University of Southern California QB, Matt Barkley, announced earlier tonight that he will forego the NFL draft to return to USC for his senior season. He potentially gave up being drafted in the top-10. Was it a smart move? Well, you have to look at both perspectives.
Let's say he chose to leave. What would he be giving up? Possibly going down in USC history as the best QB to ever wear the burgundy and yellow. Also, Barkley stated in his speech tonight that he wanted to lead Southern Cal to a national championship this year.
But since he decided to stay, he has the opportunity to accomplish both of those goals.
Throughout the 2012 college football season we will all be able to see if Matt Barley made the right decision. I wish him all the best.
I mentioned in a previous post that I had an opportunity to visit Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida. I spent my last day of Spring Break during my senior year of High School in Gainesville. The main goal of visiting Gainesville was to visit the University of Florida campus.
My group and I started our day by eating lunch at a restaurant called "The Swamp." I highly recommend this restaurant if you are ever visiting Gainesville. It is right across the street from the stadium
Inside of The Swamp
My friends--Anna, Danielle, and Me at The Swamp
After we finished eating, we headed over to Ben Hill Griffin. It was an amazing experience to be able to visit here. I thought I would post a few pictures of my experience.
The five finalist for the Heisman Trophy were released last week. I thought I would list the top five finalist along with their stats. Then, I list some of my past favorite winners. Finally, I will close with my predictions for who will take home this award.
The Top Five Finalists:
Robert Griffin III: Quarterback at Baylor
For the 2011 season, RGIII has thrown for 3,998 yards, 36 touchdowns, and just 6 interceptions. Not only can RGIII throw like crazy, he has rushed for 644 yards and 9 touchdowns this season.
Trent Richardson: Running Back at Alabama
Mr. Richardson has rushed for 1,583 yards, 20 touchdowns, and averages 6.0 YPC so far this season. He reminds me of a bull. Did anyone see him put the stiff arm up during the Iron Bowl? Crazy. Richardson also has 27 receptions for 327 yards, 3 touchdowns, and averages 12.1 YPR.
Tyrann Mathieu: Cornerback at LSU
Honey Badger has 54 solo tackles this season along with 2 sacks. He also can run punts and kickoffs back for touchdowns. If anyone watched the SEC championship, you know what I'm talking about.
Andrew Luck: Quarterback at Stanford
He was all the rage at the beginning of the season, but he has fallen behind. Luck has 3,170 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. But, he only has 153 rushing yards this season.
Montee Ball: Running Back for Wisconsin
Montee has 1,759 rushing yards, 32 touchdowns this season. He also has 255 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. Ball had 4 touchdowns last week against Michigan State. He is also one touchdown behind for breaking a season high for touchdowns in one season.
Here are some of my favorite Heisman winners:
1966 Heisman Winner: Steve Spurrier- Quartback at Florida
1980 Heisman Winner: George Rogers- Running Back for South Carolina
George Rogers and Me
George Rogers and Me
Since I have grown up a South Carolina fan, I have been going to football games since I can remember. George Rogers is at every home game. He sits outside the stadium before game time to take pictures with fans.
1982 Heisman Winner: Herschel Walker- Running Back for Georgia
1984 Heisman Winner: Doug Flutie- Quarterback for Boston College.
Ever heard of the Hail Flutie pass? Flutie threw a Hail Mary pass for a touchdown to win with a second left in the game over Miami.
1985 Heisman Winner: Bo Jackson- Running Back for Auburn
1986 Heisman Winner: Vinny Testaverde- Quarterback at Miami
1991 Heisman Winner: Desmond Howard (right)- Running Back for Michigan
Watch this video. Desmond does the Heisman pose in the endzone after running a punt back for a touchdown against Ohio State
1996 Heisman Winner: Danny Wuerffel- Quarterback at Florida
2004 Heisman Winner: Matt Leinart- Quarterback at Southern Cal
2007 Heisman Winner: Tim Tebow- Quarterback at Florida.
He is my favorite winner of all time. Tebow was the first sophomore in Heisman history to win the award.
On Spring Break my senior year of High School, I went to Florida. My group spent the last day of the trip in Gainesville. We went to the football stadium and to see Tebow's Heisman.
2009 Heisman Winner: Mark Ingram- Running Back for Alabama.
He was the third sophomore in a row to win the Heisman.
Who do I think will take home this award this year?
Live mascots add so much to a college football game. Here is a list of the top ten live mascots to make appearances at football games.
First:
UGA at the University of Georgia:
UGA is probably the most famous mascot around. I think he's so cute, especially when sitting in his air conditioned dog house.
Second:
Bevo at the University of Texas:
I mean really, how can you not love this Longhorn?
Third:
Sir Big Spur at the University of South Carolina:
He is so cute sitting on his goalpost during the games.
Fourth:
Ralphie at the University of Colorado:
I've only got one word--adorable!
Fifth:
Boomer and Sooner at the University of Oklahoma:
These horses are beautiful! I love their names too :)
Sixth:
War Eagle at Auburn University:
Auburn as two nicknames--Tigers and War Eagle. War Eagle is the bald eagle that flies around the stadium before kickoff at home games.
Seventh:
Tusk at the University of Arkansas:
Never seen a razorback before? Well, here is Tusk, the live Razorback at the University of Arkansas.
Eighth:
The Travler at the University of Southern California:
I've actually been to a USC football game before. He is a great mascot.
Ninth:
Mike the Tiger at Louisiana State University:
Every team that is nicknamed the Tigers(which is like every school), should follow in the footsteps of LSU. I must admit, having a a tiger at home games is pretty cool.
Tenth:
Renegade at Florida State University:
Renegade is the live Seminole at FSU. He electrifies the crowd during their pre-game routine. He is a pretty great mascot.
Every athletic team is affiliated with some nickname. We all know the Yankees, Braves, Red Sox, Patriots, Steelers, and Colts. I thought I would give my top college nicknames along with a brief history of how each school determined what nickname best fits the particular school.
Alright, here we go:
University of Alabama Crimson Tide:
In the early days of Alabama football, newspapers referred to them as the "varsity" team or the "Crimson White." The first nickname that was popular called them the "Thin Red Line." That nickname was used until 1906. The nickname "Crimson Tide" came about when in the 1907 Iron Bowl, the game was played in a sea of mud. Auburn was heavily favored to win, but the game ended up being tied at 6-6. Hugh Roberts described Alabama in the game as the "Crimson Tide"
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets:
In 1905, "Yellowjackets" began being used as the nickname for Georgia Tech because Georgia Tech students would come to football games dressed in yellow jackets and coats. As far as when the nickname became official is unclear. One thing that is certain though, is the nickname did not derive from a actual yellow jacket, but the beloved mascot "Buzz" grew out of the nickname.
It is not too common that a school has two nicknames, but Georgia Tech is one of those. They are also known as the Ramblin' Wreck. The first reference to the Rambling Wreck was in 1927, when a newspaper writer for the school acknowledge the disappointment in Floyd Field. Floyd Field owned a 1914 Ford that he had considered trading in. The technique of the car at Georgia Tech stuck around. Beginning in 1929, a yearly collegiate race, called the Old Ford race, from Atlanta to Athens took place. Eventually the race was determined to be too dangerous and was band. In place of the race came the Rambling Wreck Parade which is held during Homecoming Week. In the 1950s, school officials decided that the school needed a car that would be forever called the Ramblin' Wreck.
University of Miami Hurricanes:
I do not actually think that Miami's nickname is all that interesting. It is actually pretty obvious why they have that nickname. I think the mascot at Miami is very unique. Many folks believe that Sebastian is a duck. Well he is not. Sebastian is actually an Ibis. An Ibis is the first to leave when the sign of a hurricane is approaching, but is the first to return upon the hurricane ending. The Ibis shows signs of leadership and bravery, which led to Miami adopting this particular bird as its mascot. He's a pretty cute little mascot too :)
Penn State Nittany Lions:
In 1904, Penn State had no mascot. When the baseball team travelled to take on Princeton, the team noticed the statue of the Bengal tiger. Joe Mason, a member of the Penn State team, said that Penn State would be represented by a Nittany Lion which he called 'fiercest beast of them all' that could overpower the tiger. So just what is a Nitanny Lion? A nittany lion is a mountain lion based near Pennsylvania's Nittany Mountain.
University of South Carolina Gamecocks:
At the turn of the century, South Carolina had been struggling with nicknames for a decade. It was not until early 1900s that the team was unofficially described as the fighting "Game Cocks." in 1903, a newspaper reporter officially shortened the name to "Gamecocks" and they have been known as the Gamecocks ever since. There is only one other major school that is known as the Gamecocks.
