Heisman Trophy

Cam Newton Will Inevitably Return the Heisman Trophy

Auburn University quarterback Cameron Newton has had unquestionably one of the most phenomenal seasons in college football history. Without a doubt, Cam Newton has been the best player on the field this year. Unfortunately, the Heisman Trophy is about more than just being the best player on the field. You also have to demonstrate integrity off the field. Cam simply has not evinced integrity off the field. The NCAA has stated that Cecil Newton, Cam’s father, was found guilty of seeking out money in exchange for Cam’s signing with the team willing to offer the most money. He wanted this money to go into his pocket—not for his son’s education. Cam has repeatedly denied knowing that his father was seeking money in exchange for his attendance at the institution willing to give the most money. Please! He has repeatedly expressed how close he is with his father. Cam said that he was not disappointed with what his father did. What? Are you kidding me? The Heisman Trophy Trust still gave Cameron Newton the Heisman Trophy.

The Heisman Trophy Trust should have given the Heisman Trophy to another student-athlete who would have represented it with decency and integrity. Because of the evidence against Cam and more evidence potentially coming forth, the Heisman Trophy Trust should have learned from the Reggie Bush example that Cam should not be awarded the trophy. With all of the attention on Cam, the evidence that links him to knowledge about his father seeking money from schools on his behalf will come forth and other evidence too. Cam will be declared ineligible!

As a serious supporter of Black male college student-athletes, I would have loved to cherish the moment of him winning the Heisman Trophy, but I am not able to do this. The NCAA should have declared Cam ineligible to play and forfeited all of Auburn’s games this season. I have a history of supporting Black male college student-athletes, and have devoted my life to ameliorating the educational experiences and outcomes of Black male student-athletes. I cannot support Cam’s dishonesty and his off the field actions that dishonor the prestige and integrity of the Heisman Trophy. While people, including my mother, love Cam’s disarming smile and his consistent references to God, I can only wish that his smile and references to God would have been thought of when he was off the field engaging in all kinds of illegal actions.

Cecil Newton, you should be ashamed of yourself! You are supposed to be a man of God. You were not an example for your son.

The Heisman Trophy Trust needs to reform its eligibility rules for a student-athlete to be considered for the Heisman Trophy. The Heisman Trophy Trust cannot simply depend on rulings from the NCAA. With Cam Newton receiving the Heisman trophy on yesterday, the honor and prestige that the trophy symbolizes has been significantly diminished. Cam get ready to return the Heisman Trophy in the days to come!

Antonio Maurice Daniels

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Boise State and TCU Shouldn’t be in the BCS Discussion

It is simply unfair for Boise State University and Texas Christian University (TCU) to be ranked #3 and #4 in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). If they want to be able to gain the necessary respect to play in the national championship game, then they will need to schedule road games with traditional football powers like Alabama and Texas and beat them both. Their non-conference schedules need to be the most difficult in the nation, considering their conference schedules are tremendously weak. Of course, I support a playoff system, one that would still require Boise State University and TCU to play more difficult non-conference schedules. Now, Boise State and TCU could move into BCS conferences and I would then be more supportive of them. For instance, if TCU moved into the Big 12, for which they are geographically perfect for, and Boise State moved into the Big 12 too, and experienced undefeated seasons, I would support both of them getting a national championship game appearance. The moral to the story, therefore, is TCU and Boise State need to change conferences or play the most difficult non-conference schedules in the nation.

I’m not trying to say that these two teams are not talented because they are. What I am saying is they basically don’t play anybody. Give Boise State the schedule Arkansas has, and TCU the schedule Oregon has. I’m willing to bet that both teams would have two losses or more each year. The problem both teams present for themselves is we never have a chance to see them play a tough conference schedule.

The coaches, Harris Interactive poll voters, and the Associated Press need to stop voting them into the Top 25. They occupy places in the polls that other teams who are far more deserving are being denied a chance to be in. Kellen Moore of Boise State and Andy Dalton of TCU, therefore, should not be receiving Heisman Trophy consideration. I support Ryan Mallett of the Arkansas Razorbacks for the Heisman Trophy.

Antonio Maurice Daniels

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Arkansas Razorbacks Prepare to Face Alabama in the Mountains of Fayetteville

After a closer than was needed victory over the Georgia Bulldogs on yesterday, the Arkansas Razorbacks, led by Ryan Mallett, get set to face the Alabama Crimson Tide, the defending national champions and #1 ranked team in the nation. While Arkansas did get the win against a Georgia Bulldogs team that they are simply better than, with or without A.J. Green, they did not show all of the things that they need to do to win against Alabama. Although it is always a good thing to get a win on the road in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Arkansas Razorbacks did not play like champions when they had a 14 point lead on the Georgia Bulldogs. If Arkansas is going to silence the critics, then they are going to have to play like champions for all four quarters each game.

Next Saturday, Alabama will come to one of the toughest places to play in the nation: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in the Mountains of Fayetteville! While Arkansas will have to play better than they played against Georgia to beat Alabama, anytime Ryan Mallett steps on the field the Hogs have a chance to win against anyone. The Arkansas defense has shown significant improvement from last year, so Alabama will need to be prepared for a much improved and more physical defense. Although the Arkansas offense has proved to be explosive, the offense still has not reached its full potential, which should certainly scare Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban.

Arkansas will not be awe-struck when Alabama steps on the field. They know that if they play their best that they can defeat any opponent, including Alabama. If Mallett leads his team to victory, you can certainly expect him to win this year’s Heisman Trophy. Without question, Ryan Mallett will face the toughest defense he will experience this season, but the great thing is he has faced this defense last year and knows what to expect.

I don’t want Arkansas to think that this game is the whole season. Arkansas will have more games after facing Alabama and should play each week like they are playing for the national championship. I know each one of the Arkansas players and know that they think that they can beat each team on their schedule, so with that confidence I think that they will have the mental toughness to take on any adversity they may face against Alabama. This is going to be a great game! I am predicting that the Arkansas Razorbacks will beat Alabama in a close game in Fayetteville, Arkansas! WOO PIG SOOIE!

Antonio Maurice Daniels

University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Arkansas Razorbacks Will Win the 2010-2011 NCAA Football National Championship

The Arkansas Razorbacks will begin play this Saturday, September 4, 2010. The reason why I believe the Arkansas Razorbacks will win the NCAA football national championship is this is the best overall football team in the nation. Ryan Mallett, the starting quarterback for the Razorbacks and a leading Heisman Trophy candidate, gives the Razorbacks a chance to win every game. Although the Hogs’ defense needs to improve from last year (and I know that it has), the defense will do enough to help the team to win each game. When a team is as fortunate as Arkansas to have such an explosive offense, the defense simply needs to do just enough to help the team to win each game.

Arkansas plays all of its most challenging games at home: Alabama, Ole Miss, and LSU. The emotions and expectations in Fayetteville, Arkansas are tremendously high, and the team really does believe the national championship will come back to the mountains of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Now, I hope that this stupid BCS system does not keep an undefeated Arkansas team out of the national championship game because of a desire rooted in pure politics to put Boise State University in the national championship game against a team like Ohio State University or Texas.

I am tremendously excited about the start of the college football season on Saturday. It comes at a much needed time for me, a time when I could use a break from the problems and boredom of Madison, Wisconsin. In Madison, Wisconsin, people are thinking that the Wisconsin Badgers have a chance to win the national championship, considering they have a high ranking coming into the start of the season. I am glad to let Badger fans know that their team will suffer defeats against Ohio State University and Iowa, which will keep the team out of the national championship game. I do expect the Badgers to lose more than just two games during the regular season.

Ryan Mallett will not only help the Arkansas Razorbacks to win the national championship, but also will win the Heisman Trophy. He has all of the tools to be a great quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). As a proud Razorback, I look forward to the national championship coming home to the mountains of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Arkansas is truly a tradition like none other. Woo Pig Sooie!

Antonio Maurice Daniels

University of Wisconsin-Madison