As we reach the halfway point of the college football season, we've discovered a lot over the past seven weeks. And, while realizing that we have a lot more to find out before this season ends, it's time to celebrate what this season has delivered so far.
Let's not waste time and get right to it.
Coach of the Half Season
There's a lot of coaches who have done masterful jobs so far. While we have to give credit to LSU's Les Miles for guiding his team through a brutal non-conference slate, he's not the winner. Neither is Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy, who has led the Cowboys to waters that seem to have belonged only to their in-state brethren.
The coach who deserves the crown is Clemson's Dabo Swinney, who went from the hot seat to the hot name in short time. His Tigers stand undefeated and seventh in the initial BCS standings and clearly have been the class of the ACC. Clemson's relatively easy waltz at Virginia Tech was hands down one of the most impressive road performances of the season.
However, championship teams are made when their backs are against the wall and things don't look good. Last week's comeback win over Maryland send a clear message to College Football Nation that the Tigers are anything but a fluke. The ACC Player of the Year award is Tajh Boyd's to lose, and Clemson looks destined for a BCS game. Credit Swinney for putting the pieces together.
The Half Season Heisman Winner
I love, love Trent Richardson's dazzling run against Ole Miss last Saturday and without question, he deserves serious Heisman hype. And while we can all stand back and admire Andrew Luck's brilliance at Stanford, for right now, I'm going with Wisconsin's Russell Wilson. Wisconsin was a solid team before Wilson, but they've become simply lethal after adding him. Wilson brings speed options to a team noted for power running. He adds dimensions to the Badgers that weren't there for years and it's made a difference to the tune of nothing but absolute domination so far in Madison. So, unless the Badgers show any signs of weakening, Wilson gets the nod.
Defensive Player of the Half Season
I could give this to either the entire Alabama defense or LSU defense. However, when one thinks defense in college football, one thinks of the Honey Badger. Tyrone Mathieu of LSU has made Tiger fans forget all about Patrick Peterson, who wasn't all that bad himself. Mathieu has been nothing but nightmarish for college quarterbacks and is the master key to one of the best defenses in college football. Mathieu deserves Heisman credit of his own. Has November 5th arrived yet?
Game of the Half Season
There's an awful lot of games to choose from this year, but every time I thought about this category, my mind slipped to that first night game in Ann Arbor. Michigan/Notre Dame was absolutely spectacular football, especially in the last two minutes. It was a fantastic chess match between Brady Hoke and Brian Kelly, ending in dramatic fashion with Denard Robinson's game-winnng pass to Roy Roundtree, capping an incredible 28-point fourth quarter comeback win for the Wolverines. Make no mistake, this game really stung Notre Dame fans for good reason, but watching that game was just plain fun. It's that sort of drama that creates college football fanatics nationwide.
And, while we're at it, the current BCS bowl projections are...
BCS Title Game — LSU vs. Oklahoma (let's face it, when the title game is in New Orleans, LSU always seems to find a way to be there)
Sugar Bowl — Alabama vs. Oklahoma State
Orange Bowl — Clemson vs. West Virginia
Rose Bowl — Stanford vs. Wisconsin
Fiesta Bowl — Oregon vs. Boise State
Leave a Comment