Wins over Rice and Duke don’t sound like much, because, well, they’re wins over Rice and Duke. And, in fact, the Liberty Bowl was in little doubt from the first play from scrimmage, as MSU’s monster-sized quarterback carried what looked like two-thirds of the Owls defense for three or four yards. If there’s one thing Dan Mullen is experienced with, it’s beating programs from lesser light conferences.
The Chick-fil-A Bowl, on the other hand…
Texas A&M lived up to the new SEC motto – “Defense doesn’t win championships; it’s just something you do until the offense comes back on the field” – with a vengeance. And if there’s anybody who knows how to exploit a shitty defense, it’s David Cutcliffe. (If he watched the game last night, Willie Martinez was probably having acid flashbacks to that 2006 debacle in Athens.)
In the end, though, despite Duke’s best efforts, the game wound up being a giant platform for the talents of one Johnny Manziel, who simply wouldn’t quit. His defense finally caught up with him and made a couple of big plays, but if the rumors are true about Johnny Football, this game was one helluva farewell to college football from him.
And it was also a reminder about how puzzling the media response to Manziel was this season. Sure, he’s brash at times. But it’s not like he got somebody pregnant, was caught dealing drugs or brandished an AK-47 (although I’m not sure that gets you in trouble in Texas these days). He had another dazzling year and yet it’s almost as if it didn’t matter. And it should have, because, at least for me, he’s been the most fun CFB player to watch since Darren McFadden.
I mean, what can you say about this?
Let’s see A.J. McCarron top that.
Get The Picture 
“It ain’t bragging if you can do it.”
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Johhny Football is the most dynamic football player…ever.
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To continue your point:
“…it’s not like he got arrested for sexual assault or stole from his own teammates.”
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Or sold his own jersey and ‘fessed up…
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I think he was covered too much in the game I got tired of all of his highlights. It is a team sport. Espn needs to stop all the worship on him.
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You may have noticed that ESPN does that with anyone who makes amazing highlights. Amazing highlights win you the Heisman and get you named the GPOOE.
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It was fun to watch…
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I agree with Debby that it was a bit much with Johnny this and Johnny that, but the game was damn entertaining to watch. I was pulling for Duke. I think I am finally past rooting for an SEC team to win just because they are in the SEC. The adoption of two non regional teams just for the money along with a dirty team in the plains, a semi pro team in Birmingham…I just don’t have the spirit for rooting for the SEC anymore.
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Every since I was a young boy, I’ve watched college football,
From Athens out to USC I thought I’d seen it all,
But I ain’t seen nothing like it, in any places, y’all,
That Johnny Manzel quarterback, Sho’ plays a mean football!
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David Cutcliffe, the “Force” for QB development? Other than the Mannings, and you can place some of their development on other coaches, Cutcliffe has not show much. And in the closing minutes he, Roper, and the QB pissed that game away. Dukes’ coaching and playing in the 2nd half was as bad as A&M’s D in the 1st.
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Mike Bobo has his moments in games. Last night was 4 qrts of below par D1 football by 2 coaching staffs. Summerlin’s look going into half time was priceless and that matches his pay grade. the only 2 who had a handle on that game were with ESPN…Pollack and the side line reporter. Pollack has quick eyes and recognition even from a booth. Smart guy.
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If you’re gonna critique the TAMU head coach, you could at least try to get his name right. It’s Sumlin.
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Run around like that in the NFl for a full season…well Johnny Football will spend some time on the injured reserve roster…but he will have time to talk to his investment banker and brokers. Interesting to see how A&M line him up so deep in the sets..
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Senator, I know you like JFF, but I’m still enough of a Dooley acolyte to hate all the trash talking and “look at me” attitude from him. He can certainly make some plays, and I guess I can’t continue to call him lucky. Still, I’m just sick of the Manziel worship.
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What he did in college was so far beyond just “making some plays” the guy is the best college football player in the country and has been since he stepped foot on the field as a RS Freshman. We think that Gurley could be that guy, we think that Murray had it in him, but JFF did it. Over and over again. Dismissing him because you are old is a little myopic.
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Does brandishing an AK-47 get you in trouble in Texas?! What a stupid liberal East-Coast elitist comment. Of course it does. That’s a damn commie gun…we only shoot AMERICAN.
#ColtRemingtonmovingtoTexas
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Did you mean we only shoot americans?
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Sure if their commies!:)
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Senator,
I love your blog!
“And it was also a reminder about how puzzling the media response to Manziel was this season. Sure, he’s brash at times. But it’s not like he got somebody pregnant, was caught dealing drugs or brandished an AK-47 (although I’m not sure that gets you in trouble in Texas these days).”
btw I have an M4 w/rails and optics. Sweet weapon, and yes I do brandish it in Texas…so does everyone else.
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