Awards time

Ok, I know I'm a bit biased, but the awards season has me befuddled.

Let me get this straight:

• Naguski Award (Best Defensive Player)- James Laurinaitas, LB tOSU
• Butkus Award (Best Linebacker)- Patrick Willis, LB Ole Miss
• Bednarik Award (Defensive Player of the Year)- Paul Posluszny, LB Penn State

We've talked before about Posluszny; how he's not even the best LB on his team, and how last year he won the Butkus without being recognized as the best LB in his conference. But I digress... How can you have three players who play the same position all be the "best"? And it's not like the categories are dissimilar- "Best against the run" "Best against the pass" "Best in a 3-4 front", etc.

Also last night, we saw that:

• Davey O'Brien Award (Best Quarterback)- Troy Smith, QB tOSU
• Walter Camp All-American, Quarterback- Troy Smith, QB, tOSU
• Walter Camp Award (Player of the year)- Troy Smith, QB tOSU
• Maxwell Award (Outstanding Player)- Brady Quinn, QB, ND

Huh?? You're not the best QB, you're not a first team All-American, and you win the Maxwell? Wow... you know something is up when Michigan fans say that tOSU's QB got hosed. Or, as MGoBlog says it:

They need to get rid of whatever the Maxwell trophy looks like and replace it with a bridesmaid crying into her wedding cake if they're going to insist on giving it to Guy Who's Not Winning The Heisman Guy every year. If there's an award for "Best QB" and you don't win it, how do you win "Best All-Around Player"? Did I miss Quinn returning punts?

Normally, I wouldn't comment on these types of things (well, at least not here- my wife would still be blessed by my raving); there's only one game and one trophy that matters. But this is Brady Freaking Quinn we're talking about... the most overhyped and overrated quarterback since Ryan Leaf.

There have been a lot of statistical comparisons between Quinn and Smith, but none more telling than these:

• This year against Michigan, Quinn singlehandedly accounted for two wolverine scores: fumble recovery for a TD and interception for a TD.
• Troy is 3-0 and has over 1000 yards of offense against UM in his career.
• Quinn is 28-18 as a starter; 17-18 if you don't count games against BYU, Stanford or the Service Academies.
• Troy is 25-2 as a starter, and is 10-1 against ranked opponents.
• Quinn has never won a bowl game. Never. Especially not last year.

Let's look as some specific numbers from this season:

• Quinn:35 TD, 5 INT, 63.4%, 3278 yds. 65 yds. rushing, 2 TD
• Smith: 30 TD, 5 INT, 67%, 2507 yds. 233 yds. rushing, 1 TD
• Smith threw 297 passes this season; Quinn threw 432.
• Average yards per pass: Smith - 8.4, Quinn - 7.6
• Average yards per completed pass: Smith - 12.6, Quinn - 11.85
• Percentage of completed passes for touchdowns: Smith - 15.1, Quinn - 12.8

Statistically speaking, if Smith had passed as many times as Quinn (432 to 299), and completed passes at the same percentage and yards per completion throughout, he would have passed for 3,647 yards.

I know, some of this is apples and oranges given that they lead different offenses (with one of them not having a running game, or a defense, and having a coach that leaves them in during blowouts), but it's frustrating that an inferior QB would be accoladed in this way. Even the media have been trying to "spin" his career- just imagine, though, if all of Smith's passes had been caught.

Look, I realize that the Heisman is what most people remember and think about. It's just frustrating to me that all of these awards are rendered meaningless if they are not consistent or if there are too many of them. I guess that's what happens in a world where we worry about self esteem rather than someone's accomplishments.

So, as of now, I introduce you to the Quinn Award (it's even green!) for college "special-ness". Not as a reflection of how special someone is, but an award given to make sure they don't feel left out.

Awwww...