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COLLEGE FOOTBALLI The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Friday, December 7, 2018 3B PAYOFFS Kelly, Notre Dame comfortable as ‘The New Kids on The Block’ Sitting beside Nick Saban, Lincoln Riley and Dabo Swinney at a gathering of the College Football Play off coaches, Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly referred to his team as “the new kids on the block.” The description fit. Saban has guided No. 1 Alabama, the defend ing champion, to its fifth straight playoff. Swinney and Clemson are making their fourth straight appear- a n c e . Riley’s Oklahoma team is in the play off for the third time in four years. The Fighting Irish are newcomers, but the playoff is an old dream for one of college football’s most familiar names. “It’s something we cer tainly look toward each and every year,” Kelly said Thursday at the College Football Hall of Fame. Finally, Kelly has his chance when No. 3 Notre Dame (12-0) plays No. 2 Clemson (13-0) in the Cotton Bowl. Alabama (13-0) will play No. 4 Oklahoma (12-1) in the Orange Bowl. Are these college foot ball’s best four teams? Georgia, which made it all the way to last year’s national championship game, took a 35-28 loss to Alabama in the Southeast ern Con ference champion ship game. Following the game, Saban said he believed Geor gia was one of the nation’s best four teams. In his final vote in the coaches poll, however, Saban voted for the four teams that actually made the playoff. Georgia was No. 5 in his poll. Saban stuck by his vote — and his Georgia claim — on Thursday night. “I do think they were one of the top four teams in the country, but I didn’t think they were going to get in the playoff with two losses,” Saban said, adding that he voted for the best four teams he thought had a chance to be included in the playoff. “What this really indi cates is the SEC champion ship game was a playoff game,” he said. Asked a follow-up ques tion, Saban wouldn’t say Georgia should be one of the playoff teams. “I’m not saying that,” he said. “I’m just saying, I’m saying what I said, and I’m not changing what I said. When we played Georgia I thought they were one of the best four teams in the country. That doesn’t mean that they’re any better than the teams that are here, and I voted for the four teams that are here. Is that correct? OK.” The loss to Alabama dropped Georgia (11-2) to No. 6 in The AP poll. The Bulldogs will play No. 14 Texas in the Sugar Bowl. Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray edged Ala bama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in AP Player of the Year voting released Thursday. Murray has a chance to give the Sooners two straight Heisman Trophy winners, following Baker Mayfield. “To have a chance to have guys back to back, you really never dream it,” Riley said. Associated Press Saban Riley JEFFREY MCWHORTER I Associated Press Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray celebrates a touchdown against Texas in the Big 12 championship game on Dec. 1 in Arlington, Texas. Murray takes home AP Player of the Year, Davey O’Brien Award BY ERIC OLSON AP College Football Writer Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray won The Associ ated Press college foot ball Player of the Year on Thursday, becoming the second straight Soon ers quarterback and fifth overall to win the award since it was established in 1998. Murray beat out Ala bama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on 56 ballots submitted by AP college football poll voters and announced Thursday. Ohio State quar terback Dwayne Haskins Jr. was third. “It’s humbling and an honor to be named AP Player of the Year, to be men tioned in the same realm as a lot of great players, a lot of hall of famers,” Murray said. “It’s a special deal for me and hopefully I can continue to make my fam ily and teammates proud.” Murray received 39 first-place votes and a total of 145 points. Tago vailoa received 13 first- place votes (117 points) and Haskins was listed first on four ballots (55 points). Murray added the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s top quarter back Thursday night at ESPN’s College Football Award Show at the Hall of Fame in Atlanta. Tagovailoa won two player of the year awards, taking the Walter Camp and Maxwell awards. Murray and Tagovailoa will now head to New York City as Heisman trophy finalists, with the winner more uncertain than usual. Haskins also is College football awards Maxwell Award winners (Outstanding college player) 2018—Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama, QB 2017— Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma, QB 2016— Lamar Jackson, Louisville, QB 2015— Derrick Henry, Alabama, RB 2014— Marcus Mariota, Oregon, QB 2013— AJ McCarron, Alabama, QB Bednarik Award winners (Top defensive player) 2018— Josh Allen, Kentucky 2017— Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama 2016— Jonathan Allen, Alabama 2015— Tyler Matakevich, Temple 2014— Scooby Wright III, Arizona 2013— Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh Outland TTophy winners (Outstanding interior lineman) 2018— Quinnen Williams, Alabama, DT 2017— Ed Oliver, Houston, DT 2016— Cam Robinson, Alabama, OL 2015— Joshua Garnett, Stanford, G 2014— Brandon Scherff, Iowa, 0L 2013— Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh, DT Ray Guy Award winners (Top punter) 2018— Braden Mann, Texas A&M 2017— Michael Dickson, Texas 2016— Mitch Wishnowsky, Utah 2015— Tom Hackett, Utah 2014— Tom Hackett, Utah 2013—Tom Hornsey, Memphis Mackey Award (Top tight end) 2013— Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington 2014— Nick O’Leary, Florida State 2015— Hunter Henry, Arkansas 2016— Jake Butt, Michigan 2017— Mark Andrews, Oklahoma a finalist for the Heisman Trophy , which will be presented Saturday night in New York. The last five Walter Camp winners won the Heisman Trophy and the last four Maxwell winners have won the Heisman. Only twice since 2002 has the AP Player of the Year not won the Heisman, Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh in 2009 and Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey in 2015. Murray and Tagovailoa will then face each other in the College Football Playoff, when No. 1 Ala bama plays No. 4 Oklahoma at the Orange Bowl semi final on Dec. 29. The rest of the college football award winners Thursday night were: ■ Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen won the Chuck Bednarik award as the nation’s top defensive player. ■ Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s top interior lineman. ■ Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back. ■ Wisconsin’s Jona than Taylor won the Doak Walker as the nation’s best running back. ■ Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wide receiver. ■ Syracuse kicker Andre Szmyt won the Lou Groza Award. ■ Texas A&M punter Braden Mann won the Ray Guy Award. Murray joins Baker Mayfield (2017), Josh Heu- 2018—T.J. Hockenson, Iowa Biletnikoff Award (Top wide receiver) 2018—Jerry Jeudy, Alabama 2017— James Washington, Oklahoma State 2016— Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma 2015— Corey Coleman, Baylor 2014— Amari Cooper, Alabama 2013— Brandin Cooks, Oregon State Jim Thorpe Award winners (Top defensive back) 2018— Deandre Baker, Georgia 2017— Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama 2016— Adoree’ Jackson, Southern California 2015— Desmond King, Iowa 2014— Gerod Holliman, Louisville 2013— Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State Bronco Nagurski Award winners 2018— Josh Allen, Kentucky 2017— Bradley Chubb, North Carolina State 2016— Jonathan Allen, Alabama 2015— Tyler Matakevich, Temple 2014— Scooby Wright III, Arizona 2013— Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh Butkus Award winners 2018— Devin White, LSU 2017— Roquan Smith, Georgia 2016— Reuben Foster, Alabama 2015— Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame 2014— Eric Kendricks, UCLA 2013— C.J. Mosley, Alabama Lou Groza Award winners (Top place kicker) 2018— Andre Szmyt, Syracuse 2017— Matt Gay, Utah 2016— Zane Gonzalez, Arizona State 2015— Ka’imi Fairbairn, UCLA 2014— Brad Craddock, Maryland 2013—Roberto Aguayo, Florida State 2012—Cairo Santos, Tulane pel (2000), Jason White (2003) and Sam Bradford (2008) as previous AP Player of the Year win ners from Oklahoma. No other school has had more than two AP Player of the Year winners. Murray, a 5-foot-10,195- pound junior from Allen, Texas, won the award in his final year as a college athlete. The Oakland Athlet ics took Murray with the ninth pick in the Major League Baseball draft in June. Murray, who batted .296 with 10 home runs and 13 doubles in 50 games as the Sooners’ center fielder, signed for nearly $5 mil lion, with the A’s agreeing to let him return to school and play football this sea son . Murray was Mayfield’s backup last season and won the starter’s job in preseason practice. He went on to become one of three 4,000-yard passers in the nation and threw for 40 touchdowns. He also has rushed for 892 yards and 11 TDs. Murray leads the coun try in total offense (4,945 yards), points responsible for (306) and passing effi ciency (205.7). Murray started his career at Texas A&M, where his father, Kevin Murray, set season and career passing records as the Aggies’ quarterback in the mid-1980s. Kyler Murray trans ferred to Oklahoma after his freshman season, sat out a season per transfer rules and then backed up Mayfield. “ It’s been a long j ourney with a lot of waiting, but I think it’s all been worth it,” Murray said. “All the hard work with my team mates has really paid off.” 2011— Randy Bullock, Texas A&M 2010— Dan Bailey, Oklahoma State Davey O’Brien Award (Top quarterback) 2018—Kyler Murray , Oklahoma 2017— Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma 2016— Deshaun Watson, Clemson 2015— Deshaun Watson, Clemson 2014— Marcus Mariota, Oregon 2013— Jameis Winston, Florida State 2012— Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M 2011— Robert Griffin III, Baylor 2010— Cam Newton, Auburn 2009— Colt McCoy, Texas 2008—Sam Bradford, Oklahoma 2007—Tim Tebow, Florida Doak Walker Award (Top running back) 2018— Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin 2017— Bryce Love, Stanford 2016— D’Onte Foreman, Texas 2015— Derrick Henry, Alabama 2014— Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin 2013— Andre Williams, Boston College 2012— Montee Ball, Wisconsin 2011— Trent Richardson, Alabama 2010— LaMichael James, Oregon Walter Camp Award (Top player of the year) 2018— Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama 2017— Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma 2016— Lamar Jackson, Louisville 2015— Derrick Henry, Alabama 2014— Marcus Mariota, Oregon 2013— Jameis Winston, Florida State 2012— Manti Te’o, Notre Dame 2011— Andrew Luck, Stanford 2010—Cam Newton, Auburn Holder of the Year 2018— Mac Loudermilk, Central Florida 2017— Connor McGinnis, Oklahoma 2016— Garrett Moores, Michigan 2015— Peter Mortell, Minnesota Associated Press Tagovailoa Tucker setting the bar high at Colorado New Colorado coach Mel Tucker took a tour of the football facilities with his two teenage sons. Typically, his kids aren’t easy to impress. “We get back to hotel room and the boys said, ‘Are you kidding me? We can win here!”’ Tucker said Thursday at his introductory news conference. “I’m like, ‘What do you think we’re doing here? We’re here to win. We’re here to win big.’” To set the bar any lower just wouldn’t feel right for Tucker. At his last two stops, Georgia and Alabama, all the defensive-minded coach did was help pile up wins. That’s why he’s taking a no-excuse approach to Boul der. It’s win now for a program that’s only been to one bowl game over the last decade. “The expectations I have are extremely high. We’re here to win championships,” said Tucker, whose five-year, $14.75 million deal is expected to be approved by the board of regents next week. “That’s OK with me.” Tucker’s first order of business Thursday morning was meeting with his players. There are approximately 68 lettermen returning next season, including 14 starters led by all-confer ence receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. Associated Press GEORGIA TECH Temple coach Collins meets with Jackets Associated Press Temple coach Geoff Col lins has met with Georgia Tech officials about the Yel low Jackets’ vacant head coaching position, a person with knowledge of the meetings told The Associated Press on Thursday. The person spoke on condition of ano nymity because Georgia Tech was not releasing infor mation about its search to replace Paul Johnson, who is stepping down after 11 seasons as coach of the Yel low Jackets. Johnson will coach Georgia Tech against Minnesota in the Quick Lane Bowl on Dec. 26 in Detroit. The person said Collins met with Georgia Tech ath letic director Todd Stans- bury in New York earlier this week and with the uni versity president in Atlanta on Thursday morning. The person said Collins left Atlanta having not been offered the job by Georgia Tech. Yahoo! Sports first reported Collins, a Georgia native, had emerged as the leading candidate at Geor gia Tech. Collins is 15-10 in two seasons at Tem ple, including an 8-4 record with a 7-1 mark in the Ameri can Athletic Con ference this season. He took over for his close friend Matt Rhule last year, when Rhule left for Baylor. Before coming to Temple, Collins was a well-regarded defensive coordinator at Florida (2015-16) and Missis sippi State (2011-14). Collins grew up in Conyers, Geor gia, 24 miles east of Atlanta, and was a graduate assistant there early in his career under head coach George O’Leary. He also spent a season as director of player personal at Alabama in 2007, Nick Saban’s first leading the Crimson Tide. Collins Report: Targeting calls same as last season in the FBS The NCAA says the num ber of enforced targeting penalties in the Football Bowl Subdivision this sea son was the same as in 2017, ending four straight years of increased calls. NCAA national coordina tor of officials Rogers Red ding reported 179 enforced calls in 817 games compared with 179 in 816 games last season. The final 2017 report orig inally listed 188 enforced calls, but Redding said the numbers are sometimes adjusted after an offseason review. The NCAA compiles its numbers through reports submitted each week by conferences. Big Ten and Mid-Ameri can Conference coordina tor of football officials Bill Carollo said he was pleased to see the targeting penalties level off and the hope is the numbers will come down in 2019. “Coaches have done a good job at teaching proper hitting (both blocking and tackling) techniques and officials have improved in calling targeting plays as well as reviewing the plays,” Carollo wrote in a text to The Associated Press. “It’s still our No. 1 concern and our one area we need to improve.” Redding noted the num ber of calls was alarming early in the season. In the first two weeks, there were 55 enforced penalties in 164 games compared with 36 through 162 games in 2017. “As the season pro gressed, the numbers settled down, so that serendipi- tously the two seasons ended the same,” Redding said. “This means that as the sea son progressed the number of (targeting) fouls tracked below last year, with this year’s numbers trending generally down.” Associated Press GEORGIA ■ Continued from 1B down the road, and the Sugar Bowl should be an excellent preview for what’s to come. The Bulldogs and Longhorns are two of col lege football’s oldest and most prestigious programs, but they have surprisingly little history against each other. The last meeting between the schools was back in 1981, and prior to that, you’d have to go all the way back to 1959 to find a Georgia vs. Texas matchup. With only four meetings between them all-time, the Sugar Bowl is one of only a few chances anyone has ever had to see these two football powerhouses clash to date. It’s a special moment, and when the Bulldogs and Longhorns meet again some 10 years down the road, you’ll need to know all the best ways to trash talk opposing fans. It’s still the Sugar Bowl When Oklahoma was chosen as the fourth playoff team and Georgia was rele gated to the Sugar Bowl, the most common sentiment among Georgia fans was disdain. What all of those supporters fail to realize is exactly how lucky they are to have a team in such a high-profile bowl. Is it as exciting as making a playoff game? Of course not. But plenty of schools would kill for the opportu nity to play on New Year’s, no matter the location or the stakes. Consider the bowl games Georgia had played in over the past several seasons before last year’s Rose Bowl and playoff semifinal: The Liberty Bowl, the TaxSlayer Bowl, the Gator Bowl, the Belk Bowl. With all due respect to oversized reptiles and sec ond-tier department stores, these are not the types of bowls you want to see your team playing. The Sugar Bowl has been around since the 1930s, and has even decided several national champions. It’s one of the top games offered by the NCAA bowl system, and if you’re a Georgia fan, it’s something to be excited about. Football season is nearly over After as tough a loss as last Saturday’s, it can be easy to wish away football forever, with the upcom ing offseason serving as a welcome reprieve from the annual pain of defeat. Just as easy is forgetting exactly how terrible the eight month football-less waste land at the beginning of the calendar year inevitably will be. The Bulldogs will not be national champions this year. That’s a fact all Georgia fans will eventually have to come to grips with. But the season is not over, and that’s a good thing. Flor ida State — after 36 straight years of bowling — will not play in a postseason game. Seasons like this don’t come around every year (unless you’re Alabama, of course) and it’s important to not take them for granted when they do. So study up on Sam Ehlinger and the Longhorns between now and the new year, watch the game and be happy you have Georgia football around, even if it’s just for one more day. You’ll certainly miss it when it’s gone. Nathan Berg is a sports writer for The Times. He can be reached at nberg@ gainesvilletimes.com or @ NathanxBerg on Twitter.
