Well the travesty has begun. Who are the dolts who vote for these postseason awards and what is their criteria.
COLLEGE AWARDS
Rolle passed over for Thorpe
BY GEORGE RICHARDS
[email protected]
LAKE BUENA VISTA - Antrel Rolle said winning individual awards doesn't mean much to him, and the University of Miami senior repeated that after he didn't win the Jim Thorpe Award on Thursday night.
Rolle, a senior All-American cornerback, was the second straight UM defensive back -- and third since 2001 -- to be a finalist for the Thorpe and not come back from Disney World's Boardwalk with the trophy. Safety Sean Taylor lost to Oklahoma's Derrick Strait last year, and Ed Reed lost in 2001.
Carlos Rogers of Auburn won the award at ESPN's nationally televised college football awards show. Bennie Blades, who won in 1987, is Miami's only Thorpe Award winner.
''It was an honor just to be up there with two other great defensive backs,'' said Rolle, who had 65 tackles and an interception this season for the 14th-ranked Hurricanes.
``It's a great award, and it was nice to be here and to be honored. I'm not disappointed at all because my day will come at the NFL draft. That's what I'm looking forward to now.''
Rolle had plenty of fans in the audience, from parents Al and Armelia Rolle to coach Larry Coker and defensive coordinator Randy Shannon. Former UM defensive lineman Russell Maryland also was at the show, as a presenter for the Outland Trophy. Russell won that award in 1990.
''I'm definitely disappointed; I thought he should have won,'' Coker said.
The Hurricanes didn't go away empty-handed as Rolle and special teams maven Devin Hester were honored as members of the Walter Camp All-American team.
New Florida coach Urban Meyer was honored as the Home Depot Coach of the Year. Meyer said he has been busy recruiting for the Gators but will coach Utah in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.
''This has been a great experience,'' said Meyer, who was joined Thursday by Utah quarterback Alex Smith. ``It's been a stressful time for a lot of people involved, especially the players who get lost in the shuffle.''
The Maxwell Award (best all-around player) used to be known as a precursor to the Heisman Trophy, with eight of 10 players winning both from 1990-99, although none have won both since Ron Dayne in 1999.
On Thursday, Oklahoma's Jason White won. ''I don't think it has sunk in yet,'' said White, a sixth-year senior who won the Heisman last year and also got the Davey O'Brien Award on Thursday. ``It's a great feeling. ''
Former Hollywood McArthur High standout Erasmus James did not win the Chuck Bednarik Trophy for top defensive player. The senior from Wisconsin lost to David Pollack of Georgia. Pollack won the Lombardi Award (best lineman) Wednesday.
COLLEGE AWARDS
Rolle passed over for Thorpe
BY GEORGE RICHARDS
[email protected]
LAKE BUENA VISTA - Antrel Rolle said winning individual awards doesn't mean much to him, and the University of Miami senior repeated that after he didn't win the Jim Thorpe Award on Thursday night.
Rolle, a senior All-American cornerback, was the second straight UM defensive back -- and third since 2001 -- to be a finalist for the Thorpe and not come back from Disney World's Boardwalk with the trophy. Safety Sean Taylor lost to Oklahoma's Derrick Strait last year, and Ed Reed lost in 2001.
Carlos Rogers of Auburn won the award at ESPN's nationally televised college football awards show. Bennie Blades, who won in 1987, is Miami's only Thorpe Award winner.
''It was an honor just to be up there with two other great defensive backs,'' said Rolle, who had 65 tackles and an interception this season for the 14th-ranked Hurricanes.
``It's a great award, and it was nice to be here and to be honored. I'm not disappointed at all because my day will come at the NFL draft. That's what I'm looking forward to now.''
Rolle had plenty of fans in the audience, from parents Al and Armelia Rolle to coach Larry Coker and defensive coordinator Randy Shannon. Former UM defensive lineman Russell Maryland also was at the show, as a presenter for the Outland Trophy. Russell won that award in 1990.
''I'm definitely disappointed; I thought he should have won,'' Coker said.
The Hurricanes didn't go away empty-handed as Rolle and special teams maven Devin Hester were honored as members of the Walter Camp All-American team.
New Florida coach Urban Meyer was honored as the Home Depot Coach of the Year. Meyer said he has been busy recruiting for the Gators but will coach Utah in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.
''This has been a great experience,'' said Meyer, who was joined Thursday by Utah quarterback Alex Smith. ``It's been a stressful time for a lot of people involved, especially the players who get lost in the shuffle.''
The Maxwell Award (best all-around player) used to be known as a precursor to the Heisman Trophy, with eight of 10 players winning both from 1990-99, although none have won both since Ron Dayne in 1999.
On Thursday, Oklahoma's Jason White won. ''I don't think it has sunk in yet,'' said White, a sixth-year senior who won the Heisman last year and also got the Davey O'Brien Award on Thursday. ``It's a great feeling. ''
Former Hollywood McArthur High standout Erasmus James did not win the Chuck Bednarik Trophy for top defensive player. The senior from Wisconsin lost to David Pollack of Georgia. Pollack won the Lombardi Award (best lineman) Wednesday.
