Rick's Rants: October 2008 Archives

The National Football Foundation Wednesday released the names of its 15 finalists for the Draddy Award, also known as the "Academic Heisman."

Unfortunately, two players with local connections who were among the 164 semifinalists named earlier this fall, did not make it: University of Chicago center Jim McAnelly, a Marmion Academy graduate from Aurora; and Northern Illinois University tackle Jon Brost of Maple Grove, Minn., would have been eligible for a post-graduate scholarship of $18,000.

Too bad. Like all of the 164 nominees, both are good football players and even better students and leaders. They've done their families, programs and schools proud.

Semifinalists were nominated from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA.
University of Illinois lineman Ryan McDonald did make the final cut. The Draddy winner will be named in New York City in December.
Here's a list of the finalists:\
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE - POSITION - SCHOOL

• ANDREW BERRY - CB - Harvard University
• RYAN BERRY - QB - South Dakota State University
• CHASE DANIEL - QB - University of Missouri
• BRIAN FREEMAN - OT - Carnegie Mellon University
• CASEY GERALD - CB - Yale University
• GRAHAM HARRELL - QB - Texas Tech University
• QUIN HARRIS - LB - Louisiana Tech University
• JEFF HORINEK - LB - Colorado State University
• RYAN KEES - DE - St. Cloud State University (Minn.)
• ALEX MACK - C - University of California (Berkeley)
• RYAN McDONALD - OL - University of Illinois
• GREG MICHELI - QB - Mount Union College (Ohio)
• DARRYL RICHARD - DT - Georgia Tech
• BRIAN ROBISKIE - WR - Ohio State University
• LOUIE SAKODA - P/K - University of Utah

Until today, everything Rocky Wirtz had done in running the Blackhawks since taking over for his late father Bill, was upbeat and positive.

Initial reaction to the firing of coach Denny Savard just four games into the season?

It's time to grow some Rocky. Your old man may have run the franchise into the ground with some of his antiquated decisions, but one thing is certain, he had a pair. Not sure about you.

It's pretty obvious "management" wasn't happy with Savy long before this. If you wanted to make the move, fine, but it should have been done before training camp. The way you handled it today? Gutless.

"Would you like fries with that?"

When you see Kyle Orton staring at the Bears' sideline, intently listening to the mini-walkie-talkie in his helmet, don't you wish you could be on the other end just once? You know, like when the team is facing fourth-and-a-half yard at Atlanta's goal line like it did on Sunday?

Don't you think you would have had the sense to say, "Uh, breaker, breaker, good buddy. Uh, Kyle, since you're 6-4 and 216 pounds, why don't you just sneak it in that half yard instead of wasting time to fake and hand off and allow the Falcon defenders to push the line of scrimmage back a yard?"

I do.

One of the two up backs in front of tailback Matt Forte on that fourth down play was tight end Greg Olson. You know, Greg Olson, the tight end who is more wide receiver than blocker. Too bad Orton wasn't handing off to Olson, becasue he went right through a hole between the center and guard on that play and planted himself face first just over the goal line.

Unfortunately, he didn't find anyone to block, which I think was supposed to be his job on that play. He didn't hit anybody. It appeared to me he just filled the hole that Forte could have used.

And let's not get started on squib kicks.