esteemed editor, Brian, shared a choice sentence or two with me during that.
Listen, there is no question that Quinn has talent. He can make the jump to Sunday and play well, if he's coachable. Charlie Weis was the main reason ND got as far as hey did, he's a master string puller. Unfortunately for Quinn, he's staying at Notre Dame.
2. Adrian Peterson OU (Broke collarbone taunting on a touchdown) 3. SEC Quarterbacks not named Tebow
Most Overrated Conference- ACC
While Wake Forest is a very sweet story, has any conference underperformed and underwhelmed week in and week out as the supposedly super Atlantic Coast Conference?
Florida State, Miami, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech. All fabled programs, all had dreams of the BCS when the season started, will be watching it on TV. FSU and Miami were downright horrible. Clemson and Georgia Tech were outright out coached, and Virginia Tech just wasn't as good as they thought would be.
While one down season should not be worthy of such a lashing, considering that the ACC blew up the best conference in basketball to get tons of football money, it certainly fits the worthy bill as overrated.
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Not wanting to close this on a sour note, congrats to Troy Smith on winning the Heisman. This isn't an award that should go to the best NFL prospect, it's an award that should go to the most valuable team player, and while I picked McFadden here, Smith is extremely worthy of it. He, along with Quinn and McFadden, are great leaders and role models. A well deserved honor.
MVP- Darren McFadden RB-Arkansas
The numbers aren't important here, he can run, catch, lineup pretty much anywhere on offense, throw, and win. I'd venture to guess that if he wasn't so valuable as the tailback in Arkansas, his quarterbacking skills would be good enough to try him as a starter. I watched the last two Arkansas games this year, he is the reason they got as far as they did as Casey Dick had to be one of the worst quarterbacks I've seen.
2. WVU's Steve Slaton 3. Texas' Colt McCoy
Player of the Year- Troy Smith Ohio State
In football, like life, you need leadership. Troy Smith provided leadership in bunches. The Heisman Trophy winner isn't the best quarterback i the country, but he won, and won, and won. He didn't beat himself, he rose to the occasion when Ohio State needed him too. He is as close to unflappable as I've seen in college under center. He isn't arrogant, but confident. He probay isn't going to Canton, but he will have a impact on the game at some level in the future, he has coach written all over him. If you were looking for Jim Tressel's legacy at Ohio State, it starts with Smith.
2. McFadden 3. Garrett Wolfe Northern Illinois
Team of the Year- Ohio State
No matter what happens against Florida in Glendale, the 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes were the most prepared, best coached, and strongest team from start to finish this regular season. They played two #1 v #2 games this season, a first if I recall correctly, and one both, including one on the road in Austin. This team is better than the one that beat Miami in 2002 for the title, because they played as a complete team. They go to the title game without a major exploitable weakness.
2. Rutgers 3. USC
Coach of the Year- Pete Carroll USC
This was supposed to be Southern Cal's down year. It was such a down year, they came within a half away from the title game. The Pac 10 title and Rose Bowl are such consolations for a team that lost Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush to Sunday. Yep, no Norm Chow, no Mike Williams, no Carson Palmer. Just Pete.
Yes, they fell short and yes, UCLA made them look goofy, but the defense improved over last year, and between the Oregon State loss and the UCLA loss, they were the best team in the country, and that's with a running game that lost a step and a quarterback who would fluctuate in confidence. Carroll deserves the credit.
2. Charlie Weis ND (7-5 without him) 3. Greg Schiano Rutgers
Now the "Razzies" portion, sorry no pictures.
Most Overrated Player- Brady Quinn Notre Dame
He may be a good player, but if he wasn't wearing the gold helmet, he wouldn't have been a Heisman finalist. For someone who was supposedly so skilled, his ability to handle pass pressure leaves a ton to be desired. His hanging up on the press box against Southern Cal in the second half was a riot. Our esteemed editor, Brian, shared a choice sentence or two with me during that.
Listen, there is no question that Quinn has talent. He can make the jump to Sunday and play well, if he's coachable. Charlie Weis was the main reason ND got as far as hey did, he's a master string puller. Unfortunately for Quinn, he's staying at Notre Dame.
2. Adrian Peterson OU (Broke collarbone taunting on a touchdown) 3. SEC Quarterbacks not named Tebow
Most Overrated Conference- ACC
While Wake Forest is a very sweet story, has any conference underperformed and underwhelmed week in and week out as the supposedly super Atlantic Coast Conference?
Florida State, Miami, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech. All fabled programs, all had dreams of the BCS when the season started, will be watching it on TV. FSU and Miami were downright horrible. Clemson and Georgia Tech were outright out coached, and Virginia Tech just wasn't as good as they thought would be.
While one down season should not be worthy of such a lashing, considering that the ACC blew up the best conference in basketball to get tons of football money, it certainly fits the worthy bill as overrated.
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Not wanting to close this on a sour note, congrats to Troy Smith on winning the Heisman. This isn't an award that should go to the best NFL prospect, it's an award that should go to the most valuable team player, and while I picked McFadden here, Smith is extremely worthy of it. He, along with Quinn and McFadden, are great leaders and role models. A well deserved honor.
