Iowa and USC...other stuff

[McFly41]

IMO the two hottest teams in college football. Many of you know I am an Iowan, but not a huge Iowa fan. In fact, I am generally very critical of the Hawkeyes, but they give one little to criticise.
These are the two teams in the nation that NO ONE really wants to play going into the bowl season.
Iowa with Banks leading the way has steadily exceded ALL expectations. Picked in the lower half of the BIG 10 pre-season, the Hawks have not only dominated the conference, but have climbed the rankings since hitting the 5-1 mark. Take away a piss poor second half against a scappy Iowa State and weak opponents in Utah State and Akron...the Hawks are in OSU's spot in the BCS rankings.
USC, minus an early loss to Washington State (and someone else?)have been near flawless. On the arm of Carson Palmer, the Trojans have dominated the PAC 10.
I expect Iowa and Washington State to meet in the Rose Bowl, that is unless Miami, OSU, Texas and OU fall apart, at least three of those teams would have to lose a game anyway. If there is no undefeated team at seasons end, could Iowa face OU in the championship (if OU is the team to come out without a second loss)? Unlikely, I know, but Iowa is worthy!
Banks and Palmer would lead my Heisman list, based on what they have done for their respective teams and what the team would do w/o them. Miami would win w/o Dorsey, but not w/o Magahee...Magahee would be on the list Dorsey would not.
Brown should eclipse the 2000 yard mark w/ three games and less than 400 yards to get there, he's a top candidate. And don't forget Larry Johnson, who has quietly but consistently dominated his opponents while gaining number similar to Brown.
Banks won't get it because he's from Iowa. That and the fact that the Hawks regular season concludes today, voters will have three weeks to forget him. Palmer probably won't get it because he's in the West and folks out East just don't get to see him play. Dorsey doesn't deserve it, nice resume, but he is a product of his surroundings...see Gino Toretta.
Magahee, while deserving, is only a Soph.
Johnson, also deserving, but overshadowed by players on better teams.
Brown gets 2000, he should be the reciepeint.

[magnus]

something that annoys me a moment while I have the topic - the parallel of Aaron Brooks to Banks. I didn't even know before I watched today Banks was black. It didn't matter to me, all I had to look at were scout sheets, internet reports, I'd never even seen a picture. I don't scout Iowa past a few backs last year on recommendation.

He's much more Garcia than Brooks. They're similar, but the release, the manner of going about business, he's much more Garcia. It's like when they'd call Jeffers a McCafferey clone. No. Moose is an Eddy Mc clone. They're physical, huge receivers. Jeffers played like a big Rod Smith, or maybe Tim Brown if you wanted to go more league wide in the reference. But maybe that's why I hate it when that type comparison comes into play.

I dunno where I read the Brooks comparison - may have been here. Dunno if it was you McFly or not, and it wasn't meant in any way personally toward you, but that gets under my skin some.


with or without McGahee - tell me this. Do you find McGahee that much better than his backups? They do very well as backups. Portis was once nothing, McGahee was once nothing. Edge had one good year. Those backs just keep on barreling out of UM like nothing else in the world right now. Miami doesn't have another Dorsey. He might not be asked to do as much, and no, he'd never be a one man show. He's not even asked to make tough throws, or throw on a rope, which I've seen him do well. Very well. He's a very good QB. No one on that team deserves an MVP because they are a team. They've had too much success to see any diversity from anyone, it's just a matter of who made the play that drive.

If McGahee goes another year and does that much better next year, sure. But there's no way that I could feel like Willis is doing something above and beyond when he's just doing what Portis did, and all that went before him did. For that he'd actually have to go above and beyond.

[Coops Greatest Fan]

Originally posted by McFly41
These are the two teams in the nation that NO ONE really wants to play going into the bowl season.

USC, minus an early loss to Washington State (and someone else?)have been near flawless.

I expect Iowa and Washington State to meet in the Rose Bowl, that is unless Miami, OSU, Texas and OU fall apart, at least three of those teams would have to lose a game anyway.

1. I'm beginning to think that no one in the nation wants to play K-State. It's hard enough getting home for home series (yes we only seat a little over 52,000), but bowl games give us the chance to play big name teams. Our team is at their peak right now. We just blew out Nebraska 49-13 today at home. Score was only close twice - at the beginning of the game and when NU scored in the third quarter making the score 20-13. We held Nebraska to 231 yards (less than 100 I believe was rushing yards) while our offense had 507/508. Our QB had 228 rushing yards himself.

2. USC lost to Kansas State. That's their other loss. Our defense held Palmer all evening long. The game wasn't as close as it looked. KSU should have had more than 27 points.

3. Talk is the Holiday Bowl wants USC bad. Bad thing is it looks like it will either be K-State or Colorado in the same bowl, which this game would be a rematch for both. It'll be interesting to see.

[McFly41]

Mags, must have been someone else that made that comparison. I would have never said Brooks, Garcia would definately be accuracte now that you mention it.
The only person I compaired him to was Seneca Wallace, and that's just because they showed a split screen of the two of them dropping back and they looked identical mechanically, although Banks has proved to be a better true QB...Wallce is a better athlete.
I probably did make the comparison of Mc & Jeffers though. In retrospect, Jeffers has fairer skin?

What did you think of Banks now that you've seen a little of him?

He's funny! Real shy kid when you stick a mic and camera in his face. He's just kind of "Ah, shucks" when asked about the Heisman. Never really any marketing on him for the Heisman either, his play on the feild and that's it.
Last week @ Northwestern and this week @ Minnesota you saw hometown fans even holding up "Banks for Heisman" signs. That says alot to me when an opponents fan cast a vote of confidence.

CGF, USC and KSU meeting again in a bowl game would be awesome. I remember that game, Palmer didn't really get in a grove. Played more like the Palmer of 2001.
KSU has come on of late and has played a generally tough schedule...although beating up on Nebraska is really bitter-sweet this year. You'd like to beat them at their best and frankly, they aren't even a shadow of themselves anymore.

[McFly41]

OH! And Texas showed their true colors today getting bumped by Texas Tech.
DAMN IT! I really want everyone to close out w/ at least one loss. If that were to happen it would probably be OU and Miami for the Championship anyway, but it would be cool if Iowa and OU could battle for it. With all the Hawkeye flavor in OU (The Stoops boys, Long and Co.) I call them the Oklahome Hawkeyes, just for shits and giggles.
OSU is going down next week...shoudl have lost this week, and last week, and to Penn State. They just haven't dominated people enough to be considered #1 or #2.

[Coops Greatest Fan]

Originally posted by McFly41
CGF, USC and KSU meeting again in a bowl game would be awesome. I remember that game, Palmer didn't really get in a grove. Played more like the Palmer of 2001.
KSU has come on of late and has played a generally tough schedule...although beating up on Nebraska is really bitter-sweet this year. You'd like to beat them at their best and frankly, they aren't even a shadow of themselves anymore.

I agree that Nebraska isn't at their best this year, but any win over NU is something for K-State fans when we've only been able to beat them 3 times in 33 years? 3 in a row at home is something us fans enjoy! Now only if we could go to Lincoln and play this way!

I really want to play in the Holiday or Alamo bowls. I went to the Cotton 2 years ago and was not impressed with their stadium. If we could meet back up with USC, I'm sure we'd have a different team playing than the one we played back in September.

[magnus]

Banks isn't bad at all. I like what I see, no doubt. Very polished, yes, as complete a product as you'll get. Probably not the most talented at anything in this draft but I'd say he does well at everything.

As far as here? doubt it. Just doesn't make a good fit.
re: Jeffers, McCaffrey, everyone made that connection. Saw big white receiver with a little speed, but their games are totally different. It's like calling Jeff Blake a Doug Williams clone because they're both black and have guns.

[Piper]

Originally posted by McFly41
They just haven't dominated people enough to be considered #1 or #2.

True dat. But a lot of champions haven't.

UT, in 98, dominated no one outside South Carolina, had 4 late fourth QTR come from behind victories, but we had a big zero in the loss column at the end of the year.

[BearBryant]

Originally posted by Piper


True dat. But a lot of champions haven't.

UT, in 98, dominated no one outside South Carolina, had 4 late fourth QTR come from behind victories, but we had a big zero in the loss column at the end of the year.

Dont forget to thank Clint Stoerner:)

[Piper]

Oh, and mags, you didn't read that here. ESPN compared Banks to Brooks.

[Piper]

Originally posted by BearBryant


Dont forget to thank Clint Stoerner:)

That guy had to feel just terrible. Tripped over some grass and fumbled. Still, the coach is the one who went stupid and called a bootleg when three straight dives and a punt would have probably done the trick.

I'll admit. We had lucky orange leprechans that year.

[BearBryant]

Originally posted by Piper


That guy had to feel just terrible. Tripped over some grass and fumbled. Still, the coach is the one who went stupid and called a bootleg when three straight dives and a punt would have probably done the trick.

I'll admit. We had lucky orange leprechans that year.

I've never seen one play have more significance in college football, EVER! Stoerner doesnt fumble, UT never even makes it the SECCG much less the NCG. Who knows what would have happened.

[McFly41]

Originally posted by magnus
Banks isn't bad at all. I like what I see, no doubt. Very polished, yes, as complete a product as you'll get. Probably not the most talented at anything in this draft but I'd say he does well at everything.

As far as here? doubt it. Just doesn't make a good fit.


I wasn't refering to him coming to Carolina, I want Palmer! I was talking about the Heisman. I'd say he's the only college FB player that has elevated his team to another level.
Dorsey is just Gino Toretta V, Miami QB's are like Friday the 13th sequels to me. I've seen them and they are all the same.
Palmer had a rough start, but has steadily climbed.
Leftwich is the only player I would but on the same level. Steady, consistent, worthy, but the injury will set him back.
McGahee is worthy, but not more than Brown or Johnson.
Johnson improved his position today with 327 yards. P-S-U, P-S-U, P-S-U!
Brown slipped today by fumbling twice. Is this a common thing, cuz the announcers didn't make abig deal of it. Chances are they'll try to say his ribs were injured before the fumbles, but they weren't. Both were before the injury. They took him out of the game immediately.

Banks, IMO, has been the biggest impact player in college FB. More consistent than any other player and directy has dictated the Hawks W-L record. They might not be the best Iowa team ever, but they are damn close and better than OSU...easily. Iowa can play with anyone, anyone can play with OSU!
OSU and Miami in the National Championship? I think I'll see if I can put in some OT that night! Then again, OSU WILL lose to Michigan next week, so what am I worried about. It's probably going to be Miami and OU or Wash St. for the title. If that happens, we could see USC and Iowa in the Rose. THAT would be a game destined for ESPN Classic.

[Piper]

Dorsey will win if he wins out. It's all about marketing, what name is going to sell more newspapers.

[BearBryant]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Piper
Dorsey will win if he wins out. It's all about marketing, what name is going to sell more newspapers. [/QUOTE

agreed

[McFly41]

Originally posted by Piper
Dorsey will win if he wins out. It's all about marketing, what name is going to sell more newspapers.

And in that lies what SUCKS about the Heisman Trophy. It's become more about $$$ than recognition.

Banks is pretty laid back, quiet, shy. Never heard a word from Palmer. Brown ran well tonight, but slipped bue to Biakabutukitis.
Larry Johnson is the only guy I can see really making a move, and we all know how Marketable a Joe Paterno coached player is, the media LOVES Jo-Pa!

Name three Heisman winners in the last ten years that are worth a shit today?

[Piper]

Originally posted by McFly41



Name three Heisman winners in the last ten years that are worth a shit today?

1. Eddie George
2. Charles Woodson
3. Ricky Williams

[magnus]

being the best college player and being the best pro prospect are obviously different things.

[McFly41]

***1. Eddie George***
2. Charles Woodson
***3. Ricky Williams***

Guess I should have said 4? You get the point though.

***being the best college player and being the best pro prospect are obviously different things.***

Before 1990, that wasn't so much the case. The Heisman Trophy has become a bit of a joke, IMO. Too much emphasis put on promotion, why not let the game speak for itself.
Instead of self promoting media hogs looking to sell papers, the award should be decided by the players and coaches. The greatest individual honor in college FB should be decided by those that actually take part in the action and know first hand.
Now it's liek a fucking Presidential campaign.