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LET’S HEAR YOUR STORY
I know as well as anyone living in Florida that it’s been a scary hurricane season. I know discussing hurricanes is sensitive, people are obviously touchy. However, I see absolutely no reason why the national sports media has completely ignored the fact that The University of Miami HURRICANES are 7-0 (emphasis purposely added). Not only are they undefeated but the ‘Canes also have a top heisman prospect in their quarterback, Cam Ward. According to the more popular media outlets you need to be an Alabama (2 losses), Georgia (1loss), Texas (1loss) or Colorado (1 loss) fan to get any kind of love this season. Miami (undeafeated) doesn’t seem to exist to the big media names. Go figure. It’s time we change the narrative.
Back at the beginning of the season I wrote an article in which I discussed the changes in team success stories due to The Transfer Portal, a very popular program that allows players to transfer between schools, almost at will. Several teams have benefited from the programs, other teams not so much. Some have actually gotten worse. Now that we’re at mid season let’s take a look at the three Quarterbacks I mentioned several weeks ago.
First up is Riley Leonard who transferred to Notre Dame from Duke. To say going from Duke To Notre Dame as the starting QB should be seamless is a serious understatement but Riley seems to have taken it in stride. After a shaky start to the season (no touchdown passes in the first two games) and an upset loss to Georgia Tech The Irish are back on track. Sitting at number 12 in the AP Top 25 Notre Dame is 6-1 and seems to be a certain contender to be there at the end, one of the coveted spots in the final 12 teams that will make the playoffs.
Secondly is Will Howard who made the jump from Kansas State to Ohio State. Talk about jumping into a hot seat! His play has been pretty marginal if you ask me (sorry Buck Eye fans) and let’s be serious about who Ohio State has played. Pretty much no one if you ask me and anyway it all comes down to the Michigan game for this program. I figure if they can beat a sub par Wolverine program this year both Howard and Ryan Day can save their jobs. Good luck on that one!
Lastly, no program in the country has benefited more from the transfer portal the The University of Oregon Ducks. They were already a great team at the end of the season last year however the acquisition of Dillion Gabriel transferring in from Oklahoma has made them a national power house, currently sitting at numero uno (#1) on the AP poll. This kid just gets better every week and in my opinion is gonna be the top Quarterback in the NFL draft this year(are you listening Miami Dolphins!). Cam Ward with the Hurricanes is a great player, but Gabriel is a generational one . This kid is special. Watch and learn sports fans, watch and learn.
In retrospect I don’t think the transfer portal is a cure all for many problems that top teams have. Texas A&M, Ol Miss and Florida State had more incoming transfers then any other schools in the nation. Florida State is pathetic this year at 1-6 and The Rebels and Aggies have been so-so, failing to win the big games. In my opinion bringing in a top quarterback that can play from day one is key. Pretty much like The NFL, you can’t win a National Title without a top performance from your Quarterback. Period.
Of course I’m no football coach. I just try to watch and learn and trying to learn anything from college football isn’t easy this year regardless of the hurricanes and tornadoes ripping through my neighborhood. As usual there will be upsets (Still can’t believe the Texas vs. Georgia game last week) amid the goal post destruction. There will always be the crazy fans storming the field and the teary eyed fans wishing for what could have been. So atay tuned for a great second half of the season because it’s gonna get crazier! With 12 teams making it in this year we could up up having more Hurricanes, Tornadoes, and “Roll Tides” then we bargained for!! Play on I Say!
Kev
Kev's Corner Our Staffs Weekly Sports perspective
(click here for more of Kev’s past articles)
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