College Football's Best?

[Jimmy Chitwood]

ESPN, today on their college football homepage, led off with that title article, discussing the best programs and (more importantly?) players in the nation. specifically, the Heisman trophy candidates were alluded to ...

the accompanying photo?

apparently Collin Klein has a much darker tan than i realized. :doh:

and speaking of false hype, i'd like to point out how ridiculous the Heisman hype around Manti Te'o, the talented linebacker from Notre Dame, is ...

check out the following numbers comparing "the best linebacker of all time" in Te'o and "the biggest problem on Arkansas' defense" in safety/linebacker Ross Rasner (a White athlete who has received no national or conference recognition whatsoever, as of this posting):

Manti Te'o: 52 solo tackles (103 total), 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 7 interceptions, 4 passes broken-up, 2 fumble recoveries.

Ross Rasner: 49 solo tackles (92 total), 8.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 7 passes broken-up, 2 forced fumbles.

other than having 4 more interceptions, the numbers are very, very similar. Rasner led the Razorbacks in tackles, interceptions, pass break-ups, forced fumbles, and was third in sacks. he did this in his first season as a full-time starter.

so why is one hyped to the heavens and the other the scapegoat for a team full of terrible affletes? is that the "White privilege" that we keep hearing so much about?

additionally, compare Te'o's stat line to that of Luke Kuechly, the three-time All-American linebacker from Boston College. in each of Kuechly's three seasons at BC, he put up incredible numbers. take, for example, his final (junior) year's numbers:

Kuechly: 102 solo tackles (191 total), 12.0 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 6 passes broken up.

Kuechly, with those almost-unbelievable numbers, received NO Heisman consideration.

the honest question, for those who claim that production/talent is all that matters, is "why the double standard?"

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

another excellent example of the double standards involved in the hyping of any non-White afflete is the dichotomy of the Griffin-Florence story. or rather, the complete lack of said story.

last year, Robert Griffin III exploded onto the scene and became a media staple due to his "exciting playmaking." he put up eye-popping numbers in an offensive system that creates HUGE numbers for dual-threat quarterbacks. Griffin parlayed this production as "the most dynamic player in the country" into becoming a Heisman winner, a #1 Draft pick, and the most over-exposed endorser of all things sold on television.

conversely, no one knows the name of his replacement this year (who happened to put up better-than-Griffin numbers while filling in for an injured Griffin last season). yet, the virtually invisible Nick Florence has actually been nearly as productive as the "Room-Brightening One."

with one game still remaining to be played by Florence and his Baylor Bears, check out his numbers compared to the full season's numbers by Griffin a year ago:

2011 Griffin: 4,293 yards passing, 37 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 72.4% completions, 330 yards passing-per-game; 10 rushing touchdowns and 699 yards (3.9 yard average) on 179 rushing attempts.

2012 Florence: 4,121 yards passing, 31 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 61.2% completions, 343 yards passing-per-game; 9 rushing touchdowns and 531 yards (4.4 yard average) on 121 rushing attempts.

if Florence puts up average numbers in the bowl game against UCLA, he will come close to surpassing all of Griffin's numbers from the "Great One's" "incredible" senior season.

the numbers indicate that, despite being a full-time starter in the system for the first time, Florence is actually a more productive runner AND more of a big-play threat as a passer than Griffin. Florence has thrown more interceptions than Griffin did a year ago, however. (if you look at Griffin's numbers from 2010, Florence's blow them out of the water.)

yet, despite putting up incredible offensive numbers, the media has said nary a peep about Florence being one of the "greatest players in college football."

i "wonder" why ...

 

[Europe]

another excellent example of the double standards involved in the hyping of any non-White afflete is the dichotomy of the Griffin-Florence story. or rather, the complete lack of said story.

last year, Robert Griffin III exploded onto the scene and became a media staple due to his "exciting playmaking." he put up eye-popping numbers in an offensive system that creates HUGE numbers for dual-threat quarterbacks. Griffin parlayed this production as "the most dynamic player in the country" into becoming a Heisman winner, a #1 Draft pick, and the most over-exposed endorser of all things sold on television.

conversely, no one knows the name of his replacement this year (who happened to put up better-than-Griffin numbers while filling in for an injured Griffin last season). yet, the virtually invisible Nick Florence has actually been nearly as productive as the "Room-Brightening One."

with one game still remaining to be played by Florence and his Baylor Bears, check out his numbers compared to the full season's numbers by Griffin a year ago:

2011 Griffin: 4,293 yards passing, 37 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 72.4% completions, 330 yards passing-per-game; 10 rushing touchdowns and 699 yards (3.9 yard average) on 179 rushing attempts.

2012 Florence: 4,121 yards passing, 31 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 61.2% completions, 343 yards passing-per-game; 9 rushing touchdowns and 531 yards (4.4 yard average) on 121 rushing attempts.

if Florence puts up average numbers in the bowl game against UCLA, he will come close to surpassing all of Griffin's numbers from the "Great One's" "incredible" senior season.

the numbers indicate that, despite being a full-time starter in the system for the first time, Florence is actually a more productive runner AND more of a big-play threat as a passer than Griffin. Florence has thrown more interceptions than Griffin did a year ago, however. (if you look at Griffin's numbers from 2010, Florence's blow them out of the water.)

yet, despite putting up incredible offensive numbers, the media has said nary a peep about Florence being one of the "greatest players in college football."

i "wonder" why ...

He didn't get much attention even after they beat Kansas State, did he?

 

[jaxvid]

another excellent example of the double standards involved in the hyping of any non-White afflete is the dichotomy of the Griffin-Florence story. or rather, the complete lack of said story.

last year, Robert Griffin III exploded onto the scene and became a media staple due to his "exciting playmaking." he put up eye-popping numbers in an offensive system that creates HUGE numbers for dual-threat quarterbacks. Griffin parlayed this production as "the most dynamic player in the country" into becoming a Heisman winner, a #1 Draft pick, and the most over-exposed endorser of all things sold on television.

conversely, no one knows the name of his replacement this year (who happened to put up better-than-Griffin numbers while filling in for an injured Griffin last season). yet, the virtually invisible Nick Florence has actually been nearly as productive as the "Room-Brightening One."

with one game still remaining to be played by Florence and his Baylor Bears, check out his numbers compared to the full season's numbers by Griffin a year ago:

2011 Griffin: 4,293 yards passing, 37 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 72.4% completions, 330 yards passing-per-game; 10 rushing touchdowns and 699 yards (3.9 yard average) on 179 rushing attempts.

2012 Florence: 4,121 yards passing, 31 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 61.2% completions, 343 yards passing-per-game; 9 rushing touchdowns and 531 yards (4.4 yard average) on 121 rushing attempts.

if Florence puts up average numbers in the bowl game against UCLA, he will come close to surpassing all of Griffin's numbers from the "Great One's" "incredible" senior season.

the numbers indicate that, despite being a full-time starter in the system for the first time, Florence is actually a more productive runner AND more of a big-play threat as a passer than Griffin. Florence has thrown more interceptions than Griffin did a year ago, however. (if you look at Griffin's numbers from 2010, Florence's blow them out of the water.)

yet, despite putting up incredible offensive numbers, the media has said nary a peep about Florence being one of the "greatest players in college football."

i "wonder" why ...

Yes but does Florence have a room brightening smile? does he have shoulder length dreads? is he movie star handsome (I'm thinking Gremlins as the movie)?

JC you're pretty good at pointing out double standards. You must be a bitch to get into an argument with.