APOLOGIES. THINK ON THIS
Real life has been a bit whirlwindish today, so we apologize and give you all refunds on the day by reminding you of the greatness and cheated heart of Dennis Dixon, the Oregon qb who probably should have finished second in the 2007 Heisman to Tim Tebow. (He placed fourth.) Dixon played brilliantly in ‘07, throwing for 20 TDs, 4 INTs with 2136 yards and a 67.7% completion rate while rushing for 583 yards and 9 TDs in nine games and change before he partially tore his ACL, decided to play on it anyway, and suffered a season-ending injury against Arizona during a Thursday night upset that effectively ended their season. (Proving once again: NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS TO FAVORITES ON THURSDAY NIGHT, Swindle’s Rule #19 For Dirty College Football Living That Feels So, So Clean.)
He’s now taking a paycheck from the Steelers, but even in the lap of pro luxury it’s worth saying to Dennis Dixon: the ACL gremlins screwed you and screwed you grande style, due. Also, to Michigan fans traumatized by the sight of the early loss to Oregon and the embarrassing Statue of Liberty keeper: you got your revenge and then some on us later that year. Now stop voting for Macadangdang, and embrace your Steampunk Emperor who loves you and wants you to be happy!
(Also, Hayes and I discuss the hastiest of preseason top tens over at TSB.)
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1
Brizzle says:
I love seeing Michigan get beat. All-time fave: ‘94, the Hail Mary from Stewart to Westbrook, and I hate Colorado, but man I love seeing Michigan lose.
April 22nd, 2009 at 3:29 pm
2
Maize n Brew Dave says:
Damn you Swindle. I was in sitting the the corner of that endzone 10 rows away when that happened.
Adrian Arrington called to tell you he’s in Florida’s endzone again.
April 22nd, 2009 at 3:43 pm
3
yoyofutbawl says:
Mingovians unite! The race is close.
The real UM trauma happened the week before this game. 34-32 or sumptin like dat.
April 22nd, 2009 at 4:54 pm
4
Scotty says:
listening to the Pre-season top 10 thing…. I never knew Wake Forest’s QB played WR at Florida.
April 22nd, 2009 at 5:47 pm
5
AERose says:
You can all fuck off for mentioning Notre Dame and Arizona (State) before Cal as USC’s tough road games.
EAST COAST BIAS.
April 22nd, 2009 at 5:50 pm
6
AERose says:
(Also Jahvid is pronounced exactly as spelled: “Jah” as in mandible, “vid” as in video.)
Also while much of the hype around Cal does revolve around Best, that’s due to oversight of Cal’s other assets rather than Best being a big fish in a small pond. We’ve got a ridiculously deep secondary with four returning starters, a tough 3-man front with three returning starters, a 3-4 defensive scheme that only stands to get more effective in year two (even in year one it held USC to 17 and Oregon to 16), solid depth at offensive line, a dependable backup runner in Shane Vereen, a field-reversing punter, one of the guys behind Utah’s 13-0 run calling plays, and a favorable schedule (only one major road game against Oregon, maybe two if I’m underestimating Dennis Erickson or Rick Neuheisel).
Will we find a way to blow it and miss the Rose Bowl? You’re damn right we will. But is it possible to know that on anything more than an intuitive level? I say no sir.
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:39 pm
7
Johnny says:
AERose:
Cal’s defense will be its best ever BY FAR, even with the loss of 3 seniors LBs (all three of which could be second-day NFL draft picks)… weird attacking 3-4 schemes seem to work wonders against the Pac-10, which is weak on quality OTs.. It doesn’t hurt that the two DEs on the line will both play on Sundays — keep an ear out for Cameron Jordan to rocket up Kiper and McShay’s mutual masturbation board…
We also have Oregon’s number, and we’ll make it 4 in a row when the Bears roll into Autzen. Look for another LeGarette Blount -2 yard stinker… Huzzah!
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:29 pm
8
TrinityEer says:
It would seem Mr Dixon is doing better than expected with the Steelers. Look for him to push Charlie Batch for the #2 spot this year (which is critical because Ben always misses a game or two) and have it for sure in 2010. Good for him to come back the way he has.
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:56 pm
9
DD says:
Damn that was fun watching Dixon wax Michigan…
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:11 pm
10
CincySooner says:
Real life? REAL LIFE?!?!?
I thought you were pissing away the week in Vegas, an activity that I can wholly endorse.
But now you’re telling me that you’ve been engaging in “real life” activites?
Oh, Swindle… (shakes head)
Just kidding… it’s funny how much “real life” you inherit when you buy a house isn’t it?
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:39 am
11
AuditDawg says:
Second to Tim Tebow? No offense, but if Dennis Dixon doesn’t shred his knee against Arizona he wins the Heisman that year.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:10 am
12
Steve Dallas says:
Audit, was about to post the same thing. Some revisionist history up in here.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:46 am
13
Orson Swindle says:
Not at all–the first draft of the piece had “should have won,” but the numbers aren’t even close, and being the number whores they are the voters would have still gone Tebow thanks to his being at Florida (and not in less media-rich Oregon.)
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:06 am
14
Sue E. Pig says:
“…Dennis Dixon, the Oregon qb who probably should have finished second in the 2007 Heisman to Tim Tebow.”
Sorry, O. I know you’re a Gator, but Tebow nor Dixon should have won the Heisman that year.
/Darren McFadden fan/
/still bitter/
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:07 am
15
Orson Swindle says:
But he had that wood, Sue E.!
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:17 am
16
dajo9 says:
Nate Longshore
Nate Longshore beat Dennis Dixon that year at Oregon. Late in the 4th quarter Nate Longshore busted his ankle and was never the same. Nate Longshore was Mel Kiper’s #1 QB of his class at the time of the injury. In two days Nate Longshore will go undrafted.
Even Dennis Dixon didn’t get jobbed by fate as badly as Nate Longshore.
The Pac-10 had 3 teams ranked #2 in the country whose QB went down with injury that year*. The Pac-10 is a weird place.
* (USC – Booty, Cal – Longshore, Oregon – Dixon)
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:54 pm
17
AERose says:
And that’s not even counting Rudy Carpenter, who just got his ass kicked on a regular basis.
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:12 pm
18
Joe says:
This video does a good job summing up the state of the Heisman race going into that Oregon-Arizona game
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LRaXRNRVjM
April 24th, 2009 at 2:07 pm