Dave Thurman (9:02 am)
The Big Ten All Conference teams were announced this week and I'm angry...make that livid. I know most of the national media isn't particularly fond of JT or the Buckeyes, but I am shocked to see this kind of a snub from the midwest sportswriters and Big Ten coaches.
Consider the following:
-The coaches named 7 Iowa players to the First Team, and only 1 Buckeye! All total, 15 Hawkeyes made the All Conference Team (1st and 2nd Team and Honorable Mention), compared to 8 from Ohio State.
-The conference media wasn't much better, although the First Team disparity was only 4-2. However, they named 18 Hawkeyes to the All Conference Team, compared to 9 Buckeyes. Then to show their total prejudice they named Kirk Ferentz as Coach of the Year (for the third time). Wait a minute. If he has better players than Tressel, then how does he merit coach of the year? Since Ohio State won the Big Ten with inferior talent, shouldn't their coach at least get some accolades? Interesting how a team with better talent and superior coaching finishes in second place. And amazing how Tressel has won 6 Big Ten titles but never been awarded the conference Coach of the Year.
-In case you're interested Penn State got 15 players on the media squad, and the coaches named 6 Nittany Lions to the First Team. Wisconsin got 5 on the media First Team (remember OSU had 2). Purdue trumped the Bucks 11-9 in total players named All Conference!
When you consider that Ohio State was the Big Ten outright champion, then you have to scratch your head. I have perused the list of players and found the following to be especially mind boggling:
The Big Ten All Conference teams were announced this week and I'm angry...make that livid. I know most of the national media isn't particularly fond of JT or the Buckeyes, but I am shocked to see this kind of a snub from the midwest sportswriters and Big Ten coaches.
Consider the following:
-The coaches named 7 Iowa players to the First Team, and only 1 Buckeye! All total, 15 Hawkeyes made the All Conference Team (1st and 2nd Team and Honorable Mention), compared to 8 from Ohio State.
-The conference media wasn't much better, although the First Team disparity was only 4-2. However, they named 18 Hawkeyes to the All Conference Team, compared to 9 Buckeyes. Then to show their total prejudice they named Kirk Ferentz as Coach of the Year (for the third time). Wait a minute. If he has better players than Tressel, then how does he merit coach of the year? Since Ohio State won the Big Ten with inferior talent, shouldn't their coach at least get some accolades? Interesting how a team with better talent and superior coaching finishes in second place. And amazing how Tressel has won 6 Big Ten titles but never been awarded the conference Coach of the Year.
-In case you're interested Penn State got 15 players on the media squad, and the coaches named 6 Nittany Lions to the First Team. Wisconsin got 5 on the media First Team (remember OSU had 2). Purdue trumped the Bucks 11-9 in total players named All Conference!
When you consider that Ohio State was the Big Ten outright champion, then you have to scratch your head. I have perused the list of players and found the following to be especially mind boggling:
-Cameron Heyward was only considered Second Team on both lists. Are you kidding me? Some NFL scouts are projecting Cam as the first player taken in next year's draft, if he leaves early...not the #1 DL but the #1 player overall! He was the most dominant player on what may have been the best defense in the nation. Just ask Matt Millen. He raved about Heyward each time he broadcast a Buckeye game, and felt he was the key to Ohio State's phenomenal defense.
-Brian Rolle didn't make either list, but A.J. Edds is Second Team (Coaches) and Honorable Mention (Media). Huh? Edds had a fairly quiet year making 72 tackles (4 for loss), while Rolle (the human kamikaze) had 91 (7 for loss), scoring a touchdown and a 2 point conversion.
-The Media Defensive Player of the Year (Greg Jones) played on a team that gave up over 25 points a game. Hey, his stats were great, so I'm only asking. Just seems a little fishy to me.
-Good players on the best team (Mike Brewster, DeVier Posey, and the aformentioned Brian Rolle) didn't even warrant Honorable Mention on either list, and Doug Worthington was overlooked by the coaches. Hey do they actually watch the games?
-Eric Decker missed half of his team's conference games but was still named First Team by the coaches. Certainly he is special, but don't you have to actually play to be considered the best of the best?
I could go on, but you get the point. I think this travesty is a combination of jealousy against the Buckeyes (5 straight titles will do that), and ignorance on the part of voters who make up their minds before the season begins. Regardless it is a pity and as a Buckeye fan I say, "We got shafted...we got hosed...we got jobbed!"
-Brian Rolle didn't make either list, but A.J. Edds is Second Team (Coaches) and Honorable Mention (Media). Huh? Edds had a fairly quiet year making 72 tackles (4 for loss), while Rolle (the human kamikaze) had 91 (7 for loss), scoring a touchdown and a 2 point conversion.
-The Media Defensive Player of the Year (Greg Jones) played on a team that gave up over 25 points a game. Hey, his stats were great, so I'm only asking. Just seems a little fishy to me.
-Good players on the best team (Mike Brewster, DeVier Posey, and the aformentioned Brian Rolle) didn't even warrant Honorable Mention on either list, and Doug Worthington was overlooked by the coaches. Hey do they actually watch the games?
-Eric Decker missed half of his team's conference games but was still named First Team by the coaches. Certainly he is special, but don't you have to actually play to be considered the best of the best?
I could go on, but you get the point. I think this travesty is a combination of jealousy against the Buckeyes (5 straight titles will do that), and ignorance on the part of voters who make up their minds before the season begins. Regardless it is a pity and as a Buckeye fan I say, "We got shafted...we got hosed...we got jobbed!"
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