@DSportsGuide

January 8, 2012

Which CFB Conference Produces the Best First Round Quarterbacks?

The NFL draft is made up of players from all corners of the college football spectrum. Some come from power house schools. Some come from FCS schools. Some are decorated Heisman trophy winners, while others are just hoping to get discovered. The grading and acquisition of talent knows no limits to NFL scouts and general managers.

Being drafted in the first round indicates a player has a superior level of football talent that is coveted by a team. The draft pick is expected to be a franchise cornerstone and high caliber player, which is emphasized by the generous sum of money awarded to first round draftees. Some first rounders will flourish beyond expectations, while others will fail to meet them. Regardless, the top 32 picks are made up of the best talent from all college football walks of life.

Through a series of blog post, I’m going to examine which college football conferences are producing the best first round talent and the most busts to the NFL. I will break it down by position of each player drafted in the first round between 2001 to 2011.

QUARTERBACKS

Best: SEC – The Southeastern Conference has delivered the most 1^st round quarterbacks over the past decade ranging from a Super Bowl champion to, perhaps, the biggest bust in draft history.

At the moment, Eli Manning is the most accomplished SEC quarterback with a Super Bowl ring, Super Bowl MVP, and two Pro Bowl selections. However, this season, Matthew Stafford has closed the gap on the NFL’s elite quarterbacks after passing for over 5,000 yards, 41 touchdowns, and leading the Lions back into the playoffs for the first time since the last millennium (1999).Stafford was widely considered a Pro Bowl snub for the 2011 season.

In the 2011 draft, the SEC delivered Cam Newton to the NFL and the rookie quarterback did not disappoint. After being selected #1 overall by the Panthers, Newton went on to shatter numerous NFL records including most passing yards by a rookie (only rookie in history over 4,000 yards), most touchdowns by a rookie (21 pass, 14 rush), and most passing yards in a single game by a rookie (432). With the Panthers finishing 6-10, a four game improvement from 2010, it seems they have one of the NFL's brightest young stars to lead them into the future.

While Newton’s career seems to have a promising future from a statistical standpoint, Tim Tebow’s future promise is measured by an owner’s favorite metric – wins.

Midway through the season, Tebow took his turn at quarterback for the 1-4 Broncos and guided them to an 8-8 record, playoff berth, and then a playoff victory! While he still lacks the passing prominence of most NFL quarterbacks, Tebow has shown an uncanny ability to lead his team to victory in the 4^th quarter. Tebow’s

The success and future promise of these SEC quarterbacks has been more than enough to outweigh (by a couple of pounds) the failure of world renown NFL draft bust, Mr. Sizzurp Sippin’ himself, JaMarcus Russell as well as the less successful careers of others selected in the first round.

Complete Draft Class: Cam Newton (2011), Tim Tebow (2010), Matthew Stafford (2009), JaMarcus Russell (2007), Jay Cutler (2006), Jason Campbell (2005), Eli Manning (2004), Rex Grossman (2003)

Worst: Big 10 – The Big 10 football conference has not had a quarterback selected in the 1^st Round of the draft since Kerry Collins was selected 5^th overall in 1995 by the upstart Carolina Panthers. In that span, every football conference, except the Sun Belt, had a quarterback selected in the 1^st round, including a FCS school (Delaware).

The lack of interest is a little mind boggling when you consider most Big 10 schools have run oriented, pro-style offenses – something the NFL scouts and general managers usually cherish. When Tulane’s football program has had more quarterbacks (2) drafted in the first round the past decade than the entire conference, it easily makes the Big 10 the worst in the first round.

It’s no wonder Gunner Kiel, the top QB recruit in 2012, switched his commitment from the Big 10 (Indiana) to the SEC (LSU).

Complete Draft Class: None

Best Overall Pick: Pac 10 – Aaron Rodgers, 24^th Overall, 2005: Rodgers has easily proven to be the best quarterback taken in the 1^st round over the past ten years. After leading the Packers to a victory in Super Bowl XLV and following it up with a 15-1 regular season in 2011, the Rodgers succession plan may become a new trend across the NFL. A trend that is making Packers GM, Ted Thompson, seem more and more like a genius every day.

Worst Overall Pick: SEC – JaMarcus Russell, 1^st Overall, 2007: Russell was able to entice scouts with his raw athletic ability, which including throwing a football 60+ yards from his knees. His superman strength throwing a football turned out to be about as useful the NFL game as long drive competitors are to the PGA. Scouts seemed to forget that if you throw a pass from your knees in a game you are down and lose yardage on the play. If Russell ever finds the time to maintain his tools, which is doubtful, perhaps one day in the future he can find a niche as a Hail Mary specialist.

Other Draft Classes:

ACC: Christian Ponder (2011), Matt Ryan (2008), Philip Rivers (2004)

Big East: Michael Vick (2001)

Big12: Blaine Gabbert (2011), Sam Bradford (2010), Josh Freeman (2009), Vince Young (2006)

Pac 10: Jake Locker (2011), Mark Sanchez (2009), Matt Leinart (2006), Aaron Rodgers (2005), Carson Palmer (2003), Kyle Boller (2003), Joey Harrington (2002)

NON-AQ: Joe Flacco (2008), Brady Quinn (2007), Alex Smith (2005), Ben Roethlisberger (2004, JP Losman (2004), Byron Leftwich (2003), David Carr (2002), Patrick Ramsey (2002)

Follow me on twitter: @DSportsGuide

Agree or Disagree? Let me know: DSportsGuide@gmail.com

December 1, 2011

Game of the Century Rematch Defies Purpose of Championship Game

The matter of opinion is what’s the matter with college football these days.

Media and voters react in the preseason based off their perception of what one school should be or what another school isn’t. I don’t have a problem with preseason rankings. In fact, I love them as they make games early in the season more interesting to watch and talk about. I also have no problem that within this type of system there are some huge swings and misses in the rankings.

If the media’s perception of teams was always accurate, Oklahoma and Alabama would be playing for the national title game, the ACC champion Florida State Seminoles would be BCS bound, and Texas A&M looks like it could take the SEC by storm.

If the media’s perception of teams was always accurate, we would all be wondering if Bill Snyder should’ve stayed retired, who will replace Dabo Swinney, and if it’s going to be 10 or 20 years before Baylor sees their next bowl game. None of these teams received a single vote in the AP preseason poll.

I guess it’s a damn good thing they played out the season after the preseason poll was released.

My real problem is the way the media spins its perception of a team with a herd mentality and refuses to be individually objective. A current example would be the national media’s conviction that Alabama is the second best team in the nation.

Are you sure? Can you prove that with 100% factual positivity?

It’s mind boggling how the majority can emphatically exclaim this in unison when college football is a sport that annually carries so many unknowns.

Fans and media that constantly clamor for a playoff system don’t seem to realize this season has presented an opportunity for them to see the closest thing to one. If LSU takes on a worthy opponent they haven’t faced this season, like OSU, it will be the closest thing to a playoff type of champion college football has ever seen.

The Tigers have been the country’s most dominating team this season (by far) and are the only AQ team left unscathed. They’ve decisively defeated the probable champs of the Pac 12 and Big East and both teams would likely receive automatic berths in many proposed playoff formats. LSU also beat Arkansas, who is a top ten team this season and a potential candidate for an at large bid in many playoff formats.

In the game of the century, LSU went into ‘Bama's turf and wa able to leave victorious. Do you realize the significance of home field advantage in Tuscaloosa? That fan base is rabidly, foaming out the mouth, passionate for Alabama football and the Crimson Tide were unable to win this game with 102,000 screaming fans making life a living hell for the LSU players. What on earth makes people certain they can beat them on a neutral site?

If this was a playoff, LSU would be in the championship game and Alabama, Oregon, Arkansas, and West Virginia would be eliminated.

The ironic thing is Alabama hasn't been eliminated. Instead, they are in line to get a second chance to try and beat LSU because of the popular OPINION they are a better football team than Oklahoma State. LSU being a better team than Alabama is a FACT proven on the actual football field.

Where is the factual proof that Oklahoma State isn’t the better team?

Is it fact because the media says so? Has the media watched and dissected football enough this season to where they are sure Oklahoma State wouldn’t present any match-up problems for LSU or Alabama? Did I miss where European scientist cloned Alabama and Oklahoma State’s teams and had them play a game in which Alabama won or something? How do they know this for sure?

These are the same people who thought Florida State was the 5^th best team in the nation at the beginning of this season. These are the same people that ranked Auburn #22 to begin last season. These are the same people who almost gave us a rematch in 2006 when they thought Ohio State and Michigan were the two best teams in the country, which was clearly not the case.

Everyone has been wrong before. The difference is Florida State got a chance to prove they are not the 5th best team, Auburn was able to prove on the field they were better than #22, and Ohio State had already proven they were better than Michigan.

I understand the desire to put who we think are the two best teams in the national championship game, but how can we know for sure? Since we already know LSU is better than Alabama, why do we need a second opinion? Why not put a team in there who has no proven result against the best team in the nation?

Oklahoma State is being penalized heavily for losing to a bowl eligible opponent on the road in double overtime. Yes, it was a bad loss. However, in 2008, Florida lost at home to a mediocre Ole Miss team and still played for the national championship. Instead of penalizing them for losing at home, the voters instead noted they had great wins against Georgia and Alabama, the only teams they beat in the regular season that were ranked in the final BCS Poll.

If Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma, they will have beaten five teams currently ranked in the BCS Poll and become conference champions. That’s three more top 25 victories than Florida had in 2008. Why can’t Oklahoma State be rewarded for their quality wins and winning their conference like the Gators were just three years ago?

Also, why was the national media prepared to give OU a pass for losing at home in regulation to Texas Tech? Before Oklahoma lost to Baylor, the media cited the Sooners could pick up a marquee win for the polls if they are able to beat Oklahoma State. Why would it be a marquee win for one school but not the other?

If the Pokes beat the Sooners and the media was alright with Oklahoma playing for the national championship, why shouldn't they be fine with Oklahoma State? Iowa State throttled Texas Tech 41-7 in Lubbock. Isn't a road loss in overtime to Iowa State better than a loss at home to Texas Tech, especially when you consider the extenuating circumstances facing Oklahoma State on that tragic Friday?

The media assumptions and bias in favor of traditional powerhouses or the SEC is ridiculous and could prevent the fans from assurance of who is the true champion.

The consensus wants to put a weighted emphasis on losses rather than quality wins when it comes to the resumes of the one loss teams. This is fine with me as long as they are consistent about it. If losses are weighted more than quality wins, then let’s vote undefeated Houston into the national championship game. They are ranked 6^th in the BCS and don't have any bad losses (don’t roll your eyes at me).

I'm tired of hearing, without reason, that Alabama is the second best team in the nation. They might be, but they also were able to avoid Georgia and South Carolina, who are both 10 win teams and both may have provided Alabama with an upset. At least Oklahoma State beat all the marquee teams in the Big 12.

I’m not saying it’s my opinion Oklahoma State would beat either Alabama or LSU if they were to play. I just think asinine, preseason-like, assumptions leave too much to be desired in college football. This is the one season the voters can feel, with certainty, they know who the best team in the country is.

I've never seen an opinion throw a touchdown pass, make an open field tackle, kick a field goal, or run a two minute drill, but I have seen football players do it.

Even if people are truly convinced Alabama is the second best team in the nation, I think it would be idiotic not to let Oklahoma State prove otherwise assuming they beat Oklahoma. Alabama had their shot to prove they were the best and lost against LSU. When a heavyweight boxer wins a title fight, they take on challenges from different competitors to prove they are the best. They don't beat the same guy up four times in a row. Consider the Tigers college football's heavyweight champ.

Is the point of having a championship game to find out who the best team in the country is or who the two best teams in the country are?

Can the BCS really stand behind their slogan that “Every Game Counts” if a rematch is awarded to Alabama?

Follow me on Twitter: @DSportsGuide

November 18, 2011

Penn State has a moral obligation to accept a bowl invitation

The Penn State scandal has rocked and shocked the college football nation. Speculation on why the university would cover up such heinous crimes continues to swirl. The lack of explanation from anyone involved, who hasn’t molested a child, has become frustrating for millions around the nation.

Throughout last week, numerous sports analyst and public figures, outraged and inflamed by the nature of the scandal, verbosely suggested the Nittany Lions should not play against Nebraska last Saturday out of respect for the victims. They even went as far to say that players and fans should boycott the game if it remains scheduled as planned. The pressure was building and all eyes around the country were focused squarely on Happy Valley.

Saturday came and went, the game was played, players showed up, and so did nearly 110,000 fans. The Penn State faithful were unified and dressed in blue to show their support for the victims affected by Jerry Sandusky. They were there to show their support for a community that is deeply intertwined with Penn State football. A community filled with parents and kids who cheered for Penn State, while the university was protecting a scumbag who was molesting their children and their children’s friends.

They were there to support the children who had their innocence stolen well after Mike McQueary walked in on “rhythmic slapping” in a Penn State locker room shower in 2002--when the university had their second clear cut opportunity to put a predator behind bars.

The fans were still there in support of their school after the board of trustees was forced to fire, by phone, the most unfireable coach in the history of sports due to his failure to act when his right hand man was accused of molesting children.

After all of this, the community and fans were still there to support their university.

As the facts stand now, Penn State officials could’ve stopped a predator from harming children throughout their community, but instead covered it up. The motives of the former President, Vice President, Athletic Director, and Coach to cover up this scandal remain unconfirmed. It’s hard to fathom a reason an institution would want to hide or allow such appalling acts for any period of time.

The bottom line is a child abusing monster was able to use the Penn State football program to lure in his prey similar to the way a regular pervert, who doesn’t have ties to Joe Paterno and can’t coach a defense, would use candy at the playground in the park.

After the Sandusky allegations, Penn State continued to leverage and expand their national platform using one of college football’s most legendary icons as the front man. Since 1998, the Penn State official’s (including Paterno) first priority was to ensure Nittany Lion football and the legend of Joe Pa remain unscathed. Rather than protect children, they sacrificed them and their well-being for Penn State football.

Some things never chance as it seems the university’s concerns continue to be about their public image. Rumors are swirling Penn State would refuse any invite to a bowl game this season to help get out of the scandal ridden spotlight as quickly and quietly as possible.

The thought of the school believing a bowl ban is an appropriate punishment for their inaction is both laughable and egocentric. Refusing a bowl invitation would be more of a slap in the face for the innocent Sandusky victims, rather a punishment for Penn State.

Penn State should absolutely accept ANY bowl invitation they are offered this post season.

Penn State University has committed crimes and it’s time for them to participate in community service like any other criminal.

Penn State is currently projected to be invited anywhere from the Gator Bowl to the Little Caesar’s Bowl and the payout they could receive ranges anywhere from $750,000 to $2,700,000. Does Penn State deserve this money?

Hell No. However, they should provide the service for it.

Penn State should donate all the revenue from the bowl game to worthy organizations such as the Central Pennsylvania victims of child abuse and charitably match that figure in a donation of their own. Nonprofit organizations are always in need of funds to help continue their mission for betterment of our communities and it’s time for the university to show remorse and financially provide for the community that supports Penn State football every Saturday.

They neglected child rape to assure the football program’s prominence and post season success. They shouldn’t all of a sudden neglect the money can earn from it just because it’s dirty. Leaving that money on the table, instead of worthy causes’ pockets, would be asinine.

The results of this scandal are a severe tragedy and no amount of money is ever going to replace what the victims taken from them. Youth and innocence are priceless. However, providing funds to nonprofits or charities that could help prevent these types of crimes in the future and enable them with more resources needed to fight the good fight. The concept of this donation would be a good start on the path to redemption for Penn State.

Also, raising $2 Million dollars on a publicly promoted platform has much more value to an organization compared to raising $2 Million dollars by private donors. The impact is far more prevalent and people that would not initially be interested or concerned are drawn to pay attention to it because of the national stage it’s being presented.

National media outlets everywhere would be promoting and reporting on the issue, which raises awareness of the subject. This is the exact reason why Breast Cancer Awareness Month is so heavily promoted. This is the same concept on how Penn State should represent these victims in their bowl game.

The Penn State story is not going away anytime soon, which means neither are the eyeballs fixated on Happy Valley. The ratings for the Penn State/Nebraska game on Saturday were twice what they normally are for its time slot. People are going to tune into Penn State football the rest of the season, it’s a lightning rod. A bowl game is another national stage and opportunity to raise awareness about child abuse to a large audience.

The effort of the team, coaches, and fans to wear blue at the Nebraska game was commendable last Saturday- I give them props. However, for the bowl game Penn State should step it up and make a huge statement. As well as the Blue jerseys, the Nittany Lions should wear blue, pants, socks and shoes in honor of child abuse victims. Their typical helmets should remain classic white, but with a commemorative blue ribbon on the sides like a logo. It’s obviously a small and simple gesture, but uniforms get so much publicity these days in college football that it would go longer way than people expect.

Raising awareness to millions by creating conversation about an uncomfortable and taboo topic is more important than any type of donation these causes could receive. Penn State should put their embarrassment and shame aside and be a martyr for the cause.

To be clear, Penn State should not accept any bowl invitation if their intentions aren’t to fully donate all revenue or to promote their university rather than a charitable cause.

For Penn State, playing in a bowl game should not be about winning a football game, either. Frankly, they don’t deserve to win, which is a completely unfair statement to the current and past players of Penn State Football. They sacrificed far too much to try and ensure they win on the field.

It should be about playing for the victims of Jerry Sandusky. Penn State now has a moral obligation to raise awareness about these types of horrendous injustices, specifically because they allowed them to occur for the sake of protecting football fortune.

It is impossible the amount of money and awareness raised through one bowl game will ever be enough to resolve the inaction of Penn State officials. Five million bowl games wouldn’t be enough.

However, it’s time for Penn State to be leaders and turn a negative situation into a positive for the community.

Criminal acts deserve criminal resolutions and a monetary probation coupled with community service seems like the appropriate fit in Happy Valley. It’s hard to say how many games would be appropriate for this issue, in fact it’s impossible.

However, one thing that is for certain is that Penn State University shouldn’t coward away from their situation because it’s dishonorable. They should own up to it and do the morally profound thing by helping those who they’ve allowed harm.

We Are..?

Well, that remains to be seen.

Follow me on Twitter: @DSportsGuide