Big 12 mailbag: Alexander's snub in the Biletnikoff surprising
November, 24, 2009
Nov 24
6:46
PM ET
Happy Tuesday. Here are some of the better questions I’ve received over the last several days.
Tony from Anchorage, Alaska, writes: Tim, I would like to know why Missouri's Danario Alexander isn't a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award? He has some of the best receiving numbers in the country and I think he is being completely overlooked. What are your thoughts?
Tim Griffin: Tony, I completely agree with you. I think Alexander has been the best deep receiver in the Big 12 this season. He hasn’t been as consistent as Texas’ Jordan Shipley, but he’s come on late in the season to top Shipley in every major receiving statistic.
Alexander has been the most productive receiver in the country the last three weeks with back-to-back 200-yard games before producing 173 yards on 11 receptions last week against Iowa State in his most recent game. If he had gone to 200, he would have been the only receiver in Big 12 history and only the third in college football history to post a 200-200-200 streak over three games.
I think some of the rest of the country probably wasn’t paying much attention to Alexander’s late run, which is a shame. His numbers make him one of the nation’s most productive receivers.
Alexander should be among the candidates for the Biletnikoff. I think the voters made a mistake when they didn’t include him.
Joshua Vaughn from Lincoln, Neb., writes: Hey Tim, Big Horns fan going to school here in Lincoln. More of a comment for you really. Just watched your video blog and, "C'mon Man!" you need to get an intern to hold the camera for you. Anyway, love the blog, keep it up!
Tim Griffin: Actually, I don’t think my wife, who also doubles as my camerawoman, does that bad of a job. At least that’s what I’ve got to tell her, anyway.
But my remote control button has just been ordered from the Kodak mail order store. With a handy tripod, I’ve been told that it will improve the quality of the video production dramatically in a matter of days.
So check back and see what you think.
Justin Yow of Dallas writes: In regards to your post comparing Colt McCoy and Jerrod Johnson, c’mon Tim, you’re better than that. You knew you were going to pull Horns fans offsides and get the Aggies telling you how great their quarterback really is when Colt is better. He’s a winner, one who has great statistics and has led his team to the most victories ever by an NCAA quarterback. I don’t think you can say that Johnson would do the same or better at Texas or that Colt would do the same or better at A&M. Could you weigh in on the pros and cons of that.
Tim Griffin: Justin, I didn’t mean to stir anything up. I just found it interesting when you compared the statistics that Johnson’s numbers were almost as good as McCoy’s in some and better in others. I just did it to provide a little conversation starter before the game on Thursday night.
I did not mean to imply that raw statistics measure the worth of a quarterback. Other things go into it. And like you said, I think that McCoy’s record as a winner makes him one of the greatest quarterbacks in college football history. It’s just that this season, his numbers are about the same as several quarterbacks in his own conference. You could also include Blaine Gabbert with both McCoy and Johnson.
But I do think that if McCoy finishes with a flourish, he could still win the Heisman. The key for him will be two huge statistical games against Texas A&M and Nebraska.
If he does that, I think he’s got a fair shot at becoming the first University of Texas quarterback in history to win the Heisman.
Mike Murphy of Chicago, Ill., writes: Can you tell me where I can find the actual kickoff time that occurred for a specific game? Is there a record of the time anywhere? I ask because I know games never kick off at the exact time they are listed and I just wanted to know where I can find that in order to settle an argument. Thanks!
Tim Griffin: Mike, I think I have an answer for you if the game was played fairly recently, say in the last several seasons. Most schools have a copy of the actual “game book” of statistics that we receive in the press that is usually posted on their athletic Web site after a game.
If that is the case, look on the first page under the scoring summary. As part of the NCAA’s official post-game record, the kickoff time is always listed, along with what time the game ended and how long the game lasted.
If you need any more help on a specific game, let me know and I’ll try to see what I can come up with. But check the school’s athletic site under football and you should be able to find the information you’re looking for.
Dennis from Lincoln, Neb., writes: Tim, excellent blog. I make it a daily stop during the football season. Colorado has eight days to prepare and Nebraska has six days to get ready for Friday's game. Do you think this extra time gives Colorado any kind of edge or advantage?
Tim Griffin: It assuredly can’t hurt. It means the Buffaloes have an extra couple of days to get over nagging injuries and do some extra scheming in developing their game plans. The advantage is exacerbated, in my opinion, by the fact that the Cornhuskers have to travel to Colorado.
But despite all of the difficulties preparing during a short week, I think the Cornhuskers should win the game because of how they are peaking at the end of the season. I think Niles Paul, Rex Burkhead and especially Alex Henery will be important factors in that game. Look for Henery to have a big game kicking in the high altitude.
Todd Spessard of Tulsa, Okla., writes: You say a big win over Kansas could put Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. I’m a huge Tiger fan... but what scenario do you see that could make that happen?
Tim Griffin: Todd, I’m just speculating here, but go along with me on these scenarios.
Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma and goes to the Fiesta Bowl.
Texas beats Nebraska handily. Texas Tech and Baylor play a close game where the Red Raiders emerge. And Missouri blows out Kansas to finish the season 8-4.
Texas would go to the BCS title game. Oklahoma State like I said, to the Fiesta Bowl. That would then give the Cotton Bowl a choice of Nebraska, Texas Tech and Missouri among potential candidates.
Consider the fact that Nebraska will have played at the new Dallas Cowboys’ stadium on Dec. 5 and Texas Tech will play Baylor on Nov. 28. In both cases they would be returning to the same stadium in Arlington, Texas, for a second trip in about a month.
Would their fan bases be excited about returning to Dallas? I don’t know. And I think the Cotton Bowl selectors might be a little dubious, too.
Obviously Nebraska makes the most sense in that situation. But if the Cornhuskers are hammered in the Big 12 title game, I think it would lessen some of their spectator appeal.
But if Missouri finishes 8-4 with a big statistical season from Danario Alexander, they might be attractive for the Cotton Bowl as those other two teams.
I don’t necessarily think that will happen, but it could.
After that, I don’t think that Missouri would be as attractive for the Holiday Bowl compared to either one of those teams.
But the fact that both schools will have played in Dallas earlier might temper some of the excitement in their fans. And the Cotton Bowl would consider that along with many other factors before they decide which team to pick.
Thanks again everybody for the questions and have a good Thanksgiving.
Tony from Anchorage, Alaska, writes: Tim, I would like to know why Missouri's Danario Alexander isn't a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award? He has some of the best receiving numbers in the country and I think he is being completely overlooked. What are your thoughts?
Tim Griffin: Tony, I completely agree with you. I think Alexander has been the best deep receiver in the Big 12 this season. He hasn’t been as consistent as Texas’ Jordan Shipley, but he’s come on late in the season to top Shipley in every major receiving statistic.
Alexander has been the most productive receiver in the country the last three weeks with back-to-back 200-yard games before producing 173 yards on 11 receptions last week against Iowa State in his most recent game. If he had gone to 200, he would have been the only receiver in Big 12 history and only the third in college football history to post a 200-200-200 streak over three games.
I think some of the rest of the country probably wasn’t paying much attention to Alexander’s late run, which is a shame. His numbers make him one of the nation’s most productive receivers.
Alexander should be among the candidates for the Biletnikoff. I think the voters made a mistake when they didn’t include him.
Joshua Vaughn from Lincoln, Neb., writes: Hey Tim, Big Horns fan going to school here in Lincoln. More of a comment for you really. Just watched your video blog and, "C'mon Man!" you need to get an intern to hold the camera for you. Anyway, love the blog, keep it up!
Tim Griffin: Actually, I don’t think my wife, who also doubles as my camerawoman, does that bad of a job. At least that’s what I’ve got to tell her, anyway.
But my remote control button has just been ordered from the Kodak mail order store. With a handy tripod, I’ve been told that it will improve the quality of the video production dramatically in a matter of days.
So check back and see what you think.
Justin Yow of Dallas writes: In regards to your post comparing Colt McCoy and Jerrod Johnson, c’mon Tim, you’re better than that. You knew you were going to pull Horns fans offsides and get the Aggies telling you how great their quarterback really is when Colt is better. He’s a winner, one who has great statistics and has led his team to the most victories ever by an NCAA quarterback. I don’t think you can say that Johnson would do the same or better at Texas or that Colt would do the same or better at A&M. Could you weigh in on the pros and cons of that.
Tim Griffin: Justin, I didn’t mean to stir anything up. I just found it interesting when you compared the statistics that Johnson’s numbers were almost as good as McCoy’s in some and better in others. I just did it to provide a little conversation starter before the game on Thursday night.
I did not mean to imply that raw statistics measure the worth of a quarterback. Other things go into it. And like you said, I think that McCoy’s record as a winner makes him one of the greatest quarterbacks in college football history. It’s just that this season, his numbers are about the same as several quarterbacks in his own conference. You could also include Blaine Gabbert with both McCoy and Johnson.
But I do think that if McCoy finishes with a flourish, he could still win the Heisman. The key for him will be two huge statistical games against Texas A&M and Nebraska.
If he does that, I think he’s got a fair shot at becoming the first University of Texas quarterback in history to win the Heisman.
Mike Murphy of Chicago, Ill., writes: Can you tell me where I can find the actual kickoff time that occurred for a specific game? Is there a record of the time anywhere? I ask because I know games never kick off at the exact time they are listed and I just wanted to know where I can find that in order to settle an argument. Thanks!
Tim Griffin: Mike, I think I have an answer for you if the game was played fairly recently, say in the last several seasons. Most schools have a copy of the actual “game book” of statistics that we receive in the press that is usually posted on their athletic Web site after a game.
If that is the case, look on the first page under the scoring summary. As part of the NCAA’s official post-game record, the kickoff time is always listed, along with what time the game ended and how long the game lasted.
If you need any more help on a specific game, let me know and I’ll try to see what I can come up with. But check the school’s athletic site under football and you should be able to find the information you’re looking for.
Dennis from Lincoln, Neb., writes: Tim, excellent blog. I make it a daily stop during the football season. Colorado has eight days to prepare and Nebraska has six days to get ready for Friday's game. Do you think this extra time gives Colorado any kind of edge or advantage?
Tim Griffin: It assuredly can’t hurt. It means the Buffaloes have an extra couple of days to get over nagging injuries and do some extra scheming in developing their game plans. The advantage is exacerbated, in my opinion, by the fact that the Cornhuskers have to travel to Colorado.
But despite all of the difficulties preparing during a short week, I think the Cornhuskers should win the game because of how they are peaking at the end of the season. I think Niles Paul, Rex Burkhead and especially Alex Henery will be important factors in that game. Look for Henery to have a big game kicking in the high altitude.
Todd Spessard of Tulsa, Okla., writes: You say a big win over Kansas could put Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. I’m a huge Tiger fan... but what scenario do you see that could make that happen?
Tim Griffin: Todd, I’m just speculating here, but go along with me on these scenarios.
Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma and goes to the Fiesta Bowl.
Texas beats Nebraska handily. Texas Tech and Baylor play a close game where the Red Raiders emerge. And Missouri blows out Kansas to finish the season 8-4.
Texas would go to the BCS title game. Oklahoma State like I said, to the Fiesta Bowl. That would then give the Cotton Bowl a choice of Nebraska, Texas Tech and Missouri among potential candidates.
Consider the fact that Nebraska will have played at the new Dallas Cowboys’ stadium on Dec. 5 and Texas Tech will play Baylor on Nov. 28. In both cases they would be returning to the same stadium in Arlington, Texas, for a second trip in about a month.
Would their fan bases be excited about returning to Dallas? I don’t know. And I think the Cotton Bowl selectors might be a little dubious, too.
Obviously Nebraska makes the most sense in that situation. But if the Cornhuskers are hammered in the Big 12 title game, I think it would lessen some of their spectator appeal.
But if Missouri finishes 8-4 with a big statistical season from Danario Alexander, they might be attractive for the Cotton Bowl as those other two teams.
I don’t necessarily think that will happen, but it could.
After that, I don’t think that Missouri would be as attractive for the Holiday Bowl compared to either one of those teams.
But the fact that both schools will have played in Dallas earlier might temper some of the excitement in their fans. And the Cotton Bowl would consider that along with many other factors before they decide which team to pick.
Thanks again everybody for the questions and have a good Thanksgiving.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Tim Griffin
Griffin joined ESPN.com in February 2008. He has covered the Big 12 since its inception, among a variety of beats during a 24-year career at the San Antonio Express-News. Griffin, a Memphis State University graduate, lives in San Antonio with his wife and son.
