For What it's Worth: Football is Still a Team Sport
What do I see after week one in College Football? Football is still a team sport. If you don't believe me, just ask Michigan or Texas. I don't have to tell you by now that Michigan lost their game with Appalachian State. Texas, struggled to get by at home against Arkansas State, a "powerhouse" one Fort Worth TV sports reporter called them with sarcasm. Appalachian State is the two time defending Division I-AA Champs (the NCAA now calls it the Championship Division because they play playoffs to determine the national champions). Arkansas State was a Sun Belt Conference Champs two years ago, and beat last year's champs, Troy, on the road. Neither, however, would be considered teams who belong at the top in the BCS conferences.
The fact is when we are in the offseason, and everyone is debating who signed the best recruiting class, these two teams aren't mentioned because there isn't news of recruiting for either school. Why? Because they don't sign "blue chip," "five-star" recruits. Go ahead and get the talent. I hope they remember how to play football, avoid penalties, block for extra points, etc. These great recruits still have to perform, and execute the fundamentals. For example, DeShaun Jackson looked solid in Cal's win against Tennessee. Yes, he is that good. His punt return was something that makes a legend.
We saw modest performances from the two top rated recruits of last year, Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame) and Joe McKnight (USC). McKnight even had a fumble. Do you remember those guys? Clausen shows up in a stretch hummer to announce he was going to be an Irish, and Joe McKnight broke every LSU fan's heart when he chose USC over them. I remember Cedar Hill's (Texas) William Cole make his announcement on a local TV in an almost gaudy like fashion when chose Oklahoma State. As far as I know, Cole had no significant stats Saturday against Georgia.
At the end of the day, these guys need the other 10 on the field. And, they have to execute the fundamentals before they can put on the show. Hype doesn't win games, teams do. And, sometimes you never know who will be a star when the lights are turned on. Does anyone remember a high school fullback from Waco named LaDainian Tomlinson? He did alright didn't he?
Guys like Rich Rodriguez has made a living recruiting guys like these, and he has built a pretty good program with a system that fits these guys at West Virginia. These days, the way the Appalachian and Boise States have leveled the playing field to compete with the Michigans have been to run unorthodox offenses that take advantage of defensive vulnerabilities and score points. Remember Florida? They take advantage of speed, spread the field and throw the defense off balance. It's happening all over the country, but it has yet to happen in the NFL where the talent is so deep and players study all the time. Now, more than ever, the BCS teams have to come to play when they step on the field with Arkansas State, Boise State, Appalachian State, or whomever they might be playing.
The more the playing field becomes leveled, the more there is a need for a playoffs. And, the way Appalachian State played on Saturday, maybe there is a need for a winner takes all between the two Division I champs.
Check out my top ten here.
The fact is when we are in the offseason, and everyone is debating who signed the best recruiting class, these two teams aren't mentioned because there isn't news of recruiting for either school. Why? Because they don't sign "blue chip," "five-star" recruits. Go ahead and get the talent. I hope they remember how to play football, avoid penalties, block for extra points, etc. These great recruits still have to perform, and execute the fundamentals. For example, DeShaun Jackson looked solid in Cal's win against Tennessee. Yes, he is that good. His punt return was something that makes a legend.
We saw modest performances from the two top rated recruits of last year, Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame) and Joe McKnight (USC). McKnight even had a fumble. Do you remember those guys? Clausen shows up in a stretch hummer to announce he was going to be an Irish, and Joe McKnight broke every LSU fan's heart when he chose USC over them. I remember Cedar Hill's (Texas) William Cole make his announcement on a local TV in an almost gaudy like fashion when chose Oklahoma State. As far as I know, Cole had no significant stats Saturday against Georgia.
At the end of the day, these guys need the other 10 on the field. And, they have to execute the fundamentals before they can put on the show. Hype doesn't win games, teams do. And, sometimes you never know who will be a star when the lights are turned on. Does anyone remember a high school fullback from Waco named LaDainian Tomlinson? He did alright didn't he?
Guys like Rich Rodriguez has made a living recruiting guys like these, and he has built a pretty good program with a system that fits these guys at West Virginia. These days, the way the Appalachian and Boise States have leveled the playing field to compete with the Michigans have been to run unorthodox offenses that take advantage of defensive vulnerabilities and score points. Remember Florida? They take advantage of speed, spread the field and throw the defense off balance. It's happening all over the country, but it has yet to happen in the NFL where the talent is so deep and players study all the time. Now, more than ever, the BCS teams have to come to play when they step on the field with Arkansas State, Boise State, Appalachian State, or whomever they might be playing.
The more the playing field becomes leveled, the more there is a need for a playoffs. And, the way Appalachian State played on Saturday, maybe there is a need for a winner takes all between the two Division I champs.
Check out my top ten here.
Labels: For What It's Worth
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