Not sure how a 6-2 QB is too small for the NFL? Ward could have played QB in the NFL for sure, but the perks of the NBA is just too great. Bigger contracts (guaranteed) and probably a lot longer career than he would have played in the NFL.
I don't know. I think he just chose basketball because it was a much safer option. If he had agreed to play football I think a few teams would have taken a chance on him. While undersized (like Flutie) he didn't have Flutie's arm but he was mobile, smart and could make passes from all angles. I don't know how effective he could have been in the pros but I can't say he wouldn't have been either. AI think he would have stuck as a backup at least. I know how important athletes are nowadays at qb but give me the Peyton Manning's, Carson Palmer's, Brett Favre's, Joe Montanas any day of the week over all these athletes. Just my opinion but Atlanata fans cringe every time Vick break into the open field. Now that they've tried to make him a pocket passer (especially against Carolina) he's been less effective. Honestly, Vince doesn't remind me of anyone. He's deceptively fast but he runs upright (which will be a disaster for his legs in the NFL (lbs and safeties will kill his legs quick). His accuracy is much improved but that throwing motion scares me away. He also misses his secondary receiver a lot (much like David Carr). He needs to return to UT unless he's looking to cash in. It may be the difference between being good and being a bust.
This award proves that you will be a great NFL QB Vince. Signed, Jason White, 2004 Maxwell Trophy Winner Ken Dorsey, 2001 Danny Wuerffel, 1996 Charlie Ward, 1993 Gino Torretta, 1992 just stiring the pot
This has already been done like 5 times in this thread. How come there are years missing in between your selections? Where are the guys you didn't mention? Oh, I see what's going on here. Signed, Eli Manning Larry Johnson Drew Brees Ricky Williams Payton Manning Eddie George Kerry Collins Barry Sanders Vinny Testaverde Herschel Walker Marcus Allen Tony Dorsett Archie Griffin etc...
99% of college football coaches would build a team around VY over RB. It is simple, VY touches the ball every play. Anything that tries to look at yards per play and such ignores the overwhelming factor that VY puts his stamp on every UT offensive play (#1 scoring offense in the nation) where RB puts his stamp, admitted spectacularly, on about 1 and 4. BTW the guy that shares RB's running load almost evenly (White) has more TDs than Bush and averages about 7 yards per play running between the tackles. Just maybe the SC offensive line isn't getting enough credit. I agree Slaam or Dayne are poor comparisons. Bush is much more in the Tim Brown, Rocket Ismial, Desmond Howard, Peter Warrick, Eric Metcalf, Charles Woodson, mold, many of whom won the Heisman not because they should have as the best college football player but because they made the best TV highlights. I have questions about how well both VY and RB will do in the pros. VY has to become much more consistent and quicker throwing. Bush probably will not be workhorse RB like LThom, Barry Sanders, Eric Dickerson, The Edge, etc. Eric Metcalf and Bryan Westbrook are the most comparable players I can think of. Westbrook is a good pro back, but not in the class with the others because you have to limit his touches, as I think will happen with Bush, seeing as how they have to do that for him in college. It is possible Bush can be a Marshall Faulk or Tony Dorsett, but again those guys had at least shown they can deal with 25-30 carriers consistently in college, let alone survive those carries with pro LBs and pro safeties smacking them. Reggie Bush is no sure thing as a workhorse NFL RB.
So did Ramonce Taylor at one point. I think Vince leads the country in YPA, so while I find Reggie's ypc impressive, VY has nothing to be ashamed of there. Also, I think Taylor has a higher kick return avg. than Bush.
Actually, I hope Vince doesn't win the Heisman. Just like I hope he's never on the cover of a Madden video game box. THE CURSE!!! I was just arguing that Vince was deserving of the Heisman, which he totally is. In the past 17 years, you can make a case for 4 Heisman winners who did well in the pros: Palmer, Woodson, George, and Sanders. Every other winner did not, either sucking it up, refusing to take the field, retiring, or losing interest in the sport (and turning to drugs?). So, there's a 23.5% chance that the Heisman winner is going to do well in the pros, based on sample size. Heck, let's make it an even 20 years and include Brown, Testaverde, and Bo Jackson to the "good" list (although a fair amount of people would probably want to discount Jackson). That brings up the percentage to an astounding 35%. I don't know about you, but I would think that the best college player in the land would make an impact in the pros more than 35% of the time. Let's hope Leinart and Bush can buck the trend (especially if either of them ends up on the Texans). Regarding Bush and Young, I quote the futants:
No way you can say what 99% of college coaches would do. It depends on what type of offensive scheme they run. There's no question that 100% of college coaches would love to have them both. I think Charles Woodson deserved the Heisman. He did everything for that team. Marshall Faulk is the best comparison to Bush right now but the truth is we've never seen anything like him. Metcalf is too small and Westbrook is nowhere near the playmaker Bush is (but he has been successful in the NFL). I don't question anything on Bush in the pros except his durability. However, he can easily put on 10-15 lbs of muscle (he probably will before the combine anyways) and then there won't be any real concerns. The concerns I have about Young are his release and running style.
Ramonce Taylor is going to be one hell of a football player too. You make it like the guy's an average player or something. If not for Jamaal Charles having a way better then expected year, all the buzz would be on Ramonce.
Discount Jackson? He was the best running back in football until he hurt his hip. If not for injury there's a chance we'd be talking about a top 10 (maybe top 5) running back of all time.
that's right..it was arm strength. i still think ward could have played pro football. i don't know what that was about. i can't believe NOBODY took a chance on him.
To clarify my earlier statements: If this was an MVP award, Vince wins no doubt, as he was more valuable to Texas than Bush was to USC. But this is a best player award, which I feel Bush is by far.
My evil twin is in New York right now preparing for Reggie Bush's coronation. He's got his USC t-shirt on and everything and is prepared to defend Bush's honor to the death, despite never attending USC or even living west of the state of Texas.
Bush reminds of the 3rd best running back that played for UT behind Earl and Ricky. His name was Eric Metcalf.
