Criteria for Mr. Football

[footballfever]

There have been some very good names listed for Mr. Football. I have never seen a list or even suggestions as to what the criteria should be. Should career have an inpact or just senior year, DI, stats, position, academics, community involvement, team accomplishments? What are some things that should not matter?

[The Scribe]

I think that's what gives the award it's mystique. Different people view the award with different criteria. Me personally, I think it should be based on your onfield play, passing classes, and keeping out of trouble off the field. Future expectations, high GPA, etc. are secondary factors maybe but shouldn't be top considerations.

 

It's kind of like the MVP in pro sports. Is it given for the Most Valuable Player or the Player of the Year?

[Ram]

You ask a simple question with a complex answer. The opinions will be as numerous as the people who supply them. Personally, I think it is a yearly award so the primary accomplishments should be provided by the senior year, but to muddy the water, I think if a player was say one of the best players in the state his junior year, that should also carry some weight. I do not think that what level college scholarship the player accepts should matter, a player may choose to attend a D2 school for many reasons, not just because he is not D1 material. I don't think team accomplishments should matter, but again mudding the water, if a player is truly a Mr. Football, his accomplishments should considerably affect the the teams accomplishments.

 

Also, unfortunately position matters. I doubt you will see a lineman receive the award anytime in the near future, even if the lineman is the best lineman in the state. I would love to an award comparable to the Mr. Football Award for linemen. Linemen are important to the sport and I would love to see some of them recognized for their accomplishments as well. Simply put trying to compare a RB to a OL is impossible. Both are important and necessary to the game of football, but they do completely different things. It would be like comparing an electrician to a plumber for an award for best worker at a job site, the plumber installed more drains then the electrician, but the electrician installed more wire then the plumber, which one did a better job.

 

I mentioned this in another thread for All State selection, but it would work for Mr. Football as well. I would like to see a committee for All State/Mr. Football that required certain members to attend certain games. Every team in the state would have to be observed by several committee members at least once during the season. If a players shows promise for one of the above awards, then perhaps they would have to be observed a second time.

[SOUTH]

You ask a simple question with a complex answer. The opinions will be as numerous as the people who supply them. Personally, I think it is a yearly award so the primary accomplishments should be provided by the senior year, but to muddy the water, I think if a player was say one of the best players in the state his junior year, that should also carry some weight. I do not think that what level college scholarship the player accepts should matter, a player may choose to attend a D2 school for many reasons, not just because he is not D1 material. I don't think team accomplishments should matter, but again mudding the water, if a player is truly a Mr. Football, his accomplishments should considerably affect the the teams accomplishments.

 

Also, unfortunately position matters. I doubt you will see a lineman receive the award anytime in the near future, even if the lineman is the best lineman in the state. I would love to an award comparable to the Mr. Football Award for linemen. Linemen are important to the sport and I would love to see some of them recognized for their accomplishments as well. Simply put trying to compare a RB to a OL is impossible. Both are important and necessary to the game of football, but they do completely different things. It would be like comparing an electrician to a plumber for an award for best worker at a job site, the plumber installed more drains then the electrician, but the electrician installed more wire then the plumber, which one did a better job.

 

I mentioned this in another thread for All State selection, but it would work for Mr. Football as well. I would like to see a committee for All State/Mr. Football that required certain members to attend certain games. Every team in the state would have to be observed by several committee members at least once during the season. If a players shows promise for one of the above awards, then perhaps they would have to be observed a second time.

I think it should be awarded to the most dominating player. This year it could be Brandon Newman from PRP. The kid is a stud with a great grades. This kid could just about call any college coach in America tell them that he is going to their school. But with that said I agree with comparing skill kids with linemen is very difficult to do.

[Diogenes]

footballfever, you have asked a fundamental question and an important question. So often questions of opinion elicit raging debates and the ground rules are not even understood. It is sort of like when guys debate about who is the greatest professional baseball or football or basketball player. Well, do you mean peak value, or do you mean career value? The same could be said of this question, and the posts above illustrate the myriad factors that may be taken into consideration in determining Mr. Football.

Does anyone know who votes on Mr. Football? It would be interesting to receive insight from one the voters. Also, is there a set of written criteria upon which the vote is based?

Below is the KHSAA list of past Mr. Football award winners:

 

PAST MR. FOOTBALL AWARD WINNERS

Player (School) College

1986 Frank Jacobs (Newport C. Cath.) Notre Dame

1987 Kurt Baber (Paducah Tilghman) Southern California

1988 Jeff Brohm (Trinity-Louisville) University of Louisville

1989 Pookie Jones (Calloway Co.) University of Kentucky

1990 Damon Hood (Warren Central) University of Kentucky

1991 Scott Russell (Evarts) Lees-McRae/Union

1992 Billy Jack Haskins (Paducah Tilghman) University of Kentucky / Rhode Island University

1993 Jeremy Simpson (Lincoln County) Cumberland College

1994 Shaun Alexander (Boone Co.) University of Alabama

1995 Tim Couch (Leslie Co.) University of Kentucky

1996 Derek Homer (Fort Knox) University of Kentucky

1997 Dennis Johnson (Harrodsburg) University of Kentucky

1998 Jared Lorenzen (Highlands) University of Kentucky

1999 Travis Atwell (Hancock County) Toledo/University of Kentucky

2000 Montrell Jones (Male) University of Tennessee

2001 Jeff Duggins (Boyle County) Alford State, NY

2002 Michael Bush (Male) University of Louisville

2003 Brian Brohm (Trinity (Louisville)) University of Louisville

2004 Curtis Pulley (Hopkinsville) University of Kentucky

2005 Micah Johnson (Ft. Campbell) University of Kentucky

2006 Douglas Beaumont (Male) University of Louisville

 

Male has had three Mr. Footballs. Trinity and Paducah Tilghman have had two Mr. Footballs. The list purports to show the college/colleges a player attended. I believe the entry for Montrell Jones should read University of Tennessee/University of Kentucky.

[PepRock01]

footballfever, you have asked a fundamental question and an important question. So often questions of opinion elicit raging debates and the ground rules are not even understood. It is sort of like when guys debate about who is the greatest professional baseball or football or basketball player. Well, do you mean peak value, or do you mean career value? The same could be said of this question, and the posts above illustrate the myriad factors that may be taken into consideration in determining Mr. Football.

Does anyone know who votes on Mr. Football? It would be interesting to receive insight from one the voters. Also, is there a set of written criteria upon which the vote is based?

Below is the KHSAA list of past Mr. Football award winners:

 

PAST MR. FOOTBALL AWARD WINNERS

Player (School) College

1986 Frank Jacobs (Newport C. Cath.) Notre Dame

1987 Kurt Baber (Paducah Tilghman) Southern California

1988 Jeff Brohm (Trinity-Louisville) University of Louisville

1989 Pookie Jones (Calloway Co.) University of Kentucky

1990 Damon Hood (Warren Central) University of Kentucky

1991 Scott Russell (Evarts) Lees-McRae/Union

1992 Billy Jack Haskins (Paducah Tilghman) University of Kentucky / Rhode Island University

1993 Jeremy Simpson (Lincoln County) Cumberland College

1994 Shaun Alexander (Boone Co.) University of Alabama

1995 Tim Couch (Leslie Co.) University of Kentucky

1996 Derek Homer (Fort Knox) University of Kentucky

1997 Dennis Johnson (Harrodsburg) University of Kentucky

1998 Jared Lorenzen (Highlands) University of Kentucky

1999 Travis Atwell (Hancock County) Toledo/University of Kentucky

2000 Montrell Jones (Male) University of Tennessee

2001 Jeff Duggins (Boyle County) Alford State, NY

2002 Michael Bush (Male) University of Louisville

2003 Brian Brohm (Trinity (Louisville)) University of Louisville

2004 Curtis Pulley (Hopkinsville) University of Kentucky

2005 Micah Johnson (Ft. Campbell) University of Kentucky

2006 Douglas Beaumont (Male) University of Louisville

 

Male has had three Mr. Footballs. Trinity and Paducah Tilghman have had two Mr. Footballs. The list purports to show the college/colleges a player attended. I believe the entry for Montrell Jones should read University of Tennessee/University of Kentucky.

 

Actually that would be University of Louiville. Montrell came to play for Petrino. :thumb:

[Hearsay]

I agree with Ram, the players achievements must significantly impact his team's performance. In other words, if the team does not perform well, then incredible statistics shouldn't be a basis for an award.

 

I also believe that multiple roles should be a factor. For instance, a RB with 2000 yards rushing is not as impressive to me as a RB with 1800 yards rushing, and also plays LB and records 100 tackles. Football is a team game and the overall contribution to the team is what should be rewarded.

 

Level of competition should be used to mitigate high statistics, or supplement for that matter.

 

I agree with Scribe about the background, and would even institute a Shawne Merriman behavior rule. No Mr. Football if you have a juvenile record, etc.

 

Grades would be a secondary factor.

[RockPride]

I feel that a player's career should absolutely be involved with this pick.

[Jeepman]

A lot of good ideas for Mr. Football. I only have one!!!! Take it out of the media's hands and turn it over to the coaches. The media does not know the players at the high school level. Sure they know a few in the area that they cover. Period. Just ask one. I have. Now at the college level with television I think the media does an excellent job. Coaches know the players. Have them make the selection. I would love to see the playing field level across the state. Just my view.

[The Scribe]

A lot of good ideas for Mr. Football. I only have one!!!! Take it out of the media's hands and turn it over to the coaches. The media does not know the players at the high school level. Sure they know a few in the area that they cover. Period. Just ask one. I have. Now at the college level with television I think the media does an excellent job. Coaches know the players. Have them make the selection. I would love to see the playing field level across the state. Just my view.

That's interesting except for one thing. There is more public griping done about the C-J and H-L All-State teams than the voting for Mr. Football. The coaches vote for the All-State teams and the media votes for Mr. Football.

[Long Time Warrior]

This is a award that they shouldn't even hand out anymore as far as I care. If a kid that plays on a State Championship team for three years and runner up the fourth. Leads his team at QB for three years and wins the trophy twice and runner up his senior year. Hands out a thumping on the team in the playoffs of the kid that wins the Award. To me there isn't any reason at all of how this award is voted on. This kid also played on defense as well at LB or strong safety. The year 2004! I'm not saying that Curtis Pulley wasn't a very good high school player just that another kid had done everything you could possibly do to win this award and didn't. Boyle County's Brandon Smith. Ask all the people that saw Boyle Co. play those 3 years he lead his team 15 games a season.

[gamer31]

Same with 2005 when Micah Johnson won the award. I thought that Justin Burke was a run away for the award but when he committed to NC State he took his name out of race. This is just another example of an honor that the media has taken in their hands and ruined. I believe that coaches and peers should vote for the award.

[Jeepman]

That's interesting except for one thing. There is more public griping done about the C-J and H-L All-State teams than the voting for Mr. Football. The coaches vote for the All-State teams and the media votes for Mr. Football.

 

I realize that you will never make everyone happy. All I'm saying is that the media guys that I have talked to on this side of the state will tell you they have no idea who the players are. The only ones they care about are the ones they have to report on. I realize it's not thier fault.

 

The kid from Johnson Central could gain 3000 yards rushing, score 50 TD's this year and has not got a chance. He has no one to vote for him exept the one or two in this area and that is just not going to get it when you are competing with the larger metro areas.

 

Let's let the media vote for the all state team one year and see if they can beat Tenn. Just kidding.

 

I have nothing against the media. They do an excellent job reporting but I just think there is a better way. Maybe have the KHSAA do the voting and then watch the sparks fly.

[The Scribe]

Nothing against the media, but if they didn't know who Doug Beaumont, Brian Brohm, or Michael Bush were in high school, they should have their voting priviledges revoked. Not in this day of internet technology when you can Google a player's name or visit any number of web sites and message boards.

[Jeepman]

Nothing against the media, but if they didn't know who Doug Beaumont, Brian Brohm, or Michael Bush were in high school, they should have their voting priviledges revoked. Not in this day of internet technology when you can Google a player's name or visit any number of web sites and message boards.

 

I'm sure they know there names by now. But think back to when they were in high school. The guy from the Ashland independent had no idea who they are. I'm using him as an example. He is busy covering Josh Gross, Kasey Clark, Beach, Ect. players from his area. Sure he knows them now after they won Mr. Football. I can guarantee you he voted for the players he knows and thats just my point.

 

The kid from Johnson Central could gain 3000 yards and make 150 unassisted tackles and he has not got a chance for the award. Bottom line there is not enough voters to vote for him on this side of the state. If you are on this side of the state you had better be a superstar as a freshman and get your name out there. By the time your a junior or senior its to late.

 

You state that you can google and search names ect. Thats sounds to me to be a popularity contest. The player with the most press gets the most votes. I think the media guys vote for the players they cover or are in there area.

 

I realize its not going to be perfect and that the coaches would probable not do a much better job.

 

I think last year I suggested that 10 Mr. football candidates be chosen at the beginning of the season. Chosen by who? The media of course. At the end of the season coachs put together a video and send it out to the list of voters. The highlight film could not be more than 10 minutes long. Media guys are very busy and we would want them to watch the tape. Review the tapes then vote. At least then they would be better educated on who the choices are. I know its not perfect and would need some tweeking, but I think it would be better than what we are doing now. Just my thoughts.