[NU Sports] At the end

[Jonathan Hodges]

I think that most people including most of the members of the NU football
team and Coach Fitz as well would agree with you.  In fact, here's a
postgame quote (from the Trib):

"I don't know what records I'm breaking," Kafka said, "but I know we lost."

Also, we're basically already handing out the big awards (Heisman) to the
top QB (and sometimes RB) of the nation's top team (albeit before the
bowls).  Unless you want to just get rid of all awards (which will never
happen in today's media-run football world), it's either hand out some
awards to top performers on losing teams, or hand the awards to mediocre to
good players on teams that won (but likely won because of the other 10 guys
on the field and/or the defense, too).

In any case, the awards, like the polls, BCS, rest of the bowls, etc. are
great for starting conversations about college football.  It's what makes
CFB so much different than all of those pro leagues where all that matters
is making the playoffs and then getting lucky in a few games.  Or who you
should start on your fantasy team.

Jonathan

On Mon, Sep 28, 2009 at 1:59 PM, <cherron604 at aol.com> wrote:

> I don't want NU to develop a culture where personal accomplishment ever
> overshadows group accomplishment, however.  The concept of football as a
> team game must never be compromised.
>
> I think of ESPN showing a big home run - hit by a guy whose team lost 6-1
> or something.  ESPN hails it as a great shot, but it isn't.
>
> It would be far better to recognize the second baseman, who moved a runner
> up with a deep fly ball after battling back from an 0-2 count.  Or a
> offensive lineman, whose key block early in the game helped produce a 6 yd
> run, and kept a drive alive.
>
> Would Vince Lombardi let a player keep an honor if his team had lost ?
>
> Chuck Herron   Tech '85
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tom Maycock <tkmaycock at yahoo.com>
> To: cherron604 at aol.com; Jonathan Hodges <jonathanwhodges at gmail.com>
> Cc: Jeff.Beamsley at covisint.com; nwu-sports at tssi.com
> Sent: Mon, Sep 28, 2009 1:34 pm
> Subject: Re: [NU Sports] At the end
>
>  > But, it's hard to argue against a guy that
> > completed 16 consecutive passes to start the game and set a
> > school record for completion percentage while throwing for
> > almost 400 yards and became the first Big Ten player in 5
> > years to record a TD passing, rushing, and receiving.
>
> Exactly. That performance was easily deserving of the POW recognition in my
> opinion.
>
> It was a Hesiman-trophy caliber performance, albeit overshadowed a bit by the
> turnovers. Even with the turnovers, he played well enought to win. It wasn't
> Kafka's fault half the defense was out with injuries and the other half didn't
> play well.
>
> Tom
>
>
>