CAM NEWTON – HEISMAN WINNER
It’s hard to imagine our sporting world before Cam Newton became the polarizing focal point of the SEC. Saturday night, Newton ran away with the Heisman Trophy voting, not unlike how he ran away from defenses all season.
His resume on the field was undeniable. He led the SEC rushing. He was the nation’s top-ranked passer. He accounted for more touchdowns (49) than roughly half the teams in the nation.
Still, he was left off more than 100 ballots because of the off-the-field allegations and the claims that his father Cecil and a former Mississippi State player arranged a pay-for-play scheme during Cam Newton’s recruitment.
One of the great things about this country is the voting process. If you have a ballot, you can make your decision on whatever criteria you feel. That’s the process and that’s how it should be.
What the 5-at-10 can’t understand though is the ballots that included Newton but did not list him first. If you’re going to vote for Newton, there was only one place to vote him.
THE COACHING WHEELS START SPINNING
Former Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp is the new Florida coach. Former Temple coach Al Golden is the new boss at the University of Miami. Arkansas offered a seven-year extension and locked up Bobby Petrino, which most Falcons fans will tell you is hard to do.
Now the next level of drama starts to unfold. It appears Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen, a hot name that was rumored at Florida and at Miami, will stay in Starkeville.
Vandy has apparently pushed all its chips in the middle for Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, who won this year’s Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant. Malzahn, who is in line to receive a huge raise from Auburn, has not accepted or declined Vandy’s offer, but one thing is certain – it will be a very Merry (read profitable) Christmas at the Malzahn compound.
Plus there are other second-tier jobs such as Pittsburgh and Temple and others that are still open.
FALCONS KEEP ROLLING
The NFL’s longest winning streak belongs to your Atlanta Falcons, who won their seventh straight by dismantling Carolina 31-10 Sunday.
They run the ball – Michael Turner had three rushing TDs on Sunday and now has 11 scores and more than 1,100 yards rushing for the season.
They control the ball – the Falcons lead the NFL with most 10-plus drives.
They play smart – Atlanta leads the NFL with the fewest penalties and had just one Sunday.
They have a game lead on the rest of the NFC for home-field advantage, and that can’t be overstated for this team considering quarterback Matt Ryan is 19-1 as a starter in home games at the Georgia Dome.
PATS PUSHING PEOPLE AROUND
Six days after destroying the New York Jets, the New England Patriots manhandled Chicago at a snowy Soldier Field.
The blowout was impressive because of its quickness (it happened in a blink of an eye, going from 7-0 to 21-0 in less than a minute). It was impressive because of its decisiveness (the Bears never looked like they were going to challenge). It was impressive because of its consistency.
The Pats are 11-2 – the same record as the Falcons – but boy don’t they feel like the class of the N FL right now.
AROUND THE NFL
As the season starts to wind down, the NFL always seems to become so griping. Maybe it’s the lack of other sports storylines. Maybe it’s the end of college football. Whatever, the last month of the NFL is awesome. Here were some of Sunday’s highlights:
– If you have not seen the video of the roof of the Metrodome collapsing, well you have our permission to go find it. As long as you come back, that is. Seriously, the snow breaking through the tarp and splashing down on the field was really cool. Plus, the rescheduling of the Giants-Vikings game until tonight in Detroit has a lot of interesting angles. There may be as many people on the field as there in the stands for that game tonight.
– Don’t sleeps on these Steelers. Two defensive lifted Pittsburgh, which did not have an offensive touchdown in its 23-7 win over Cincinnati.
– Don’t sleep on the Eagles, either. The defense may not be what it once was, but Philadelphia and MVP candidate Mike Vick (who would have guessed that before the season) have a big-play factor that is unmatched in the league. And in a playoff game where points are hard to come by, the ability to turn an 8-yard pass into an 80-yard touchdown can’t be overstated.