Should Fisher DeBerry be fired as head coach of the Air Force Academy? This is a question that many columnists have addressed over the past week. It is obvious to me that he should be shown the door, as the damage he has done to his institution is irreparable.
The reason why DeBerry should be terminated is because his comments were extremely irresponsible. His remarks were tinged with racial overtones, and struck at the heart of one of the most sensitive topics in America. There is no place for this in college football, especially at an institution that represents the United States.
Mama always said never trust a man with two last names, and boy, was she right. How can anyone at the Air Force Academy have faith in Fisher DeBerry after this debacle? By stating that he should have concentrated more on recruiting black players, DeBerry has just about slapped his current squad in the face. His comments demonstrate a severe lack of confidence in the players he has brought in, and why would anyone want to play or send their son to attend an institution that inherently endorses him?
I'm sure that recruiting at Air Force is especially challenging. The academic requirements are very stringent, and very exemplary candidates are turned down every year. Also, you just can't go out and send out scholarships to a 330-pound lineman, or a 6-7 tight end. The height and weight limitations only allow for certain types of schemes, and I'm sure this can be taxing to someone whose job depends on the success of the team.
I think that these restrictions in recruiting along with the frustrations of a 3-6 season finally got to Fisher DeBerry and he cracked. These current remarks, along with the insensitive statements regarding religion that he mentioned earlier on this year suggest that he has buckled under the weight of his own program. He is almost looking to get fired, and I believe that Hans Mueh, the athletic director at Air Force, has almost no other option but to oblige.
The HeisDAQ
The race for the Heisman Trophy fluctuates week by week. The HeisDAQ will let you know whose Heisman "stock" is rising and falling. Now that the race is winding down, I will highlight the five guys with the best chances of taking home the hardware.
1) Reggie Bush, RB/KR/PR USC (strong buy) — Bush is still in first place in the Heisman race, and did nothing last week to jeopardize it. I look for more additions to the highlight reel this weekend when a depleted and demoralized Stanford team comes to town.
2) Vince Young, QB Texas (strong buy) — V.Y. was certainly not "still" in Stillwater. He ran all over the OSU defense and had one of the most spectacular games in the history of college football last weekend. He ran for 267 yards and passed for another 239 in an affair that was much closer than previously thought. The margin between VY and Reggie Bush is now very thin, and Young could claim the top spot with another jaw-dropping performance.
3) Matt Leinart, QB USC (hold) — Leinart has done nothing but impress this season, but his Heisman chances are starting to slip even further. He had another day of passing for over 350 yards against Washington State last week, but I just don't think it will be enough to win the trophy.
4) Maurice Drew, RB UCLA (speculative buy) — Drew is still the wildcard in the Heisman race. He played an instrumental role in UCLA's comeback against Stanford, by hurting the Cardinal with several long runs on screens. His biggest contribution to the victory, however, was a huge fumble recovery that kept hopes alive for the eventual UCLA resurgence that won the game. As long as the Bruins stay undefeated, Drew has a chance.
5) Brady Quinn, QB Notre Dame (buy) — Quinn and the rest of the Irish had a bye week, and are now preparing for their battle with Tennessee. It will be interesting to say how well Quinn plays against a team with one of the best pass-rushes in the country. This game could ambush Brady's slim hopes for winning the Heisman.
Games to Watch/Picks to Click
Season Record: 12-10 ATS; Last Week: 1-2 ATS
Wisconsin (+10) @ Penn State
This game will be won or lost at the line of scrimmage. The Badgers have got to open up running lanes for Brian Calhoun and control the time of possession. Penn State should be able to put up some points on Wisconsin's defense, as they have been inconsistent this season. I like Penn State to win this game as they already stopped Laurence Maroney dead in his tracks, and I don't think that John Stocco can win this game with his arm.
Don't Fire JoePa 31, Calhouns 10
California (+1.5) @ Oregon
This has to be the game that Dennis Dixon, Oregon's former backup and now starting quarterback, dreamed of when he signed his LOI. He has a chance to stick it to the team from the area that he grew up as a kid, and become a hero in Eugene. Oregon will need Terence Whitehead to dominate on the ground, in order to take some of the pressure off of the passing game. Speaking of passing, Joe Ayoob, Cal's struggling quarterback, will need to play well throughout if Cal is to pull of the upset. I think Cal wins this game, in an atypical low scoring game in the Pac-10.
Tedford & Lynch 24, Sitting Ducks 21
Miami (+6½) @ Virginia Tech
This has to be one of the most anticipated games of the season. Both of these ACC teams have legitimate BCS hopes and the winner controls their own destiny. Marcus Vick has improved tremendously as a passer this year, and will have his final exam against a Miami defense that might be the best in the country. Of course, the Hokies are no slouch on defense, as well, and Miami has had trouble scoring at times during the year. Virginia Tech will win this year, and being that the game is in Blacksburg makes the outcome slightly more certain.
Beamer Nation 17, Tropical Depression 7
Mailbag
This week's topic comes from Cernig:
UCLA has no shot. Big Ten has a legitimate chance with PSU right now pending the conference championship games. I like the ACC is #1, Big 10 beats up on each other yes, but the ACC is full of high quality top-market teams this year. Can't wait to see how this year plays out, should be a fun one!
Cernig, I agree that this year has been and will continue to be an exciting one for college football. It looks like we also agree on the ACC being the No. 1 conference this season, but it looks like after that is where our opinions diverge. There will be no Big 10 team in the national title game. I believe that Penn State will either end up in either the Capital One or the Fiesta Bowl. As far as UCLA goes, they may have the best shot to get to the title game besides USC and Texas. As long as the Bruins avoid the pitfalls that the Arizona teams present, they have the opportunity to defeat USC and most likely earn a title birth. Thanks for the comment!
Do you think that I'm "off my rocker," or did I hit the proverbial "nail on the head?" Let me know! Send an e-mail to [email protected] and include your name and hometown. I'll do my best to include it in the next week's column.
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