Wow! Wow! Wow! WHAT A GAME! Believe the
hype. The BCS hit the lottery this year. Could
the College Football Championship game have been
any better? This was the most anticipated
college football game in history and it did not
disappoint. As sports fans we are so over
saturated with statistics, highlights, and
endless commentary that seldom does a game or
performance live up to its billing, let alone
surpass it. The Rose Bowl was an exception, the
game had it all: offense, moments of defense,
great individual performances, and a suspenseful
finish that had men davvening at the edge of the
couch like withering grandmas. This was flat
out the best game I've ever seen.
For the second year in a row there are only
two words to describe the outcome of the Rose
Bowl. Vince Young. Young carried the Longhorns
to the national championship with 200 rushing
yards and three touchdowns. He was a god among
mortals. With his long stride and quick feet
Young created the allusion that the USC defense
was playing in slow motion, while he ran circles
around them. He was simply unstoppable. This
was the most dominating running performance by a
quarterback ever.
While Young displayed skills from another
planet, the talent on the rest of the field
wasn't too shabby either. The two teams
combined had seven first-team All-Americans and
fourteen nationally recognized players in
total. LenDale White was a monster and
absolutely untacklable in the third quarter.
With 122 yards, three touchdowns, and a viscous
stiff arm against the heralded safety Michael
Huff, White proved to be more than just a short
yardage back. USC quarterback Matt Leinart had
a near perfect second half. His throws were
crisp and on target. He put his team in a
position to win the game and he had great
overall numbers in the game. Heisman trophy
winner Reggie Bush also put up a strong
statistical line. Bush's performance was
tainted by his bonehead lateral attempt, but his
touchdown run showed the acceleration that no
other back in college or the NFL possesses.
So, how will the National Championship game
affect these offensive dynamos draft stock?
Leinart answered questions about his arm
strength by throwing some absolute lasers that
hit his receivers in the chest. His performance
should solidify his status as a franchise-type
quarterback and guarantee him a spot as a top 3
selection. Bush showed the speed and ability
that has caused many people to rate him as the
top player eligible to enter the 2006 draft and
he should maintain his status as a top three
pick as well. LenDale White, should he choose
to enter the draft, dramatically improved his
stock with his performance against Texas. White
should now be rated as the second best back and
maybe the best back in this draft. If he slips
out of the top ten picks, teams that pass on him
will regret it. His combination of power,
agility and burst are the total package and he
should be ready to start in the NFL from day
one.
Finally, with his superhuman performance
Vince Young has created the perfect opportunity
to enter this year's draft. Young is a bigger
version of Michael Vick. Like Vick, he has the
ability as a runner to dominate a game. And,
like Vick, Young could be the number one
selection in the NFL draft. Young has propelled
himself to the top of the 2006 draft with this
Rose Bowl exhibition. Young has the potential
to transform a pro franchise much like Vick
energized and lifted the Atlanta Falcons. The
desire and determination he showed by scoring
twice in the final five minutes to rally Texas
to the championship is exactly the leadership
that is needed to succeed at the quarterback
position in the NFL. He will need to work on
his release point in the NFL, but,his talent is
at such a high level that he is the number one
pick now.
The Rose Bowl was the best game ever in a
large part because it had some of the most
unique talents of all time. Hopefully there
won't be any animosity between these guys,
because they very well may find themselves
sitting together in the green room come April.
