The 2009 SEC Championship: Of Sugar, Roses and Inner Peace
By Drew Moss-special to Football Reporters Online
 
Photo: Tim Tebow with his 2007 Heisman. Does he get to win another one?? (by Dr. Bill Chachkes)

Judging by his spiritual eye black (consult your nearest Good Book for John 16:33), Florida Gators southpaw phenom Tim Tebow has an inner fortitude usually reserved for monks and wise men. 
 
After yesterday's heartbreaking 32-13 pasting at the hands of Nick Saban's methodical, mechanical Alabama Crimson Tide, he's going to need it.
 
Previously ranked #1 Florida will have to settle for a bridesmaid's Sugar Bowl matchup with Big East comeback kids Cincinnati in New Orleans on New Year's Day, while Saban's well- oiled, fine tuned "big red machine" gears up for it's shot at the BCS Championship on January 7th in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA vs. Heisman hopeful Colt McCoy the #2 ranked Texas Longhorns, who eked out an ugly 13-12 win over Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship.
 
Tebow may very well have the All-American profile, the off-season integrity, the matinee looks and the gridiron goods to back it all up, but Saturday night's SEC Championship belonged to Saban, his stubborn, disciplined defense and his offensive playmakers. 
 
Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy matched Tebow and then quickly bested him, with a highly efficient 12-18 passing performance for 239 yards and a touchdown.  But perhaps most telling was McElroy's high wire sideline hustle for a first down with 8:30 remaining in the first half.  It was an athletic, determined and tone setting play that sent the Tide's - and Saban's - overall message:  Alabama was not to be denied.
 
"We had a meeting (last offseason and told the players) everything you do, every time you go to work, every time we lift weights, it's not to be as good as the guy you're playing against, it's to be as good as the guy you have to beat to be the champions," Saban said.
In yesterday's SEC Championship, that proverbial "guy" was Tebow and the Gators.
 
A chance to play for the National Championship was not all that may have brought Tebow to post-game tears.  His 4th Quarter coffin closing pick combined with Alabama running back Mark Ingram's big day in a big spot (28 rushes for 113 yards and three touchdowns) did everything to hurt Tebow's chances at snagging his second Heisman Trophy - and everything to help Ingram's chances for a first.
 
Not that he's thinking about it.  Saban would never have it and Ingram seems to know it.
 
"Coach Saban has a philosophy of hard work and discipline," Ingram said. "And you can't have self-indulgent behavior.  It's about doing everything you can, every chance you have, to make the team better."
 
On Thursday night January 7th in Pasadena, while Tebow's already done "sugarcoating" and meditating on his very bright future; Saban, McElroy, Ingram and the Tide will forget about getting better - they will be looking to be the best.

Does Jake Locker Return For One More Year?
(photo via Wikimedia Commons)
By Nick Haswell –Contributing Writer-Northwest Football Reporters Online

If last Saturday’s game versus California was Jake Locker’s last game as a Washington Husky, then he turned in quite the finale as a collegiate athlete. Locker completed 19 of 23 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns. For good measure, he added 77 yards rushing and another two touchdowns. Locker displayed an NFL ready arm and athletic ability on several occasions on Saturday. His first pass of the game was a beautiful 40 yard touchdown on a post pattern to Jermaine Kearse. Early in the third quarter, Locker connected with Devin Aguilar for a 21 yard touchdown that was perfectly delivered on Aguilar’s back shoulder on a fade pattern. And then, Locker showed his great athletic ability on his 19 yard touchdown run in the second quarter in which he outraced the Cal defense down the sideline once he turned the corner on a designed draw play.

Based on his early season production and his performance in his past two games, one can see why Jake Locker is held in such high regard by NFL scouts and personnel people. But he also is far from a finished product. Although he did greatly improve his accuracy from his first two seasons, Locker still only completed just over 58% of his passes in 2009. His decision making was a little inconsistent during the season, especially during the middle of the 2009 season. His 11 interceptions were second most in the Pac 10, only trailing USC true freshman Matt Barkley (12). All being said, Locker still has a bright future as an NFL signal caller. Whether his NFL career begins in 2010 or 2011 remains to be seen. Let’s take a look at the pros of Locker deciding of returning for his senior season at Washington versus the pros of him declaring himself eligible for the 2010 NFL Draft:

Pros for Returning to UW
1. Locker has the opportunity to learn for another year under Steve Sarkisian’s pro-style offense. Sarkisian has coached NFL quarterbacks in Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, John David Booty, and Mark Sanchez while at USC and can provide Locker a better opportunity to succeed when he reaches the NFL under Sarkisian’s tutelage.
2. He will get another year of game experience at UW, which would be much more beneficial to him to be an NFL ready starter at QB. At this time, Locker is still raw as a quarterback, and I do not see him being ready to start right away as a quarterback in the NFL.
3. Locker will be able to finish what he started in turning around the Husky football program. Locker came into the Husky program and was immediately labeled the “Savior” of the Husky football program. The Huskies have not reached a bowl game since 2002, and Locker was expected to lead the team back to one. He has yet too. If he should return, he would have a great opportunity to lead the Huskies back to a bowl game in 2010 after the Huskies 5-7 season in 2009.
4. He would be a leading candidate for the 2010 Heisman Trophy.
5. Although, he could be a top draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, he could cement his status as a number one NFL prospect in 2011 by returning to UW and having an outstanding season in 2010.
Pros to Leaving for the NFL
1. Money, money, money. Last year’s number one pick, Matthew Stafford, signed a six year contract where he will receive about $12 million per season, with $41.7 million guaranteed. Number 17 overall pick, Josh Freeman, signed a five year contract that will pay him more than $7 million per season, with $10.245 million of it guaranteed. There’s no reason to believe that Locker would not be picked somewhere in the range of 1 to 17 overall and could earn a similar contract.
2. Locker is a NFL talent and will be drafted in the first round. Why should he chance that by returning for another season and possibly getting injured? Look at what happened to Sam Bradford. Had he came out in 2009, he possibly could have been the top pick. Now, for the 2010 NFL Draft, he is still a first round draft pick, but he put draft stock in jeopardy by returning and getting injured.
Jake Locker has until January 15 to declare for the 2010 NFL Draft. It will be interesting to see what Locker decides to do in the next six weeks.

Strong to take the Helm at Louisville

John Kelly
Football Reporters Online
Senior Writer
Midwest/Northeast Correspondent

A source close to the Louisville coaching search, said the school is on the brink of hiring and naming Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong as its new head coach
A meeting has been called on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. ET, for the personnel committee of the Louisville Athletic Association Board of Directors board to approve the hiring of Strong,
On Sunday, Strong and Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich conducted an interview in Gainesville. Louisville expects to introduce him on Wednesday.
Louisville is replacing Steve Kragthorpe, who was fired after three seasons. The Cardinals had come off an Orange Bowl berth prior to his first season.