[Husker] lack of class...?

[BRADALAN at aol.com]

Have to disagree with your analogy Bill,
 
IMHO, there is a big difference between playing to win and padding stats  for 
an individual award.  I think most NFL coaches and players would agree  that 
an undefeated record is not meaningless, especially Bob Griese's  Dolphins.  
Also, the starters need to play the majority (more than the  first half) of 
these games just to keep in synch heading into the  playoffs.  
 
OTOH, if Peyton Manning is playing in the fourth quarter of one of these  
games when the Colts are up by 4 TDs or so, then I have to question both his and  
the coach's judgement.  Manning apparently doesn't like to come out of  
games, and while I admire that, it is detrimental to his back-up, and to the  team 
if Peyton goes down in a close game.  College or pro, the coach is  going to 
look pretty stupid if his star QB or RB gets a season-ending injury in  the 
fourth quarter when the team is up 30 or 40 points.
 
In the pro game though, it is not guaranteed that you will have a new QB  
starting in 1-2 seasons, like it is for college teams (NU, TX, USC to name a  
few).  So coaches can take a slightly longer view with regard to developing  
back-ups.
 
Very interesting points though.
 
GO HUSKERS!!!
 
Brad Bredenkamp
 
In a message dated 12/4/2005 7:28:28 AM Hawaiian Standard Time,  
wsmith at towson.edu writes:

It's  entirely likely that in a week or two the Colts will have the best 
record in  the AFC all knotted up.  Will it show a "lack of class" if down they 
try  to win games ) against much weaker opponents (e.g. Jan. 1 against the 
hapless  Cardinals) in pursuit of a 16-0 record?  I've seen sports writers who  
claim that pursuit of 16-0 is a laudable goal and the team should do whatever  it 
can to reach that goal, even if practically speaking wins 14, 15 and 16  mean 
nothing.