Postseason Awards - ESPN's take

[nshope]

Didn't see this posted anywhere else here. Figured I'd post the link and blurbs since there are a couple Irish players mentioned:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2688407

Most notably:

Maxwell Award (best all-around player)
Finalists: Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
Ray Rice, Rutgers
Troy Smith, Ohio State
My choice: Troy Smith. In four seasons, the Ohio State quarterback transformed himself into one of the sport's most accurate passers and still has the ability to hurt opponents with his scrambling ability. He played very well in the Buckeyes' two biggest games, a 24-7 win at then-No. 2 Texas on Sept. 9 and 42-39 win over then-No. 2 Michigan on Nov. 18, and led them to the Jan. 8 BCS title game against Florida in Glendale, Ariz.
Who will win: Troy Smith

Biletnikoff Award (best wide receiver)
Finalists: Jarrett Dillard, Rice
Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech
Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame
My choice: Calvin Johnson. The Yellow Jackets junior is the toughest one-on-one matchup of any player in college football. He has great height, strength and outjumps any defensive back for the football. He caught 67 passes for 1,016 yards and 13 touchdowns and would have had better statistics if Tech had more consistent play from senior quarterback Reggie Ball. Still, Johnson will be among the top five picks in next spring's NFL draft if he forgoes his final season of college eligibility.
Who will win: Jeff Samardzija

Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award
Finalists: Colt Brennan, Hawaii
Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
Troy Smith, Ohio State
My choice: Brady Quinn. It would be a shame for the Fighting Irish senior to leave college empty handed. He set 35 school records, including single-season marks for completions (274) and touchdown passes (35). He completed 63.4 percent of his passes and led the Fighting Irish to a 10-2 record and spot in the Sugar Bowl against LSU. Quinn's so-so performances in losses to Michigan and USC will cost him the Heisman Trophy.
Who will win: Troy Smith

John Mackey Award (best tight end)
Finalists: John Carlson, Notre Dame
Zach Miller, Arizona State
Matt Spaeth, Minnesota
My choice: John Carlson. The Fighting Irish senior essentially came out of nowhere to catch 46 passes for 621 yards and four touchdowns this season. He caught 13 passes and one touchdown the previous two seasons combined. An improving blocker, Carlson emerged as a big passing threat in coach Charlie Weis' offense and is a bona fide NFL prospect with good size (6-foot-6, 250 pounds).
Who will win: John Carlson

 

[irish4ever]

Brady has one award already this year ....

BALTIMORE, MD (12/04/06) --- Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn has been named the 2006 winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. The award is presented annually by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. to the best senior college quarterback in the nation. The official announcement was aired last Friday night on “Out of Bounds,” on CN8, The Comcast Network.
The most prolific passer in Notre Dame’s storied history, Quinn owns 35 school records including career pass attempts (1,567), completions (914), yards (11,614), yards per game (242), touchdown passes (93), and lowest interception percentage (2.36).

 

[beaudoj]

Unfortunately for Calvin Johnson he had Reggie Ball as his QB. Even though he is absolutely amazing, no way should he win the Biletnikoff award. His production in November was terrible because his QB is terrible.
(Makes me think of Benn but I doubt Benn will be as good as Johnson)

 

[marv81s]

Benn could be as good, but he will more than likely will have the same problem with "the juice" as his QB

 

[seniorle]

It was such a waste to see Johnson's talent not being put to use properly and yes, I believe Benn will run into the same problem.

However, I still believe Johnson wins the Biletnikoff as ESPN has been touting him all season and he is an amazing athlete with some pretty good numbers.

 

[marv81s]

If Smith wins best QB over Quinn, then I will loose faith in these awards as I have already lost my faith in the Heisman. Johnson does deserve the Bilentnikoff award over the Shark, Carlson deserve the Mackie and Quinn definately deserves the O'Brien over Smith. I was suprised to see how big of lead Smith had over Quinn on the ESPN page, not sure why.

 

[sonomairishfan]

If Smith wins best QB over Quinn, then I will loose faith in these awards as I have already lost my faith in the Heisman. Johnson does deserve the Bilentnikoff award over the Shark, Carlson deserve the Mackie and Quinn definately deserves the O'Brien over Smith. I was suprised to see how big of lead Smith had over Quinn on the ESPN page, not sure why.

you should just count on losing faith in the awards. the smith gravy train has been full speed for months now on that network that happens to cover sports. i happen to think the kid from Arkansas is the best player in the country. he won't even come close though.

college football is really starting to sicken me. i am tired of the media deciding who gets awards and who plays in the bowl games.

i have read alot of articles about poll voters and their reasoning for voting the way they did. many claim that UM already had it's shot at tOSU and they voted Floriday number two just to see the match up. i always thought that they were supposed to rank how good teams are????? no way in hell is Floriday better than Michigan or USC for that matter. the intergrity of the game is gone. if it isn't fixed soon the game will be ruined.

 

[leppycole]

I watched the ESPN commercials to promote Troy Smith - Why are they all over this kids nutsack - He is really not that great of a QB. He is good, but the NFL Scouts do not even have him in the first three rounds of the 2007 draft. If he was so great then why will he go in the 4th or 5th round of the draft?

Would'nt it be a slam to the Heismann, who ESPN already awarded to Smith, if the player to receive it goes in the 4th,5th,6th round?

 

[jerseyborn1971]

The Heisman doesn't really work that way. There have been plenty of great college players either drafted low or not at all that won the Heisman. The Heisman is a situational award. It depends on the latest trends in the media and in the game. The current trend is the best player on the best team, thus, Troy Smith is your winner.

 

[csND08]

It's really becoming the QB of the best team (with the exception of Bush last year, but I mean, come on, he was sick. No one could mess that up.). The Heisman, and every other award for that matter, aren't necessarily indicative of how good a player is at whatever position, but rather how his team performs combined with some flash. It's all hype, and that disgusts me.

 

[irish_10]

Didn't see this posted anywhere else here. Figured I'd post the link and blurbs since there are a couple Irish players mentioned:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2688407

Most notably:

Maxwell Award (best all-around player)
Finalists: Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
Ray Rice, Rutgers
Troy Smith, Ohio State
My choice: Troy Smith. In four seasons, the Ohio State quarterback transformed himself into one of the sport's most accurate passers and still has the ability to hurt opponents with his scrambling ability. He played very well in the Buckeyes' two biggest games, a 24-7 win at then-No. 2 Texas on Sept. 9 and 42-39 win over then-No. 2 Michigan on Nov. 18, and led them to the Jan. 8 BCS title game against Florida in Glendale, Ariz.
Who will win: Troy Smith

Biletnikoff Award (best wide receiver)
Finalists: Jarrett Dillard, Rice
Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech
Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame
My choice: Calvin Johnson. The Yellow Jackets junior is the toughest one-on-one matchup of any player in college football. He has great height, strength and outjumps any defensive back for the football. He caught 67 passes for 1,016 yards and 13 touchdowns and would have had better statistics if Tech had more consistent play from senior quarterback Reggie Ball. Still, Johnson will be among the top five picks in next spring's NFL draft if he forgoes his final season of college eligibility.
Who will win: Jeff Samardzija

Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award
Finalists: Colt Brennan, Hawaii
Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
Troy Smith, Ohio State
My choice: Brady Quinn. It would be a shame for the Fighting Irish senior to leave college empty handed. He set 35 school records, including single-season marks for completions (274) and touchdown passes (35). He completed 63.4 percent of his passes and led the Fighting Irish to a 10-2 record and spot in the Sugar Bowl against LSU. Quinn's so-so performances in losses to Michigan and USC will cost him the Heisman Trophy.
Who will win: Troy Smith

John Mackey Award (best tight end)
Finalists: John Carlson, Notre Dame
Zach Miller, Arizona State
Matt Spaeth, Minnesota
My choice: John Carlson. The Fighting Irish senior essentially came out of nowhere to catch 46 passes for 621 yards and four touchdowns this season. He caught 13 passes and one touchdown the previous two seasons combined. An improving blocker, Carlson emerged as a big passing threat in coach Charlie Weis' offense and is a bona fide NFL prospect with good size (6-foot-6, 250 pounds).
Who will win: John Carlson

To me I think that there is no way that Smith wins the Maxwell or O'Brien. Usually the try splitting it up look for Quinn to win the O'Brien.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

Funny how Carlson isn't mention on SI's version of the All American Team. Neither 1st nor 2nd team. And neither are the other 2 TE's he's up against.

 

[ND81]

I don't know if this has been reported all ready, but what is up with Carlson not winning the Mackey Award, gave it to Spaeth from Minn. They even gave the O'Brien award to Troy Smith. Too much love for Smith I think. He had accomplished a lot, led his team, etc, but 20 years from now we will remember him?

 

[uNiDentified1]

In a shocker to all but Notre Dame fans, Quinn wins the Maxwell. That was just amazing, the chest bump on stange wasn't bad either.

 

[marv81s]

Last time I'll say it, should have won the O'Brien award and Carlson should have won the Mackie award. Glad Calvin Johnson got some love for his work at WR, can't argue that one for the Shark.

 

[seniorle]

Yea, I was quite stunned that Carlson didn't win the Mackey award but I was equally as stunned that Quinn won the Maxwell. Not that he wasn't deserving, I just think the TS hype machine couldn't be overcome but I sure was happy when Quinn won.

 

[uNiDentified1]

No doubt if Carlson puts up the same numbers (or better) next year he'll win it. Don't they tend to give the awards to players who don't have the option of coming back?

 

[tommy]

well steven a smith thinks brady is going to win the heisman

 

[uNiDentified1]

Hopefully he's right, but thanks to the four letter network's hype of Troy Smith...it probably won't happen.

 

[IrishRamMan10]

I think that Carlson should have won the Mackey Award...he had the best stats out of the three and he made clutch catches for the Irish all season. i don't know why he did not win.

 

[Junkhead]

Jeff should've won the Biletnikoff last year and Carlson should've won the Mackey this year. No love for the receivers.