COLLEGE GRID NOTEBOOK
The envelopes, please …
HEISMAN TROPHY: Reggie Bush, USC.
Living in Chelsea, you pass hundreds of beautiful women every day. One has to be extraordinary to elicit a subtle, “Wow!”
Having covered college for some 20 years, it’s that way with great players – you see them every weekend, so one has to be extraordinary to elicit a, “Wow!” Bush elicited the unprecedented Double Wow – on one play!
His 36-yard touchdown run against Notre Dame, a breathtaking cut left on which he didn’t lose a step, and then his hurdle of an Irish defender sent me to the replay monitor twice. Tack on those 513 yards of total offense against Fresno State, the 203 yards rushing by halftime against UCLA and hand him the little bronze statue.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Pete Carroll, USC.
When he lost five members of his coaching staff in the offseason, especially offensive coordinator Norm Chow, some said Carroll would be exposed. He also lost four stars on defense and then had that defense ravaged by injury.
The game that proved the loosey-goosey Carroll can coach was the win at Arizona State. Trailing 21-3 at the half, Carroll didn’t panic. He recognized his O-line could dominate. The Trojans ran for 373 yards and won 38-28.
With every team gunning for the national champs, USC went 12-0, extended its win streak to 34, and Carroll silenced his critics.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: A.J. Hawk, Ohio State.
The Buckeyes are fourth in the nation in total defense and first in rushing defense. Hawk is the biggest reason. He is a natural-born linebacker who leads the team with 109 tackles and 7½ sacks.
“I’ve been coaching college football for 30 years and I’ve seen a lot of good players, but I’ve not seen anybody better than A.J. Hawk,” said Northwestern coach Randy Walker.
GAME OF THE YEAR: Southern Cal 34, Notre 31.
Oh, yes. The Bush Push gave the Trojans the win in South Bend. He runs, he catches, he blocks, he returns punts, he pushes quarterbacks into the end zone. Talk about multi-tasking.
Brady Quinn and Jeff Samardzija were fantastic for the Irish. Bush and QB Matt Leinart were clutch for USC. Carroll, knowing his defense had been on the field too long and his offense’s strength was in stretching the field, wisely went for the win.
It was a privilege to be in Notre Dame Stadium. Who would think Michigan beating Penn State on a last-second touchdown, Virginia upsetting Florida State, West Virginia rallying from a 17-0 halftime deficit to beat Louisville, 46-44, in triple OT would ever be afterthoughts on a given weekend?
UPSET OF THE YEAR: Vanderbilt 28, Tennessee 24.
The Commodores were 111/2-point underdogs heading into Neyland Stadium, where they hadn’t won since 1975. Quarterback Jay Cutler, who will be playing on Saturday, led the stunning upset.
It’s not as if Tennessee had nothing to play for. A win would have made the Vols bowl eligible. Vanderbilt had nothing tangible to play for. Vanderbilt’s 22-game losing streak to Tennessee was the second-longest in the nation. Navy has lost 42-straight to Notre Dame.
TURN-AROUND OF THE YEAR: George O’Leary, Central Florida.
The sentimental choice is Joe Paterno, but we’re going with O’Leary. The Golden Knights didn’t win a game last season and were on a 17-game losing streak before winning 8-of-9 to clinch the Conference USA East Division.
BIGGEST FLOP OF THE YEAR: Tennessee.
All that talent. All those tutors to write those players’ papers. All those great facilities. All those greenbacks coach Phil Fulmer gets as a member of the $2 million club.
And the Vols can’t even qualify for a bowl? You can’t spell Vols and flop without the O (for overrated) and L (for losers).
