Sporting News

It was plain to see that this year's Heisman vote was a two man race between Tim Tebow and Darren Mcfadden. In my opinion, Mcfadden should have won the trophy, simply because of the unbelievable games he had on National TV against Alabama, South Carolina and LSU. You couldn't have watched any one of those games without saying this guy is the best player in the country. The Heisman voters may not have thought so, but the NFL knows. #5 will be a multi-millionaire in a matter of months. Good for him.

Hats off to the Nashville Scrappers on their 3rd consecutive state football championship. What's most impressive to me is the fact that the AAAA teams were, top to bottom, the strongest classification in the entire state. Billy Dawson has taken a very good program to unbelievable heights, and his 3 year reign as head coach can't get any better; unless of course he wins number 4 next year. We'll have to wait and see, but at this point I wouldn't bet against it.

On to the NFL, and remember, you heard it here first. Even though the Patriots will finish the regular season 16-0, they will be beaten in either the AFC championship game or the Super Bowl. More than likely the Super Bowl, since they will have home field through-out the play-offs. It certainly could be the Cowboys or Packers who knock them off, but there's an outside chance that the Seahawks will make it out of the NFC. The 72 Dolphins hallowed record will remain safe. You can mark my words, but no wagering, please.

Finally, whoever takes the Arkansas football job will not inherit a program that has to completely rebuild as some are projecting. Sure he will have to replace McFadden and Jones, but Michael Smith and Brandon Barnett are capable of being good SEC running backs. D-Mac and Felix only come around once in a lifetime. No matter what others say, Casey Dick had a solid year and will be better in 2008. The receivers should be improved, if only from experience; plus Ben Cleveland and Crosby Tuck will be back. The offensive line should be OK, especially if Luigs comes back for his senior year. Defensively, the front seven should be better with the experience and a year to grow. The real problem for this team will come in the secondary, where you lose Grant, Richardson, Hewitt and Woods. Good freshman class at the skill positions,(if they can keep it together), and an excellent kicker in Tejada, should help keep this team around 7-5 or 8-4; even with a more difficult schedule. The new coach probably gets a couple of years to get his system going, but I'm not buying that the cupboard is bare.