Thursday Update

Heisman Talk, and Coach Search

      When I updated this blog yesterday, Charlie Strong was the favorite to take over at Tennessee. He had all but held a press conference to accept the job. Knoxville was ready to throw a big 'welcome parade' Tennessee's AD had boarded a plane in Knoxville headed to an undiclosed location- according to sources. So what happened late yesterday afternoon?

 

      Head Coach Charlie Strong held a team meeting at 3:30 where it was thought he was telling the team that he was leaving. All the players were told not to speak to the media after the meeting. As it turns out, Strong turned down the job. By turning down the chance to coach at UT in the SEC, he said that Louisville is a better job than UT. Wow. And UT fans now have to be wondering why nobody wants to coach at their school.

   

       I love listening to the local sports radio here in Nashville. All I have heard most of the day are fans who are about to panic and fans who are now asking "what are the chances we can get Fulmer back?" Really? Vol fans have really fallen pretty far if they are back on the Phil Fulmer wagon. Then there are the fans that are blaming Lane Kiffin for the troubles they are having trying to find a coach. What did Kiffin do? Sure he had a few issues in the short term he was the coach, but that was a long time ago. While this is all very entertaining, all I can say is stay calm and be patient. Sometimes you get turned down by your first candidate (or in this case your third candidate). Either way, it's back to the drawing boards for Tennessee's AD.

 

 

 

      Now on to something that only has three candidates and we know one of them will win. The Heisman Trophy presentation is close. It's down to Johnny 'Football' Manziel of Texas A&M, Collin Klein of Kansas State, and Manti Te'o of Notre Dame. Manziel has to be the clear cut favorite here. However, there are those in power who refuse to vote for a freshman. That could open the door for one of the other two. Manti Te'o is the one guy that I feel doesn't belong in this grouping. It has nothing to do with the fact that he is a defensive player. It has everything to do with that he is not a SUPER LINEBACKER that he is made out to be. He is a very solid player, no doubt, but there are other linebackers with numbers much like his and some that are better. One guy that should come to mind when comparing their stats is Alabama's C.J. Mosley. Look at the stats:

   Manti Te'o

101 Tackles

46 were solo tackles

1.5 Sacks

7 Interceptions (this may be what gives him the edge)

4 Pass break-ups

 

   C.J. Mosley

99 Tackles

61 were solo tackles (well over half of his tackles)

4 Sacks

2 Interceptions

2 Pass break-ups.

 

    While Te'o may have a couple more total tackles and a few more interceptions, you can see that maybe Te'o gets a little too much praise. Yes, he is an impact player. He is a very important piece to the Notre Dame defense, but his numbers are not as amazing as they are made out to be. If he wins the Heisman, it won't be because of his numbers.......it will be because of the team he plays for.

 

    Collin Klein may have been the favorite for a longer period during the season, but he fell off a bit when he had a poor showing against Baylor. I think the only way Klein wins is if there are enough voters who are against giving it to a freshman and aren't on the Notre Dame wagon.

     Check back tomorrow for more updates. I am going to open up the email tomorrow as well. Send me your questions/comments and predictions. jeremy.cf2d@yahoo.com. Check us out on facebook and give us a 'LIKE'. www.facebook.com/collegefootball2day.