SB Nation User Blog: KevinJ

Rak is raking in the awards

KevinJ — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:21:52 -0000

Brian Orakpo won the Lombardi Award last night, honoring the nation's top lineman. He has also collected the Nagurski Trophy, honoring the nation's top defensive player, as well as the Hendricks Award, honoring the nation's top defensive end.

Sakpo has turned in a stellar senior season, and is also one of the finalists for the Lott Trophy, honoring the nation's defensive impact player of the year.

He has 10.5 sacks this season, 18 tackles for a loss, 4 forced fumbles and he can BENCH PRESS A BUICK WHILE OUTRUNNING A CHEETAH.

HOOK 'EM and CONGRATS to Brian Orakpo on an amazing senior season!

Mike Gundy is a MAN, 40, and rich! He just got a new deal for almost $16m over 7 years at OSU

KevinJ — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:39:12 -0000

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3747629

I'm sure most of that is "wind" money from good 'ol T Boone. (Yeah...'cause green energy is still inexpensive, clean, and effecient when you realize you have to get all the energy stored up in your monster wind farm in Mad Max west Texas all the way to Dallas. Um yeah...good luck with that. Side rant).

Anyway, now Mike, if you're reading this by some miracle, this money means that eventually you will have to beat OU. It's been a long time since the Cowboys came out on top of the Land Thieves. 2002 to be precise. Please help us.

Leach NOT going to Washington...sources saying they just got USC's OC

KevinJ — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:59:15 -0000

Here's the dope from ESPN:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3746240

This was a Joe Schad news break, so I'm extraordinarily inclined to believe it. Very impressed with his reporting both online and for College Football Live. If this holds up, the only job in the country I'd see Leach considering is Auburn, but I just don't see their interest in bringing on the pirate.

As far as I'm concerned this is great news for us. Leach can keep/make Tech competitive, but probably not a legitimate year-in-year-out contender...great for strength of schedule. Plus, he's just sort of this cooky icon that grabs press.

Davey O'Brien voting ends 12/7!!! PLEASE VOTE FOR COLT RIGHT NOW!!!!

KevinJ — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:58:37 -0000

Hey Horns,

Please take a second and vote for Colt McCoy for the Davey O'Brien Award. This award honors the nation's top collegiate quarterback. The other two finalists this year are Sam Bradford and Graham Harrell. Fan voting counts for 5% of the total, so please do this to help ensure Colt keeps the monster lead he has earned ON THE FIELD. You can vote daily, and the website is: http://www.daveyobrien.com/fan/login.asp.

Vince Young won this in 2005, and Earl Campbell won in 1977 before it was exclusively a quarterback's award. I know we're all biased here, but I don't think anyone can argue with what Colt has done this year. Let's give him all the support we can.

While you're at it, the Heisman race from ESPN and Nissan is also extraordinary close, with Colt clinging to a slim lead over Sam Bradford. Please vote for Colt! The website is: http://promo.espn.go.com/espn/contests/theheismanvote/index

Hook 'Em!

Can anyone recommend a good Bear Bryant biography?

KevinJ — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:03:11 -0000

I'm a Longhorn, so I am (unfortunately) completely ignorant about what I'm sure is the rich history of your legendary Coach. If anyone here could point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated. I'm looking for the penultimate sort of thing that covers how he revolutionized/dominated the game on the field mixed with the history of his personal life and history....you know, a general soup-to-nuts sorta deal that doesn't either sugar-coat or tear anyone down...something as objective and honest as possible. Anyway, congrats to you guys on The Iron Bowl and a fantastic season so far. Hope you crush Florida. I'm tired of everyone acting like there's no question they go to the Championship. To Hell With That! (Oh, and to Hell with Oklahoma as well).

Can anyone recommend a good Darrell Royal biography?

KevinJ — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:26:50 -0000

I looked around on Amazon and BN.com but nothing seemed like a great combination of personal biography and 40 acres exploits. I'm looking for this as a Christmas gift for someone who knows nothing about Coach Royal and wants a great overall picture that shows how he changed Texas, college football, etc. Sort of the authoritative soup-to-nuts that shows both sides of the man. Thank you in advance for any ideas.

Jeremy Hills

KevinJ — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:25:38 -0000

I love the idea of getting a star recruit like Jeremy Hills experience his first year, but why did we wait until this late in the season? We failed to work him into the mix with McGee, Ogbannaya, Johnson, and (to a much lesser extent) Whittaker. I don't think the experience he's getting right now is worth either the exposure to injury or the valuable red shirt we burnt. Any theories on why this was done? Is our running back core that beat up that he had to come in to help share the load? Was it to show recruits you can play your first year if you do what's asked of you? I understand if Mack doesn't want him making mistakes against the OU's of the world as a skinny, true freshman, but why didn't he play more relief in our non-conference games? I understand we didn't know who our starter, or what our strategy would be at running back in those early days, but if we ever considered using him in the backfield for a second, and thus burning the redshirt, why not make competition truly open in games we should always win (weaker non-conf matches compared to Big 12 battles) and give him a chance to show us what he can do? I don't think our backfield is so beat-up that he had to fill in. Vondrell's got two more years of eligibility. Fozzy has three. We also want Lache Seastrunk. Was it just to make more room? As per Cody Johnson, if he can drop some weight maybe he work his way back into the mix to be a starter...but wouldn't it actually be better for the team to have him put on some bulk and stay the short-yardage back we've needed? With all this depth and talent we're targeting I wonder if we don't move Jeremy out to WR..or at least sub him as speed for Fozzy at times?

Baylor Depth Chart

KevinJ — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:13:10 -0000

The depth chart for the Baylor game still lists Quan Cosby and Brian Orakpo starting. Anyone know what's going on?

I'd love for us to rest these tremendous assets in a game we should be able to win without them. (No offense to Baylor, but it's just a fact of our athleticism, depth, home field, etc). On top of that, I'd love to see some of our younger players get some more starting experience, when things aren't quite figured out and each squad is playing chess...get them used to thinking a bit more.

Afterall, at this point in the season why can't we use Williams, Kirkendoll, or Buckner for something more than just a simple flag route? Don't get me wrong, I love the deep ball, and wish Greg Davis used it more, but these guys have to get used to running actual routes and throwing fakes...not just relying on busted coverages or their speed alone. Between the fact that we're deep in the season and we're losing Quan & Jordan next year this is a concern.

As per the defensive side of the ball, anyone not as experienced as Orakpo is going to have to learn to be disciplined vs. Baylor and not over pursue or try to take the edge every time. We need our ends to stay stay at home...push your man toward the pocket if you can, and make him beat you with his arm. Let the LB's contain him on the scramble. Don't try to slip around every time and take yourself our of a play if he decides to pull it down, split the gap, and take 5 yards. (Or a concussion from Sergio "I eat your soul and shit out all your hope" Kindle).

South End Zone remodel?

KevinJ — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:41:55 -0000

I don't want to jinx anything or celebrate prematurely, but with such an awesome season so far, and an amazing renovation job in the North End Zone, anyone else think now is the time for Mack to push for a South End remodel? The team's on fire, recruiting is (as always) off the charts, season tickets are being scooped up (even in these horrible economic times), and the students finally seem to get how to be a factor. If ever there was a time to make the move for an enclosed South End Zone I think this is it. Seats, noise, amenities...it would just be too cool.

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE FOR COLT AS AN O'BRIEN SEMI-FINALIST!!!

KevinJ — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:53:08 -0000

Hey OrangeBloods,

I'm sure that, like me, you've been voting for Colt McCoy for the Davey O'Brien Award every day. Please remember to take a second, now that he's made it to the semi-final round, to continue voting for him! If you need the website it is:

http://www.daveyobrien.com/

I don't think I'm alone when I say that Colt is a class act and a great player, and while he doesn't seem to need the fan vote to win any awards this season, we should show our support for the man (even though he's not 40) leading out team.

Hook 'Em!