The stretch run....football awards

Ok, here we are. The MLB season is over, culminating in my Boston RedSox winning the World Series. The college football regular season is rapidly coming to end and the conference championships are coming closer. Other fall collegiate sports are gearing up for their post-seasons, as the collegiate basketball season gets underway.

So much to talk about, and what thought keeps coming up in my mind of local interest? College football's Unitas Award.

What about the Heisman? Forget it. Both local candidates from UL and UK will NOT be invited to the DAC, (Downtown Athletic Club), in New York come early December. And that is REGARDLESS of what they do or do not achieve over these last few games in November.

Both Brian Brohm and Andre' Woodson are all but eliminated from consideration. Why? Because recent history suggests that they are out of it completely. Since 1997 NONE of the top 4-5 invitees for the Heisman award ceremonies have been from a team that had 4 or more losses on the season. Woodson MIGHT still make it, but UK has to win out AND the top 5 guys in front of Woodson have to slip up. Brohm is out of it completely.

I am sure I am going to take a ton of heat for this, but that is the reality of the situation. Both QB's could put up HUGE numbers and lead their respective teams to win out the rest of the year, and that would NOT make a difference. Again, it is because guys in front of them have slip in the national presence. And right now, those top 4 candidates are looking pretty strong. Right now, according to ESPN, the top 5 candidates are Matt Ryan (BC), Dennis Dixon (OR), Tim Tebow (FL), Pat White (WV), and Mike Hart (MI). Out of the top 15, Woodson checks in at #13, and Brohm is not listed at all. Basically, put a fork in them.

However, there IS a post season award that both can and will be considered for that is pretty prestigious in and of itself. And presented right here in Louisville. The Johnny Unitas Golden-Arm award, given each year to the best SENIOR QB. And with both Brohm and Woodson we are lucky to have two of the top QB's in the nation right here in the state. And how cool would is it to have these two guys fighting for this award in their home state?

So, here is the question: Which QB deserves the award?

First, they will have competition from Heisman candidates Matt Ryan and Dennis Dixon. But it is actually rare that even a Heisman winner gets both of these awards. And the primary reason is that the Unitas Award is based on the overall performance and that Sr QB's full body of work over their career, not just how well their team is doing or how good their Sr. year is.

But if you look at the body of the work that all of these Sr QB's have put together, (Ryan, Dixon, Woodson and Brohm), I think the CLEAR winner is Brian Brohm. The overall performance of his 4 years at UL overshadows the work that the other 3 have accumulated. Especially in the early parts of their careers. Brohm has been the starting QB since his Sophomore season, and his results speak for themselves. The highpoint of his career may not have been his MVP Orange Bowl award and leading his team the Orange Bowl victory, but actually may be THIS 2007 season. In a season where the UL football team is as dysfunctional as the NY Mets with 2 weeks to go in the baseball season, Brohm has been a MAJOR stabilizing force and reliable leader on the field. The past two seasons he suffered injuries and forced him to miss several games. But this season he has remained healthy, and incredibly prolific amid all sorts of horrific play and dubious coaching. As a result, I think this may be Brian Brohm's best year he has ever had. With Brian Brohm, I shudder to think where UL would be right now. And not because of his ability throwing the ball, but just his presence and ability to make the right choices.

So, in a year that Brohm could have, and maybe even expected, to win college football's most prestigious award, (Heisman Award), given to the supposedly "best football player", the best award for him might be to take home the award that epitomizes the real virtue of a true QB. The Unitas Award.