December 2008 Archives

RE: The Official Constitution of The Graham-Cooper Cup of College Football Supremacy 

Well folks, the results are in.  A majority of the ballots were returned and the sentiments included were varied.  Upon further review and reflection I have made the following decisions ...

1 - I should APOLOGIZE.  That was not really a ballot ... at least not in the traditional sense.  Blame it on the psychology training.  I came up with a hypothesis [IOWA should win The Cup, as they beat all other G-CC teams] and set out to prove it.  Oh Pious Bovine - did I retain something from the lectures of my second sophomore year ?  The fact that I did not provide voters with a "yea/nay" option resulted in some creatively amended responses.  Thank you all for your time, consideration and feedback.

2 - I do not want to be branded a POOR SPORT.  Not that I can't take it ... I have been called much worse.  However, as a representative of The University of IOWA, the Hawkeye athletic teams and the fine student-athletes that comprise them I must carefully measure my decisions before they are executed.  It is based upon the belief that my actions have a profound effect on the global Hawkeye community that I realize ...

3 - Football is a better game than DIRTY POOL.  I think the group consensus is that it is unfair to "change the rules once the game has started".  My argument is that it may be even more unfair to play a game with hazy, undefined rules.  As such, I attempted to establish the aforementioned parameters for our contest.

Considering the input I have received and the statements above, I now propose that we put The Constitution [including the caveats below] to a second vote.

I.                    The document will go into effect AFTER the current season.  The 2008 G-CC Winner will be decided via the current standings.

II.                 Beth Graham will be added to the G-CC voting body.  Beth is a member of a G-CC founding nuclear family and even though she graduated from Marquette, her sports IQ is growing faster than Shonn Greene can rack up 100 yards.

PLEASE cast your vote by commenting on this entry. 

YES = I approve The Constitution, as amended above.

NO = I do NOT approve The Constitution, even after considering the thoughtful revisions and at the risk of being omitted from BLAKE's holiday card list.

Let's get this thing solidified, move on and begin to focus on The Bowl Season.

Per Wikipedia, Ewell Doak Walker, Jr. [1927 - 1998] was born in Dallas, married his high school sweetheart, re-married an Olympic skier named Skeeter and died as a result of injuries suffered in a skiing accident.

However, this is not the story of an amorously indecisive individual who met his ironic end on the snowy slopes.  Rather, it is the tale of 175 pound footballer extraordinaire whose prowess is remembered around this time each year.  

The legend began at Southern Methodist University, where Walker played every side of the ball ... running back, defensive back, place kicker, passer, receiver, punter and kick returner.  For these efforts, he was awarded the Heisman in 1948.  The man of many talents also played for the SMU basketball and baseball teams.

After college, Doak advanced to the NFL where he earned all-pro honors four times and lead the Detroit Lions to two championship titles on his way to Canton. 

The legacy of Walker's athletic achievement [in football - not skiing] is embodied by the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the best running back in college football.

That's right people, if you had not guessed it already; this story ends [as the best ones do] by coming full circle to IOWA football. 

Shonn Greene, the heart of the Hawkeye offense, is one of three finalists for the 2008 Doak Walker Award ... the only major college football honor that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing.  Way to go Mr. Greene! 

VOTE FOR SHONN and all the 2008 college football awards here.

Penn State should be so lucky.  While the Big10 football world lies dormant, counting the days until bowl play, the Nittany Lions continue to satiate our desire for gridiron gossip.  Hold on though, before you jump to the obvious conclusion ... the most recent report does NOT center on the off-the-field shenanigans of the blue & white clad student athletes.  Rather, this parable showcases the lion himself ... or closer to the truth, the boy behind the mask ... the Sheep in cougar clothing.