SD CFB Heroes of Past and Present

Written by Ian | 16 September 2009

Stadium Drives covers a lot of college football when the season isn't even in full swing.  We cover a shit ton of college football when it is in season.  As fans of Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, and Michigan (Cohron is the odd man out in the SEC love fest) we've seen our share of national championships, dominant players, and heart break.  Mostly Kentucky on that heart break part. 

While we remember conference championship teams and our clubs that win big bowl games, it's the players that stand out most in our minds.  Be it Peyton leading the Vols on the gridiron, Spurrier stalking the sidelines for the Gators, or Woodson patrolling the secondary for the blue and gold, players make an impact on any fan.  Earlier this week I posed a question to the SD crew (and our frequent commenter BobWicket) asking them who they would name as their favorite player of all time.  I allowed two choices for this, and the guys attacked this question fervently.  Without further ado, here are your SD college football heroes of past and present.

Grubby:

Andy Kelly - UT QB  1988-1991.  He's the all-time greatest arena
football quarterback.  Plus, I once saw him hit a golf ball a quarter
mile the morning after about 30 beers at Liquid Knoxville.

Peerless Price - UT WR 1995-1998.  He once signed a Tennessee Football
magazine for me in a Dillard's.  Which is the antithesis of his 1998
National Championship game counterpart, Peter Warrick, who would only go
to Dillard's to steal clothes with Laveranues Coles.

Bru:

Yes, I will go with Tebow as my favorite.

My first great memory of Tim Tebow came during a visit to The Swamp during his freshman year, when he served as a back-up to Chris Leak.After a couple typical Leak moments in a game against UK (overthrown balls, falling down short of a first down to avoid being tackled), Tebow entered the game amidst a chorus of cheers. After a quick QB scramble to pick up the first down - a run that included lowering his shoulder and steamrolling a defender - Tebow exited the game, but not before waving his arms wildly, urging the listless crowd to get on their feet. Running full speed toward the sideline, Tebow kept throwing his arms in the air, not stopping even as the crowd noise slowly grew louder and louder, finally reaching the feverish pitch that The Swamp is known for. I turned to my dad.

"That kid is going to be something. Anyone with that kind of energy and passion is going to be great. They will win titles with that kid - trust me."

And how right I turned out to be. In three years at Florida, two of which as the starting QB, Tebow has become arguably the most decorated college football player of all-time. Two national titles and a Heisman Trophy...all before his senior year. He's set school, conference and national records. He's been on magazine covers and billboards. He's been debated endlessly on talk radio and call-in shows. His speech after the Ole Miss game has been immortalized in Florida history with a plaque near the stadium's entrance. He's been the subject of more internet rumors than Paris Hilton (just Google "Tim Tebow girlfriend"). But through it all, he's remained true to himself. He continues to do the right thing off the field, not giving into the temptations that befall many star college athletes. He's always remained steadfast in his faith, and if you've ever spent time on Florida's campus and seen the girls around there, you would appreciate just how hard that is.

Yes, he may not be a great NFL quarterback prospect. Yes, people not from Gator Nation are sick of hearing about him. But if you're looking for someone who represents all that is right about college athletics, you can look no further than #15 in the Orange and Blue.

Cohron:

I could try and deny it, but if would be futile. I love Tom Brady.

  
I became a Michigan Football fan sometime around 1994. As a high school freshman in 1997, I was became absolutely obsessed with the team. Of course, the Wolverines were co-national champions that year. After that, my obsession didn't die. In 1998 and 1999, Tom Brady QBed the team. Brady wasn't even supposed to start, as heralded Drew Henson (Google him) was the heir apparent. Obviously, that was when Lloyd Carr still cared about Michigan Football. Brady led Michigan to two Citrus Bowl wins. Obviously, this was a time when Big 10 teams could still beat SEC teams. 
Brady was selected 199th overall in the 2000 draft. I kept small tabs on him as he was third on the depth chart in New England his first year, but he was playing behind then great, Drew Bledsoe. The next year, some would say, fate came knocking. Bledsoe was injured and Brady was given his shot. He led the Patriots all season, and then on a 2-minute drill to eventually win the Super Bowl. I was hooked.  

The rest of Tom Brady's story has been told. He is the greatest human alive. He has won three Super Bowls. He is married to the hottest woman on the planet. He played at the greatest football university. What's not to love? 

BobWicket:

It took some time to make this decision.  Obvious choices would be one of the handful of recent players from my hometown (Tamme, Begley, or Neal Brown), a certain former UK linebacker that is currently the linebacker coach that also coached my high school football team (Sir Chuck Smith), or everyone's golden boy (Tim Couch).  However, I chose to go with a guy that defied all logic, and much like myself probably never passed anyone's "look test".  You know, the test when he other team is sizing you up before the game and you know they are laughing inside, and sometimes on the outside, at you and your perceived talent level. 

This guy gave the short, overweight, slow, lesser athletic, yet still competitve people in this world a little hope, all the while leading the CATS during some of their more exciting and successful football seasons.  I am talking about none other than the Hefty Lefty, Jared Lorenzen.  I am still amazed at this guy's accomplishments.  He did things that no other SEC quarterback has ever done, won a super bowl...ring, and is still setting records today for the local indoor football team.  He also hit me with an elbow during the Final Four of UK "A League" Intramural Basketball Tournament and that stuff hurt. 

Honorable Mention:  Because I may lose a friend if I don't mention him - DEE EL JAY!