FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[Ryan Tipps]

Well, I think the conference offices like to spread POW around a little as well.  For the most part, I don't have a problem with that - stats alone do not capture the true complexion of every performance.  Guilford's QB Vogelbach, for example, will probably put up POW-caliber numbers almost every week, but he will not win POW every week - even in games his team wins.  I do bet, however, he'll earn POW this season more times than anyone else. 

Is it possible that Hill's name should have been submitted to the conference folks by either the coach or the AD for nomination and it wasn't? Does anyone know if that is the process or not?

That's a good question, kickerdad, but from the press release that I got, Hill and Ferrum's Matt Lucas were the two other USA South nominees for offensive POTW (in addition to Hightower, of course).

[kickerdad]

Well, I think the conference offices like to spread POW around a little as well.  For the most part, I don't have a problem with that - stats alone do not capture the true complexion of every performance.  Guilford's QB Vogelbach, for example, will probably put up POW-caliber numbers almost every week, but he will not win POW every week - even in games his team wins.  I do bet, however, he'll earn POW this season more times than anyone else. 

Is it possible that Hill's name should have been submitted to the conference folks by either the coach or the AD for nomination and it wasn't? Does anyone know if that is the process or not?

That's a good question, kickerdad, but from the press release that I got, Hill and Ferrum's Matt Lucas were the two other USA South nominees for offensive POTW (in addition to Hightower, of course).

Wow, makes you wonder.

[SU Backer]

    Pridesportbballguy..........you guarantee a win? by @ least 10 points? Should Salisbury even get on the bus? I thought we were going to Va. not Alliance....LOL

[tigerfanalso]

AllSky

I did block for a certain All American RB, we were very close friends then and remain that way today.... has nothing to do with my thoughts on POY type of deals .... just that football is the ultimate team game .... the players know it and understand it ....most quality players are not seeking individual attention and would prefer not to have it on a week to week basis .... All conference/all american teams are good ... they recognizes the better players at every position .... not just the skill positions and are announced at the end of the season !!!! Mutual respect and understanding for what all positions contribute to a teams success is what all great teams have in common ... the media does not understand that nor do those pushing the week to week individual type of awards... as you mentioned early ... HSC player of the week was the defense, and it well should have been ... runner up and a very close second was the OL as they showed an unbelievable improvement from week one .... not casting aside individual performances just painting the whole picture as to why a RB, WR, QB will have big numbers on a given day.... TEAM WORK ...

[Pat Coleman]

Mutual respect and understanding for what all positions contribute to a teams success is what all great teams have in common ... the media does not understand that nor do those pushing the week to week individual type of awards...

Why do you assume that? That's a big blanket statement that can't possibly cover everyone.

Even the great teams give out individual awards. If recognizing individuals' performances means that group cannot understand team success, that's a lot of groups you're calling out.

[allsky7]

AllSky

I did block for a certain All American RB, we were very close friends then and remain that way today.... has nothing to do with my thoughts on POY type of deals .... just that football is the ultimate team game .... the players know it and understand it ....most quality players are not seeking individual attention and would prefer not to have it on a week to week basis .... All conference/all american teams are good ... they recognizes the better players at every position .... not just the skill positions and are announced at the end of the season !!!! Mutual respect and understanding for what all positions contribute to a teams success is what all great teams have in common ... the media does not understand that nor do those pushing the week to week individual type of awards... as you mentioned early ... HSC player of the week was the defense, and it well should have been ... runner up and a very close second was the OL as they showed an unbelievable improvement from week one .... not casting aside individual performances just painting the whole picture as to why a RB, WR, QB will have big numbers on a given day.... TEAM WORK ...

     I hear ya!! Good points.  The Heisman has turned into a joke. Maybe as much about who has the best PR machine as who is the best football player.

[tigerfanalso]

Pat

I don't think I really understand your question/point and I'm not calling anyone "out" as you stated.


AllSky

You are exactly right .... The Heisman is a joke to many people because it does not represent the best college football player of the year as advertised but in fact represents the best offensive player of the year that plays either RB,QB or WR.

[batteredbard]

Mutual respect and understanding for what all positions contribute to a teams success is what all great teams have in common ... the media does not understand that nor do those pushing the week to week individual type of awards...

Why do you assume that? That's a big blanket statement that can't possibly cover everyone.

Even the great teams give out individual awards. If recognizing individuals' performances means that group cannot understand team success, that's a lot of groups you're calling out.

Pat I agree.

Would you really prefer that the news stories on a game not list any player by name? I mean its much easier to say a team rushed for so many yards and never say who rushed for what in what type of situation.
No one needs to know who caught or threw the ball because then a story would focus on individuals rathen than the teams. <please excuse the sarcasm dripping off my chin>
The game clinching play is what defines a game story most often, to not mention the players involved seems odd. Anyone who is a fan of the game knows that no one player wins a game but if you don't recognize the few you end up with a story so long no one would read it mentioning every player on every play (which is what the play by play stats are for) or a one sentence story saying who won and who lost.

On the subject I think Hill had a great game. The only reason I can see why Hightower got the nod was that his two scoring runs came in the fourth quarter and were the difference. The 22-yard run for the winning TD was probably more impressive to me than anything I saw from him last year. The only thing I have for a comparison is something out of Barry Sanders era. I'm not saying he's that way every down, but he was on that down. Does that say he has abetter game than Hill, I don't know because as far as I know the criteria is ambiguous and seems to vary between best statistical performance and best MVP type performance. (something I think we all agree are two totally different things) I do think that it will make it an even more fun game to watch when Maryville and Methodist play this year to see both of them play on the same field - knock on wood, assuming their both healthy in October.

[Pat Coleman]

Pat

I don't think I really understand your question/point and I'm not calling anyone "out" as you stated.

I guess you should probably better explain your own point, then, because that's exactly what you are doing is calling people out.

Mutual respect and understanding for what all positions contribute to a teams success is what all great teams have in common ... the media does not understand that nor do those pushing the week to week individual type of awards...

Your own coaches push week to week individual type awards. How many locker rooms have I walked past with a coach-selected offense, defense, special teams and scout team player of the week? Shoot, about a quarter of our Team of the Week nominations come from coaches.

[tigerfanalso]

Pat:

I really don't know how to better explain my point .... I still don't see how my words can be offensive to anyone or how they might be "calling" someone out. The great teams have great teammates and have mutual respect for each other (my opinion)... understand how the efforts of their teammates contribute to wins and have respect for how the efforts of the entire team contribute to individual success(my opinion). I don't believe that great players care about individual awards as they are more concerned about the success of the team(my opinion). I also don't think coaches care much about them but in order to get players named to all conference/all american teams, they know they have to participate in those activities(also my opinion).

I'm not sure I can explain my position any differently. If you still have disagreement, that is fine. Each is entitled to their own opinion and can agree to disagree when those opinions differ .

[AdmiralPapi]

While I agree that football is the ultimate team sport, I see no problem with individual awards being given out.  Every QB/RB knows that he is nothing without his O-line (or should) and every O-lineman knows that all his hard work in the trenches goes for nothing if the QB throws it in the dirt or the RB doesn't see the hole he has worked his butt off to give that RB.  

Think of the POTW as team awards that someone (yes, generally it is a position player) has to accept.  An O-lineman should take great pride in the fact that his RB was the POTW.  That RB should also realize he wouldn't be there without his lineman and should show his appreciation.  

For me it is much like the military when one guy gets an award because he was team leader for that particular operation.  I don't feel jealously towards him, I feel a sense of pride because I know that helped put that medal on his chest, and maybe a little joy knowing that I don't have to spend money to update my uniform   .  I bet ABN's looks like a box of skittles with all that chest candy he's earned!!!

[tigerfanalso]

AdmiralPapi

I agree 110%. Perhaps you are able to better express your thoughts but your points match mine.

[allsky7]

While I agree that football is the ultimate team sport, I see no problem with individual awards being given out.  Every QB/RB knows that he is nothing without his O-line (or should) and every O-lineman knows that all his hard work in the trenches goes for nothing if the QB throws it in the dirt or the RB doesn't see the hole he has worked his butt off to give that RB.  

Think of the POTW as team awards that someone (yes, generally it is a position player) has to accept.  An O-lineman should take great pride in the fact that his RB was the POTW.  That RB should also realize he wouldn't be there without his lineman and should show his appreciation.  

For me it is much like the military when one guy gets an award because he was team leader for that particular operation.  I don't feel jealously towards him, I feel a sense of pride because I know that helped put that medal on his chest, and maybe a little joy knowing that I don't have to spend money to update my uniform   .  I bet ABN's looks like a box of skittles with all that chest candy he's earned!!!

     Interesting way of putting it. I think I like it. Course, an O-lineman better get joy in that because it's the closest he is likely to get to the POW honor. 

[Pat Coleman]

Pat:

I really don't know how to better explain my point .... I still don't see how my words can be offensive to anyone or how they might be "calling" someone out. The great teams have great teammates and have mutual respect for each other (my opinion)... understand how the efforts of their teammates contribute to wins and have respect for how the efforts of the entire team contribute to individual success(my opinion). I don't believe that great players care about individual awards as they are more concerned about the success of the team(my opinion). I also don't think coaches care much about them but in order to get players named to all conference/all american teams, they know they have to participate in those activities(also my opinion).

I'm not sure I can explain my position any differently. If you still have disagreement, that is fine. Each is entitled to their own opinion and can agree to disagree when those opinions differ .

I guess it's because as a member of the actual media, I don't think the broad brush you paint everyone with is appropriate. I would've figured you'd have been able to tell that, considering it was the part I highlighted.

Yes. We all in the media are ignorant. Nobody understands anything. But yet, here you are on our site ...

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

Flat out, Hill should have gotten player of the week for offense.  4TD's in one game is great no matter what level you play.  It was overlooked, because he deserved it.  Hill just go out there and play hard and you may be rewarded at the end of the year with POY.  Either way good job, O-Line too.