I was fortunate enough to attend the ESPN College awards presentation last night with my wife. It was a very small formal setting that was very well organized.
After last night I have a few observations, I wanted to share and some apologies I need to make. We knew the night as for the athletes so we did not ask for any autographs & just had really good conversation with all the folks there.
You need to know that Everyone of the athletes there were really nice to everyone. They all acted very professional and humble just to be there. I will start with the apology to Tyrann Mathieu. I know I still have a problem with the hit on Dre, but he is not a thug, far from it. I did not agree with Him getting the “Best D player but some rich folks at the Maxwell Football Club thought he was. He was almost embarrassed with the accolades he was getting from others. He is very small so maybe he tries to over compensate for it by his play. Anyway, it is just my view but what I saw he could be any of ours kid. I am sorry also I just could not stand & clap for Roy Kramer, I need to find a way to get over what he did to Alabama football someday.
Meeting Fred Biltinikoff was a true honor & Justin Blackmon is Huge. He is going to be rich real soon. Ryan Broyles was just so nice & so grateful to be there, I hope he has his knee heal quickly.
The kicker & punter awards was not a big deal as I did not know any of them, but I did get to spend 15 minutes talking to Ray Guy & he is as country as you & me, that was a great honor for me because I really liked to watch him. I know it is crazy to want to see the punter come out but Ray guy was something special, I think we are seeing a once in a lifetime athlete.
There has been a lot said about Robert Griffin III, and I have heard some of his comments as well. A lot of kids don’t get the kind of training on PR that our kids get because they have not been thru it before. I think most of his comments we for the Baylor fan base not the nation. He was yes sir & no sir to me a very polite &respectful young man. He had a genuine smile all night, not cocky & not phony.
I also meet Jim McMahon without his sunglasses. He was very nice to us and polite. The Jim Thorpe award went to Morris Claiborne and I just cannot disagree with that at all. Again, with all these guys they were very professional. I was impressed with all of the QB’s there. Moore is a very nice guy, Luck surprised me as he was very outgoing, bumped into my wife & was just so apologetic. Keenam & Moore kinda hung together with their wives but I sure got a very different opinion of both. They all showed class & just a true humble personality.
The only thing I really did not like is the sports memorable hawkers they ruin it for everyone especially the kids so that is why I never buy this stuff.
Thanks for bearing with me now for the Alabama stuff. Like I said it was formal so I wore a black suit but my wife wore a red dress with a Alabama necklace & watch. The people lining the red carpet were full of Alabama fans. It is funny how you can say two words “Roll Tide” and be instant friends. We had several conversations with really Great Alabama fans. Mark Baron, Don’t’a Hightower , Barron, were a little reserved maybe it was a very long day, but they seemed quiet. They were polite & smiled a lot but not very chatty. Barret Jones was our biggest surprise. He is everything you see on TV. Very big and just as nice as he can be, when he got the Outland Trophy, we were surprised & excited. He always says the right things he is very smart. Carson Tinker accepted the Disney spirit award for the team. The story they did on the tornados was very well put together. All the Alabama Players & Coach Saban joined him on the stage & it would make your eyes well up. The State of Alabama should be very proud.
Now my favorite part, we were able to spend some time with Trent. If you had a trophy for the nicest guy in the world he should get it. He talked to us about his mother, Grandmother, and his kids. After all was done my wife asked him can I just give you a hug? (Something you would expect for any southern belle of course) and he was so gracious. I don’t want to get into here whether he is going to miss out on the Heisman or not but I can tell you all this. He is at peace with himself. He is not a whiner and will be a true professional no matter what happens. We often don’t give character as much credit as we should. In today’s world of well what did you do today, we are keeping our best & brightest in the shadows, but last night they came out. Every one of these fine young men are deserving of all the praise they receive and very little of criticism after all they are 18 to 22 year old kids mostly doing what they Love.
Thanks for letting me share this with you.
After last night I have a few observations, I wanted to share and some apologies I need to make. We knew the night as for the athletes so we did not ask for any autographs & just had really good conversation with all the folks there.
You need to know that Everyone of the athletes there were really nice to everyone. They all acted very professional and humble just to be there. I will start with the apology to Tyrann Mathieu. I know I still have a problem with the hit on Dre, but he is not a thug, far from it. I did not agree with Him getting the “Best D player but some rich folks at the Maxwell Football Club thought he was. He was almost embarrassed with the accolades he was getting from others. He is very small so maybe he tries to over compensate for it by his play. Anyway, it is just my view but what I saw he could be any of ours kid. I am sorry also I just could not stand & clap for Roy Kramer, I need to find a way to get over what he did to Alabama football someday.
Meeting Fred Biltinikoff was a true honor & Justin Blackmon is Huge. He is going to be rich real soon. Ryan Broyles was just so nice & so grateful to be there, I hope he has his knee heal quickly.
The kicker & punter awards was not a big deal as I did not know any of them, but I did get to spend 15 minutes talking to Ray Guy & he is as country as you & me, that was a great honor for me because I really liked to watch him. I know it is crazy to want to see the punter come out but Ray guy was something special, I think we are seeing a once in a lifetime athlete.
There has been a lot said about Robert Griffin III, and I have heard some of his comments as well. A lot of kids don’t get the kind of training on PR that our kids get because they have not been thru it before. I think most of his comments we for the Baylor fan base not the nation. He was yes sir & no sir to me a very polite &respectful young man. He had a genuine smile all night, not cocky & not phony.
I also meet Jim McMahon without his sunglasses. He was very nice to us and polite. The Jim Thorpe award went to Morris Claiborne and I just cannot disagree with that at all. Again, with all these guys they were very professional. I was impressed with all of the QB’s there. Moore is a very nice guy, Luck surprised me as he was very outgoing, bumped into my wife & was just so apologetic. Keenam & Moore kinda hung together with their wives but I sure got a very different opinion of both. They all showed class & just a true humble personality.
The only thing I really did not like is the sports memorable hawkers they ruin it for everyone especially the kids so that is why I never buy this stuff.
Thanks for bearing with me now for the Alabama stuff. Like I said it was formal so I wore a black suit but my wife wore a red dress with a Alabama necklace & watch. The people lining the red carpet were full of Alabama fans. It is funny how you can say two words “Roll Tide” and be instant friends. We had several conversations with really Great Alabama fans. Mark Baron, Don’t’a Hightower , Barron, were a little reserved maybe it was a very long day, but they seemed quiet. They were polite & smiled a lot but not very chatty. Barret Jones was our biggest surprise. He is everything you see on TV. Very big and just as nice as he can be, when he got the Outland Trophy, we were surprised & excited. He always says the right things he is very smart. Carson Tinker accepted the Disney spirit award for the team. The story they did on the tornados was very well put together. All the Alabama Players & Coach Saban joined him on the stage & it would make your eyes well up. The State of Alabama should be very proud.
Now my favorite part, we were able to spend some time with Trent. If you had a trophy for the nicest guy in the world he should get it. He talked to us about his mother, Grandmother, and his kids. After all was done my wife asked him can I just give you a hug? (Something you would expect for any southern belle of course) and he was so gracious. I don’t want to get into here whether he is going to miss out on the Heisman or not but I can tell you all this. He is at peace with himself. He is not a whiner and will be a true professional no matter what happens. We often don’t give character as much credit as we should. In today’s world of well what did you do today, we are keeping our best & brightest in the shadows, but last night they came out. Every one of these fine young men are deserving of all the praise they receive and very little of criticism after all they are 18 to 22 year old kids mostly doing what they Love.
Thanks for letting me share this with you.
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Great stuff, thank you.
