Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/98978
Upon Further Review todd D. burlage lina State and Sam Houston State ��� the latter two being Football Championship Subdivision opponents ��� Manziel���s 358 total rushing yards were about one third of his ground production for the season, and his 16 total touchdowns against those three teams accounted for nearly 40 percent of his scoring. I���m not comfortable with statistics against FCS teams being considered for postseason honors any more than I am a top-tier SEC school scheduling two of these inferior opponents in the same year. Texas A&M played only five Football Bowl Subdivision teams that finished the regular season with a winning record (Notre Dame played eight). And in two of the toughest tests this season for Manziel, against Florida and LSU, the rookie struggled, losing both games and finishing with just one total touchdown, three interceptions and a dismal quarterback rating of 103 in those two games. Manziel rated as only the fourth-most efficient quarterback in the SEC during the regular season. Manziel was terrific in a memorable and nationally televised upset of thenNo. 1 Alabama late in the season. But should one game have immediately moved a redshirt freshman phenom over two seniors as the leading candidate for the highest honor in a college football season? For Te���o, at least statistically speaking, his seven interceptions were the most by a FBS linebacker in the last 12 years and his nine takeaways (two fumble recoveries added) tied him with two defensive backs for most steals in the country this season. Te���o reportedly also became the first FBS linebacker to ever record seven interceptions and 100 tackles in the same season, and a televised report last weekend said Te���o missed on only two tackles all year. As far as team pursuits, ���unfinished business��� brought Te���o back to Notre Dame instead of chasing NFL riches after his junior season. And through words and deeds, he became the face of an undefeated team preparing to play for a national championship. At least to me, being the best player on the best team and the best defense in the country ��� and reaching those heights as a model ambassador to college football and an Academic AllAmerican ��� defines the Heisman criteria better than any candidate has in decades. Te���o won the other seven postseason awards he was nominated for, making him the most decorated defensive player in NCAA history. For the sake of credibility, my fine editor understandably warned me to guard against taking a ���sour grapes��� tone to this story. But bitter wine aside, selecting a two-loss rookie QB over a proven student-athlete who embodies the spirit of college athletics missed the mark ��� and brings wonder if the Heisman mission statement needs to be rewritten. ��� Todd D. Burlage has been a writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 2005. He can be reached at tburlage@blueandgold.com