In just a few hours, the best college football player from the 2009 season will be named as the Heisman Trophy winner. This year’s five candidates make it perhaps the most contested Heisman race in years. Here’s how I think tonight’s ceremony will break down (although I may not totally agree with it):
#5-Toby Gerhart, Stanford RB: Gerhart ranks first in carries, yards and touchdowns in the nation with 311, 1,736 and 26, respectively. However, his name hasn’t been on the main stage as much this season as the other contestants. What hurts Gerhart the most is playing for Stanford, who got a spot in the sub-par Sun Bowl against a 7-5 Oklahoma team that disappointed many this year.
#4-Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska DT: Suh’s a beast, with 82 tackles and a 3rd-best 12 sacks in his senior season. However, defensive players don’t standout when it comes to Heisman winners. In fact, there has been just one defensive Heisman winner ever, Michigan’s Charles Woodsen in 1997, who was listed as a D-back and a wide receiver.
#3-Tim Tebow, Florida QB: He’s one of the most beloved (and therefore most hated) players in college football. But, there has only been one two-time Heisman winner ever, and it will remain that way after tonight. Although Tebow posted good numbers, like finishing 8th in the nation with a 155.6 passer rating, his completions, yards and touchdowns have dropped since his Heisman-winning sophomore year. Plus, Tebow landed the Gators just short of another National Championship run. However, he will go down in history as one of the best college football players ever to grace the national stage.
#2-Mark Ingram, Alabama RB: Ingram finished the season with 249 carries for 1,542 yards and 15 touchdowns. He lands higher on the list than fellow running back Gerhart for a few reasons. One being that Ingram is only a sophomore, and tearing apart defenses like he does at such a young age gives him major points. Also, Ingram has been a main reason why the Crimson Tide will be playing in Pasadena for the BCS title.
#1-Colt McCoy, Texas QB: And the winner is… This Longhorn leader ranks 3rd in completion percentage (70.5), 6th in yards (3,512) and 8th in touchdowns (27). McCoy finished 2nd in the 2008 Heisman standings as a junior, so with numbers similar to last year’s, he seems to be a shoe-in. Not to mention he will be vying for BCS National Championship title in January. Another thing in his favor: in the last 10 years, the Heisman has been given to a quarterback eight times. Congratulations, Colt.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Bruce on Life
Hello world. I apologize for my lack of blogging… it’s been about a month! But things were crazy busy with Thanksgiving break and now I have one week of classes and one week of finals left until graduation, so things are quite hectic right now if you can imagine!
Speaking of Thanksgiving break, I was at what could be Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band’s final concert in Buffalo. (I won’t go into detail about how AMAZING it was!) I’ve been really into his song “Land of Hope and Dreams” lately. Not only is the music great, but the lyrics are really uplifting.
While listening to non-stop Bruce lately, I’ve noticed that he uses a train as a metaphor for life in a lot of his songs; this really speaks to me. Here are some examples:
Downbound Train
I had a job, I had a girl
I had something going, mister, in this world
I got laid off down at the lumber yard
Our love went bad, times got hard
Now I work down at the carwash
Where all it ever does it rain
Don’t you feel like you’re a rider on a downbound train…
Better Days
Well my soul checked out missing as I sat listening
To the hours and minutes ticking away
Yeah, just sittin’ around waitin’ for my life to begin
While it was all just slippin’ away
I’m tired of waiting for tomorrow to come
Or that train to come rolling ‘round the bend…
Human Touch
Oh girl that feeling of safety you prize
Well it comes at a hard, hard price
You can’t shut off the risk and the pain
Without losing the love that remains
We’re all riders on this train…
What Love Can Do
Darling we can’t stop this train
When it comes crashing through
But let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do…
His lyrics are one of the many reasons why I can never, and never will, have enough of Bruce Springsteen. Some of his songs are so uplifting, especially Land Of Hope and Dreams, which I will leave you with. I think it’s my stage in life right now, graduating college and getting ready to go by myself in the “real world” that makes this song stick to me so much. And as weird as it may sound to some, to me it’s like God is singing this to me, telling me that if I let Him, He will take care of me:
Grab your ticket and your suitcase
Thunder’s rolling down the tracks
You don’t know where you’re going
But you know you won’t be back
Darlin’ if you’re weary
Lay your head upon my chest
We’ll take what we can carry
And we’ll leave the rest
Big wheels rolling through fields
Where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams
I will provide for you
And I’ll stand by your side
You’ll need a good companion for
This part of the ride
Leave behind your sorrows
Let this day be the last
Tomorrow will be sunshine
And all this darkness past
Big wheels rolling through fields
Where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams
This train
Carries saints and sinners
This train
Carries losers and winners
This train
Carries whores and gamblers
This train
Carries lost souls
This train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This train
Faith will be rewarded
This train
Hear the steel wheels singing
This train
Bells of freedom ringing
This train
Carries broken-hearted
This train
Thieves and sweet souls departed
This train
Carries fools and kings
This train
All aboard
This train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This train
Faith will be rewarded
This train
Hear the steel wheels singing
This train
Bells of freedom ringing.
Speaking of Thanksgiving break, I was at what could be Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band’s final concert in Buffalo. (I won’t go into detail about how AMAZING it was!) I’ve been really into his song “Land of Hope and Dreams” lately. Not only is the music great, but the lyrics are really uplifting.
While listening to non-stop Bruce lately, I’ve noticed that he uses a train as a metaphor for life in a lot of his songs; this really speaks to me. Here are some examples:
Downbound Train
I had a job, I had a girl
I had something going, mister, in this world
I got laid off down at the lumber yard
Our love went bad, times got hard
Now I work down at the carwash
Where all it ever does it rain
Don’t you feel like you’re a rider on a downbound train…
Better Days
Well my soul checked out missing as I sat listening
To the hours and minutes ticking away
Yeah, just sittin’ around waitin’ for my life to begin
While it was all just slippin’ away
I’m tired of waiting for tomorrow to come
Or that train to come rolling ‘round the bend…
Human Touch
Oh girl that feeling of safety you prize
Well it comes at a hard, hard price
You can’t shut off the risk and the pain
Without losing the love that remains
We’re all riders on this train…
What Love Can Do
Darling we can’t stop this train
When it comes crashing through
But let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do…
His lyrics are one of the many reasons why I can never, and never will, have enough of Bruce Springsteen. Some of his songs are so uplifting, especially Land Of Hope and Dreams, which I will leave you with. I think it’s my stage in life right now, graduating college and getting ready to go by myself in the “real world” that makes this song stick to me so much. And as weird as it may sound to some, to me it’s like God is singing this to me, telling me that if I let Him, He will take care of me:
Grab your ticket and your suitcase
Thunder’s rolling down the tracks
You don’t know where you’re going
But you know you won’t be back
Darlin’ if you’re weary
Lay your head upon my chest
We’ll take what we can carry
And we’ll leave the rest
Big wheels rolling through fields
Where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams
I will provide for you
And I’ll stand by your side
You’ll need a good companion for
This part of the ride
Leave behind your sorrows
Let this day be the last
Tomorrow will be sunshine
And all this darkness past
Big wheels rolling through fields
Where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams
This train
Carries saints and sinners
This train
Carries losers and winners
This train
Carries whores and gamblers
This train
Carries lost souls
This train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This train
Faith will be rewarded
This train
Hear the steel wheels singing
This train
Bells of freedom ringing
This train
Carries broken-hearted
This train
Thieves and sweet souls departed
This train
Carries fools and kings
This train
All aboard
This train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This train
Faith will be rewarded
This train
Hear the steel wheels singing
This train
Bells of freedom ringing.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The 2009 Fall Classic
”I never knew how someone who was dying could say he was the luckiest man in the world. But now I understand.” –Mickey Mantle
That quote pretty much sums up the state of euphoria I was in when Robinson Cano lightly tossed that ground ball to Mark Teixeira for the last out of the New York Yankees’ 27th World Champion season. However, Yankees fan or not, it has to be said that this series, especially game 6, was nothing short of classic baseball at its best.
Certainly A Classic
This game transported me to a time and place of the past, some I remember, some I wasn’t even alive for. First, you have Pedro and Pettitte facing each other on the mound, amidst chants of “Who’s Your Daddy” from the crowd. It was just like being back in the 2004 ALCS (thank goodness this series turned out a lot better!).
Not only do you have Andy on the mound getting his record 18th postseason win, but catching his every pitch is Jorge Posada, and behind them, none other than Derek Jeter. And keep going further back and Mariano Rivera is coming out of the Yanks pen, with “Enter Sandman” blaring over the PA system, to close out the game. These four epitomize the men in pinstripes, as they are true Yankees down to their core. Congrats on “one for the thumb”, guys.
I cannot forget to mention another true Yankee controlling things from the dugout, Joe Girardi. Although this was his 4th ring and not 5th, he was there behind the plate to celebrate the legendary wins in ’96, ’98 and ’99. I could not be happier for Joe. Not only was he a fantastic player I remember well, but also his managerial skills have proven quite impressive. In his first year holding the clipboard, he was named Manager of the Year as the Florida Marlins skipper. Yet, the Marlins fired him after that season. Think they’re regretting that now? I like Tony Pena and how can you not love Donny baseball? But I agree (even before this World Series win) that Girardi was the right man to take over in Torre’s shoes. #27 is well deserving of #27.
Reminiscing back even further, although none of us were alive for it, consider the 1923 season. The Yanks opened the season in the newly built “House that Ruth Built” and finished that season with a ring. Well, this season they christened the “House that Jeter Built” and the captain is walking away at the end again on top of the world.
Godzilla Invades the Bronx
I’ve heard a lot of dislike for Hideki Matsui winning the World Series MVP, but I agree with the choice and I’ll tell you why. Some argue that Matsui didn’t play every game so how can he have impacted the team that much? Well, many of the same people argue that Mariano should have gotten MVP. Mo pitched 5 1/3 innings with two saves and three strikeouts in the six games. What Mariano contributed in this series was huge, but I don’t think it was quite MVP-worthy, comparatively.
No one can argue Matsui’s numbers. He batted .615 with 3 homeruns, not to mention a World Series record-tying six RBI in game 6. He joins Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth as the only player in World Series history to have a batting average of at least .500 and a minimum three homeruns. That is some good company to be in. “Godzilla” was also the first Japanese born MVP and the first full-time DH to get the award.
Sadly, Matsui’s contract with the Yankees is up at the conclusion of this season. Rumors have it that it is either going to be him or Johnny Damon, who’s contract is also up, remaining in pinstripes. If Matsui goes, some sources say he will be going to the Seattle Mariners to play with fellow Japanese player Ichiro Suzuki. Can’t we just keep them both??
Falling Phillies
Yes, the Yankees won, but this blog wouldn’t be complete without the mention of their opponent. Don’t forget that the Phils were two games away from accomplishing the near impossible – repeating as World Series champions. Chase Utley and Cliff Lee anchored the team. Utley matched Mr. October himself, Reggie Jackson’s, record five homeruns in a World Series.
However, they obviously had their downsides. Starter Cole Hamels was basically the heart of the 2008 postseason team. This season, he was quoted as wishing it all were just over. No matter in what context this was uttered, it stirred a little controversy with the team. And then there’s Ryan Howard. His name is linked with tons of hitting accolades through his five years in the MLB, yet none of that was seen in this World Series. Conversely, he had a World Series record 13 strikeouts.
I have no better way to conclude than to quote a writer for The New York Times who once wrote:
”The essence of the Yankees is that they win. From in front or behind they win. And that’s why the history of the New York Yankees is virtually the history of baseball.”
Take a look at SI’s photo gallery of all 27 World Championships. It exemplifies the quote. It shows the Yankees repertoire of winning and shows exactly how this team screams of the ghosts of baseball at its best.
That quote pretty much sums up the state of euphoria I was in when Robinson Cano lightly tossed that ground ball to Mark Teixeira for the last out of the New York Yankees’ 27th World Champion season. However, Yankees fan or not, it has to be said that this series, especially game 6, was nothing short of classic baseball at its best.
Certainly A Classic
This game transported me to a time and place of the past, some I remember, some I wasn’t even alive for. First, you have Pedro and Pettitte facing each other on the mound, amidst chants of “Who’s Your Daddy” from the crowd. It was just like being back in the 2004 ALCS (thank goodness this series turned out a lot better!).
Not only do you have Andy on the mound getting his record 18th postseason win, but catching his every pitch is Jorge Posada, and behind them, none other than Derek Jeter. And keep going further back and Mariano Rivera is coming out of the Yanks pen, with “Enter Sandman” blaring over the PA system, to close out the game. These four epitomize the men in pinstripes, as they are true Yankees down to their core. Congrats on “one for the thumb”, guys.
I cannot forget to mention another true Yankee controlling things from the dugout, Joe Girardi. Although this was his 4th ring and not 5th, he was there behind the plate to celebrate the legendary wins in ’96, ’98 and ’99. I could not be happier for Joe. Not only was he a fantastic player I remember well, but also his managerial skills have proven quite impressive. In his first year holding the clipboard, he was named Manager of the Year as the Florida Marlins skipper. Yet, the Marlins fired him after that season. Think they’re regretting that now? I like Tony Pena and how can you not love Donny baseball? But I agree (even before this World Series win) that Girardi was the right man to take over in Torre’s shoes. #27 is well deserving of #27.
Reminiscing back even further, although none of us were alive for it, consider the 1923 season. The Yanks opened the season in the newly built “House that Ruth Built” and finished that season with a ring. Well, this season they christened the “House that Jeter Built” and the captain is walking away at the end again on top of the world.
Godzilla Invades the Bronx
I’ve heard a lot of dislike for Hideki Matsui winning the World Series MVP, but I agree with the choice and I’ll tell you why. Some argue that Matsui didn’t play every game so how can he have impacted the team that much? Well, many of the same people argue that Mariano should have gotten MVP. Mo pitched 5 1/3 innings with two saves and three strikeouts in the six games. What Mariano contributed in this series was huge, but I don’t think it was quite MVP-worthy, comparatively.
No one can argue Matsui’s numbers. He batted .615 with 3 homeruns, not to mention a World Series record-tying six RBI in game 6. He joins Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth as the only player in World Series history to have a batting average of at least .500 and a minimum three homeruns. That is some good company to be in. “Godzilla” was also the first Japanese born MVP and the first full-time DH to get the award.
Sadly, Matsui’s contract with the Yankees is up at the conclusion of this season. Rumors have it that it is either going to be him or Johnny Damon, who’s contract is also up, remaining in pinstripes. If Matsui goes, some sources say he will be going to the Seattle Mariners to play with fellow Japanese player Ichiro Suzuki. Can’t we just keep them both??
Falling Phillies
Yes, the Yankees won, but this blog wouldn’t be complete without the mention of their opponent. Don’t forget that the Phils were two games away from accomplishing the near impossible – repeating as World Series champions. Chase Utley and Cliff Lee anchored the team. Utley matched Mr. October himself, Reggie Jackson’s, record five homeruns in a World Series.
However, they obviously had their downsides. Starter Cole Hamels was basically the heart of the 2008 postseason team. This season, he was quoted as wishing it all were just over. No matter in what context this was uttered, it stirred a little controversy with the team. And then there’s Ryan Howard. His name is linked with tons of hitting accolades through his five years in the MLB, yet none of that was seen in this World Series. Conversely, he had a World Series record 13 strikeouts.
I have no better way to conclude than to quote a writer for The New York Times who once wrote:
”The essence of the Yankees is that they win. From in front or behind they win. And that’s why the history of the New York Yankees is virtually the history of baseball.”
Take a look at SI’s photo gallery of all 27 World Championships. It exemplifies the quote. It shows the Yankees repertoire of winning and shows exactly how this team screams of the ghosts of baseball at its best.
WS post to come...
If you haven't noticed, I stopped my blogging about the MLB when the World Series started, because I am a born and bred, true-to-the-heart Yankees fan and didn't want to get even in the least biased in my writing. But now that they've won, I definitely can write about it! Whoo hoo!
I'm way too burnt out from that game, though, so stay tuned for my thoughts tomorrow. :)
I'm way too burnt out from that game, though, so stay tuned for my thoughts tomorrow. :)
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
NFL Battle of the Unbeatens
Eight weeks into the NFL season, it’s just about half way over. At the beginning, there were a lot of teams stepping up as tough contenders, but now only two remain undefeated: the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints. Who will go deepest into the season with their perfect record intact? Let’s crunch some numbers.
Wins:
Indianapolis’ road to 8-0 has been seemingly easy. They have only faced one team with a current record at .500 or greater. Overall, they have beaten their teams by an average of 15.6 points and have a point differential of +106.
New Orleans, on the other hand, has played four teams with records at or above .500. And their average win margin and point differential are both greater than the Colts at 17 points and +119, respectively.
Remaining
However, no matter what has happened in the first eight weeks, it all depends on how these two teams can finish out the last nine. The Colts begin this next leg facing four teams each with at least four wins. The Saints’ next four opponents have a combined record of 9-20. Overall, Indianapolis’ remaining foes sit at 36-31 while New Orleans’ are 23-41, including two games against the 0-7 Bucs.
Conclusion
I do not think either team will make it through the whole season unscathed. But, it will be close. I predict Manning’s men will fall week 14 against a tough Denver squad. The Saints will “Brees” through until a week later and be handed their first lost in week 15 against Dallas. New Orleans has just two teams with five wins left on their schedule, the Patriots and the Cowboys, and I think the Cowboys are the tougher of the two and therefore the team to end the Saint’s perfect run.
Agree? Disagree? Feedback, as always, is welcome.
Wins:
Indianapolis’ road to 8-0 has been seemingly easy. They have only faced one team with a current record at .500 or greater. Overall, they have beaten their teams by an average of 15.6 points and have a point differential of +106.
New Orleans, on the other hand, has played four teams with records at or above .500. And their average win margin and point differential are both greater than the Colts at 17 points and +119, respectively.
Remaining
However, no matter what has happened in the first eight weeks, it all depends on how these two teams can finish out the last nine. The Colts begin this next leg facing four teams each with at least four wins. The Saints’ next four opponents have a combined record of 9-20. Overall, Indianapolis’ remaining foes sit at 36-31 while New Orleans’ are 23-41, including two games against the 0-7 Bucs.
Conclusion
I do not think either team will make it through the whole season unscathed. But, it will be close. I predict Manning’s men will fall week 14 against a tough Denver squad. The Saints will “Brees” through until a week later and be handed their first lost in week 15 against Dallas. New Orleans has just two teams with five wins left on their schedule, the Patriots and the Cowboys, and I think the Cowboys are the tougher of the two and therefore the team to end the Saint’s perfect run.
Agree? Disagree? Feedback, as always, is welcome.
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