Column: Winston not the biggest star in FSU win - Local - Sun JournalI would be the biggest liar in ...

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win - Local - Sun Journal)
Column: Winston not the biggest star in FSU win - Local - Sun Journal
I would be the biggest liar in the world if I even attempted to claim that it didn"t bother me that my
dear Tennessee Volunteers were not playing in the BCS National Championship Game last Monday
night.
Heck, if it could be my way, we would play in it every year.
Nevertheless, I am first and foremost a sports fan, and that means that no matter who is playing, I
am watching.
There isn"t an ounce of fair-weather fandom inside my sports-splattered heart and I have a strong
disagreement with and incomprehensible approach toward those that only watch one team or their
team.
You learn more about the sport from watching all games from all areas of the country. Why do I
know about Winthrop, Weber State or Montana in college basketball when it comes NCAA
tournament time every March? If I"m awake, and it is on, it is probably on my television.
Without a deeply entrenched rooting interest Monday night, I was compelled throughout the battle
between Auburn and Florida State.
When I watch, I don"t just watch. I follow.
I analyze like a coach sometimes, get emotionally involved when my favorite teams are playing, as a
fan or just relax and enjoy the athleticism.
After all, as my good friend and voice of the Duke Blue Devils Bob Harris is fond of saying, we are
fans with a voice.
I picked up on all the huge plays in Monday"s title game, a 34-31 win by Florida State.
From Florida State Defensive MVP P.J. Williams" interception that was immediately fumbled and
recovered by teammate Lamarcus Joyner to the pass interference penalty that ended up allowing
FSU to score with 13 seconds left.
On the Noles" final drive, Jameis Winston started deep in his own territory.
Winston threw about a 5-yard hitch to Rashad Greene, who proceeded to matriculate the ball 49
yards down the field for excellent FSU field position.
Though Winston went 7-for-8 on the final drive, capped by a 2-yard strike to Kelvin Benjamin for the
game-winning score, he was merely average the rest of the game.
Plus, a rule I believe needs to change is the statistic of passing and receiving yards.

2. If a quarterback throws a 5-yard pass that gets taken 80 yards for a touchdown, the QB should not
get credit for those 80 yards.
But I digress.
Back to Winston. While he had a good game, I had a huge problem with him being the Most Valuable
Player.
He threw for 237 yards on 20-for-35 passing with two touchdowns " pedestrian compared to
Greene"s nine catches for 147 yards, including the game-breaker.
I understand everyone doesn"t look deeper into a game because they see it as that " just a game.
However, sports are my livelihood and a huge part of what brings me joy.
I love watching games and dissecting them " great plays and turns of events and mistakes alike.
The MVP of any game should go to the player who did the most to swing the outcome of the game in
his team"s favor.
Joyner should have been the Defensive MVP instead of the guy with the one interception who
promptly fumbled it away.
I will miss the BCS. As a die-hard college football fan, I hope that the new playoff system is half as
good. If it is, we are all in for an exciting ride.
I would love to discuss the title game with my readers. If you guys have comments, questions or just
want to talk, see below.
Jordan Honeycutt can be reached at 252-635-5670 or at Jordan.Honeycutt@newbernsj.com. Follow
Jordan on Twitter @JHONEYnbsj29
http://www.newbernsj.com/sports/local/column-winston-not-the-biggest-star-in-fsu-win-1.259564