Why do so many people watch college football?
Maybe it’s because they’re on one of those many lists.
The college football watch lists are out, and man, are they bulky. Those who name awards want you to know who they’re watching, and to watch along, as the 2015 season gets cranked up.
The Lombardi Award, for instance, includes 145 names on its watch list. The Outland has 81. The Wuerrfel, Maxwell, Bednarik and Nagurski awards all have 80. The Rimington and Doak Walker each have 63. The Butkus has 51, the Walter Camp has 50, the Jim Thorpe has 42. The Mackey has 33, the Lou Groza has 30, the Ray Guy 25 and the Davey O’Brien 24.
These days, award watch lists are like bowl games. You can’t turn around without tripping over one.
Still, it’s nice for kids to get a bit of a salute, isn’t it? The trouble is that a lot of the lists seem to repeat themselves.
Consider, if you will, cornerback Vernon Hargreaves from Tampa and the University of Florida. He made the Bednarik, the Thorpe and the Walter Camp. Teammate Antonio Morrison made the Lombardi, the Bednarik and the Butkus. FSU linebacker Terrence Smith made the Bednarik, the Thorpe and the Lombardi.
The lists will be pared during the season with a winner at the end.
Watch, won’t you?
