Life ain't easy for a boy named Suh
You knew it was coming!
Posted on 12/07/2009 4:09:52 PM PST by aft_lizard
National analysts have struggled all year trying to pronounce his name.
They better get it straight this week. That’s Ndamukong Suh — as in (En-dom-ah-ken) Suh, Heisman Trophy finalist.
The news arrived on Monday that “Big Suh” has bucked the odds and been invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony. [+]Enlarge Story Photo Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (LJS file) Story Photo Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (LJS file) Related Link(s):
12.5.09: Suh shines brightest in Husker loss Curt McKeever: Unstoppable Suh should be considered among nation’s best Know Your Huskers video: Ndamukong Suh
Joining him on the list of finalists are Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, Alabama running back Mark Ingram, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
“It is a tremendous honor and very humbling to be a finalist for a prestigious award like the Heisman Trophy,” Suh said in a statement. “I’m excited to be included with a great group of finalists for this year’s award.”
Husker coach Bo Pelini said Suh is deserving of any honors that come his way this week.
“He is a special football player, as good as anyone in the country in my opinion,” Pelini said. “It is good to see the Heisman voters have recognized the true impact a defensive lineman like Suh can have on a football game.”
The stiff-armed bronzed statue usually goes to pretty boy quarterbacks and fleet-footed running backs. That the senior defensive tackle has crashed the party this year speaks to how absolutely amazing Suh has been this 2009 season.
Only one primarily defensive player (Michigan’s Charles Woodson in 1997) has ever won the award.
Suh has 82 tackles, 23 tackles for losses, 24 quarterback hurries and 12 sacks from a position that generally doesn’t generate flattering statistics.
Despite those numbers, Suh was perhaps viewed as a longshot candidate by national pundits going into this weekend. Most of the attention was going to offensive players, as is always the case for this particular award.
But the senior defensive tackle had a masterful performance
in the Big 12 Championship
, claiming 4 1/2 sacks on Texas quarterback and fellow Heisman candidate Colt McCoy.
None of those sacks was more memorable than one early in the third quarter when he tossed McCoy aside like he was his kid brother.
Those sorts of images count when it comes to gaining Heisman attention.
In many early polls trying to figure out the balloting, Suh’s name is coming up near the top in what figures to be a very close race.
Many national analysts were touting Suh on Monday, including ESPN.com’s Pat Forde, who is sending his Heisman vote Suh’s way.
“Ndamukong Suh was unbelievable in the Big 12 Championship game,” Forde said on ESPN’s “First Take” Monday morning. “I’ve said all season he reminds me of Reggie White. He may not end up being as good as Reggie White, but in terms of physically explosive player, he’s phenomenal. ... I think he is the best player in the country, which is what the award is supposed to be.”
If Suh won the award, he would become the fourth Husker Heisman winner, joining Johnny Rodgers (1972), Mike Rozier (1983) and Eric Crouch.
Suh has already begun his travels on the award circuit this week. He figures to win his share of hardware — he is a finalist for the Walter Camp Award, Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy, Bednarik Award, Lott Trophy and Nagurski Award.
The Heisman ceremony will be held Saturday night and televised on ESPN.
That Suh gets a front-row seat? Husker defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said he’s not surprised.
“He deserves every honor he gets, and more,” he said. “In my opinion, he is without a doubt the best player in college football.”
He deserves it over any other finalist.
Ping!
But, sigh, one of the QBs is going to win.
Life ain't easy for a boy named Suh
You knew it was coming!
Both QB’s are trailing badly in known votes. Suh currently leads them but Gerhart is projected to win.
http://www.stiffarmtrophy.com/
LMAO!!!!
He gets my vote, followed by Ingram. After that I'm not sure; I haven't seen enough of the RB at Stanford to know for sure.
But if I had a vote it would go to Suh. I hope he gets it.
That was very funny and very cool.
As a Kansas Fan I would give him the award. Su is a one man wrecking crew. Nobody can stop this guy!
I hope KC Chief’s draft this guy as he is top five pick.
Suh can thank Kirk Herbstreit for the props on Saturday night.
It’s just like Obama. A lineman getting the Heisman is a STORY; just like a black man winning the presidency is a STORY.
Pure B.S. -— just like all of contemporary American life.
Wow, you don’t know what you are even talking about. He has been a heisman candidate all year long living just on the edge. Simply their just isn’t an impressive offensive candidate. The running back stats are pedestrian and the QB’s have stunk it up. But keep think whatever is ticking in your mind, the votes are already in so if he wins to bad for you.
If they wanted to name probably the best player in college football then a case can be made for Suh. But the Heisman has been an offensive player award for some time and I doubt that will change.
At the rate we're going we'll have a good chance. But I don't see Suh making past two or three and I don't know if we'll draft that low. On the other hand, if the Chiefs have the second or third pick then I could see them trade it for draft choices. They need so much help in so many places.
True but the award doesn’t say for the most outstanding offensive player, the media itself simply likes offense and they are the ones who vote. Simply getting invited to the award ceremony is a statement on its own.
I really believe that Case Keenum of Houston should have been a finalist for the Heisman Trophy too.
Suh finished with a Big 12 Championship game-record 4½ sacks. He made 12 tackles, including seven for losses. He owned the field, and he made Texas’s drive for the national title seem like a subplot. . . .
Suh made the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year look like a high school quarterback at times and tossed Longhorns around like so many little kids. He disrupted McCoy on nearly every play and humbled the Texas offensive line. The Blackshirts had nine sacks, 18 tackles for loss and forced a ton of three-and-outs against a team that will be playing for the national championship in January.
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