It’s already being called the best college football game ever.
And for all of us that saw the entire game, who would argue. In
fact some have actually gone as far as calling it the greatest
football game ever played, at any level, period.
It’s already being called the best college football game ever. And for all of us that saw the entire game, who would argue. In fact some have actually gone as far as calling it the greatest football game ever played, at any level, period.
I’m not sure I’d go that far but it was certainly one for the ages. An Instant Classic.
It had it all.
The three 2005 Heisman Trophy award finalists, the only two undefeated teams in D-1 college football this year and a nail-biting come-from-behind 41-38 victory by the Texas Longhorns over the USC Trojans, who had held the nation’s longest winning streak. And let’s not forget the Trojans also were fielding back-to-back Heisman Trophy winners, the first time that two Heisman trophy winners from the same team played in the national championship game.
But Wednesday night belonged to this year’s Heisman Trophy award runner-up, Mr. In-Vince-able – Texas quarterback, Vince Young.
And yet as thrilling as the game was, as equally impressive the on-field talent that matched proved to be and as phenomenal as what many are calling the “single greatest performance by an individual in a college football game” was, the thing that most impressed me was the remarkable sportsmanship that was displayed by both squads afterwards, especially by the game’s three marquee players, namely USC’s Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart and Texas quarterback Vince Young.
In one of the classiest moves ever, Bush and Leinart, it was reported later, actually went into the Texas locker room to congratulate the Longhorn team.
Now that’s what you call great sportsmanship.
As for Young, immediately following the game he had a chance to poke a little fun by striking the “Heisman pose” behind the ABC crew but in all his conversations that followed he was as respectful and gentlemanly as you could ever hope from a young man who had just pulled off the most Herculean on-field effort that most of us have ever witnessed on the gridiron.
As I watched General Young drive his team to a national-championship winning touchdown it was amazingly reminiscent of another young man’s effort this year, namely, Karson Klauer’s game-winning drive that gave San Benito the CCS Large School Division championship. And while there is no way we can compare the worldwide stage that Young performed on with Klauer’s performance, to the ‘Baler fans and players the jubilation was as equal in ecstasy.
But it’s the sportsmanship of both events that jumped out at me. Klauer & Company in their postgame celebration carried themselves with the same sportsmanship as the Longhorn and Trojans players. And I’d be remiss if I left out the Dustin Muhn’s (Live Oak) and Bobby Best’s (Gilroy) of this area that not only played their hearts out, they were class acts, both in victory and in defeat.
Within a couple of months Leinart, Bush and Young (If he chooses to leave early) will all be multi-millionaires. But even minus the money, they’re already golden because of who they are as young men.
This should be a lesson to all youth out there that are currently playing sports today. As impressive as your on-field performance is, it’s who you are, how you conduct yourself as a person that makes you the real hometown hero.
Take for example the situation that has just come to light with Marcus Vick, the younger brother of NFL quarterback Michael Vick. His poor sportsmanship, legal problems and in general, embarrassing behavior have gotten him thrown out of Virginia Tech.
Let’s give the Hokie Nation a major kudos for taking such a bold stand. So many athletes today, from the high school to the collegiate to the professional level are spoiled brats and the institutions they attend are very often a big part of the problem because they treat these athletes like royalty. In this world of sports where winning at all costs has become paramount it’s great to see an academic institution take a stand.
One of our local schools, namely Gilroy High School, did the same this year with an exceptional athlete whose conduct was reprehensible and punished the said athlete accordingly.
If ever there was a 48-hour period in sports that all athletes at every level can stand up and take notice of, it’s the period from Wednesday to Friday night.
If by some chance you decided to go to bed Wednesday night after USC went up by 12 points ESPN is re-airing this Instant Classic at 4pm today. Do yourself a favor – Don’t Miss it!
Within a couple of months Leinart, Bush and Young (If he chooses to leave early) will all be multi-millionaires. But even minus the money, they’re already golden because of who they are as young men.
In the end being a real Golden Boy or Golden Girl has more to do with who you are as a person than how fast you run the football. Remember, you’ll always catch a whole lot more flies (fans) with honey than you will with vinegar.
