College Football-Spreadbeater Team
written December 7, 2006
In Part 2 of our annual Spreadbeater Team, we focus on the offensive side of the football and special teams.
OFFENSIVE UNIT
QB COLT BRENNAN, HAWAII (8-3-1)
6’3”, 190, JUNIOR, IRVINE, CA
Matt Leinart earned a spot on this fantasy team as a sophomore. Perhaps that portends more down-the-road honors for Brennan, a teammate of Leinart in high school. The UH “O” led the nation in touchdowns, total offense, and yards per snap – leading all three categories by a substantial margin.
RB, P.J. HILL, WISCONSIN (8-2-1)
5’11”, 242, FRESHMAN, EAST ELMHURST, NY
Hill even looks like Jerome Bettis, with whom he shares a similar physique and running style. One week after sustaining an injury vs. Illinois, he bulled his way to 148 yards vs. Penn State. The Badgers’ triumphed 13-3 in the role of a 7-point favorite.
RB MIKE GOODSON, TEXAS A & M (8-2-1)
6’0”, 192, FRESHMAN, KLEIN, TX
Overshadowed by battering ram Jorvorskie Lane, Goodson had a statistically superior season. The blue-chip rookie caught our attention when he ran 64 yards to paydirt in the waning stage of the match with Baylor. Some would call that an insurance touchdown, but the Aggies needed that score to cover the spot.
WR JARETT DILLARD, RICE (9-3)
5’11”, 165, SOPH, SAN ANTONIO, TX
The national leader in TD catches, the prolific Dillard was Mr. Clutch. He tallied the winning touchdown in the double-OT thriller at Tulsa. For encores, he scored game-winning touchdowns in mild upsets of Alabama-Birmingham and SMU.
WR KEENAN BURTON, KENTUCKY (6-4-1)
6’2”, 195, JUNIOR, LOUISVILLE, KY
After two injury-plagued seasons, the acrobatic Burton displayed the form he flashed as a true freshman. Sixth in the nation in all-purpose yards, he scored two touchdowns at Mississippi State and set up two more with long kickoff returns. The Wildcats had difficulty sustaining drives, but escaped with a 34-31 victory as a 1-point favorite.
TE BRENT CELEK, CINCINNATI (6-3-2)
6’4”, 260, SENIOR, CINCINNATI, OH
Delete his 83-yard romp vs. shell-shocked Rutgers and Celek still averaged 12.6 yards per catch, an impressive figure for a man his size. He made significant catches at Virginia Tech and Louisville, both solid covers for the hard-nosed Bearcats.
OL DALLAS REYNOLDS, BYU (9-2-1)
6’5”, 328, SOPH, PROVO, UT
Three games into the season, the Cougars lost veteran LT Eddie Keele to an injury. Upholding the family tradition, Reynolds filled the breach. From that point on, the Cougars were undefeated, covering the spot in seven of nine opportunities.
OL MICHAEL AITCHESON, KENTUCKY
6’3”, 300, SENIOR, MIAMI, FL
Aitcheson played every position in the offensive trench with the exception of center. A licensed minister with a degree in social work, he was voted the team’s most inspirational player. His highlight play was a nifty cut-block of a Florida defender that occurred after his helmet was ripped off.
OL KURT QUARTERMAN, LOUISVILLE (7-4)
6’5”, 348, SENIOR, ALBANY, GA
The glue of an OL that lost two all-league picks, Quarterman softened up Temple with the fourth rushing touchdown of his career.
OL LUTE BARBER, RICE
6’7”, 280, JUNIOR, LUBBOCK, TX
An interception in the waning seconds seemingly foiled a Rice rally vs. UAB, but the interception-maker lost the handle and Barber pounced on his fumble. Given a reprieve, the underdog Owls rewarded their backers in the form of a mild upset.
C JON COOPER, OKLAHOMA (10-3)
6’2”, 285, SOPH, FORT COLLINS, CO
Although short on experience, Cooper came back from a broken leg to become the stabilizing force of an OL that depended heavily on first-year starters. With Adrian Peterson, the Sooners averaged 155 rushing yards per game. Without him, they averaged 197.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK BRIAN JACKSON, BALL STATE (8-3)
5’7”, 183, SENIOR, DOTHAN, AL
Jackson converted 17 of his 19 FG attempts. His two longest – covering 50 and 52 yards – were keys to pointspread covers. Did anyone else notice that the Cardinals were highly competitive in three games vs. Big 10 opponents?
P RYAN DOUGHERTY, EAST CAROLINA (10-2)
6’1”, 232, SENIOR, ORLANDO, FL
Fifth nationally among active players in career punting yards, Dougherty set a career high with a 72-yard boot vs. Virginia and then iced the game with his first touchdown, a short run off a fake FG. The Pirates prevailed by “10” as a 6-point favorite.
KR SAMMIE STROUGTER, OREGON STATE (7-5)
6’0”, 183, JUNIOR, SACRAMENTO, CA
One of four players to top 1200 yards in receptions, Stroughter tied a school record with three touchdowns on punt returns. His 70-yarder vs. Southern Cal put the Trojans in a deeper hole.
COACH
SKIP HOLTZ, EAST CAROLINA
We’ve knocked his dad (a highly overrated coach who had the audacity to write two biographies), but we can’t knock Skip, a peachy-keen fellow. Working with mediocre talent, Holtz is 18-5 ATS in two seasons at East Carolina.
written by Arne K. Lang
--EOG
written December 7, 2006
In Part 2 of our annual Spreadbeater Team, we focus on the offensive side of the football and special teams.
OFFENSIVE UNIT
QB COLT BRENNAN, HAWAII (8-3-1)
6’3”, 190, JUNIOR, IRVINE, CA
Matt Leinart earned a spot on this fantasy team as a sophomore. Perhaps that portends more down-the-road honors for Brennan, a teammate of Leinart in high school. The UH “O” led the nation in touchdowns, total offense, and yards per snap – leading all three categories by a substantial margin.
RB, P.J. HILL, WISCONSIN (8-2-1)
5’11”, 242, FRESHMAN, EAST ELMHURST, NY
Hill even looks like Jerome Bettis, with whom he shares a similar physique and running style. One week after sustaining an injury vs. Illinois, he bulled his way to 148 yards vs. Penn State. The Badgers’ triumphed 13-3 in the role of a 7-point favorite.
RB MIKE GOODSON, TEXAS A & M (8-2-1)
6’0”, 192, FRESHMAN, KLEIN, TX
Overshadowed by battering ram Jorvorskie Lane, Goodson had a statistically superior season. The blue-chip rookie caught our attention when he ran 64 yards to paydirt in the waning stage of the match with Baylor. Some would call that an insurance touchdown, but the Aggies needed that score to cover the spot.
WR JARETT DILLARD, RICE (9-3)
5’11”, 165, SOPH, SAN ANTONIO, TX
The national leader in TD catches, the prolific Dillard was Mr. Clutch. He tallied the winning touchdown in the double-OT thriller at Tulsa. For encores, he scored game-winning touchdowns in mild upsets of Alabama-Birmingham and SMU.
WR KEENAN BURTON, KENTUCKY (6-4-1)
6’2”, 195, JUNIOR, LOUISVILLE, KY
After two injury-plagued seasons, the acrobatic Burton displayed the form he flashed as a true freshman. Sixth in the nation in all-purpose yards, he scored two touchdowns at Mississippi State and set up two more with long kickoff returns. The Wildcats had difficulty sustaining drives, but escaped with a 34-31 victory as a 1-point favorite.
TE BRENT CELEK, CINCINNATI (6-3-2)
6’4”, 260, SENIOR, CINCINNATI, OH
Delete his 83-yard romp vs. shell-shocked Rutgers and Celek still averaged 12.6 yards per catch, an impressive figure for a man his size. He made significant catches at Virginia Tech and Louisville, both solid covers for the hard-nosed Bearcats.
OL DALLAS REYNOLDS, BYU (9-2-1)
6’5”, 328, SOPH, PROVO, UT
Three games into the season, the Cougars lost veteran LT Eddie Keele to an injury. Upholding the family tradition, Reynolds filled the breach. From that point on, the Cougars were undefeated, covering the spot in seven of nine opportunities.
OL MICHAEL AITCHESON, KENTUCKY
6’3”, 300, SENIOR, MIAMI, FL
Aitcheson played every position in the offensive trench with the exception of center. A licensed minister with a degree in social work, he was voted the team’s most inspirational player. His highlight play was a nifty cut-block of a Florida defender that occurred after his helmet was ripped off.
OL KURT QUARTERMAN, LOUISVILLE (7-4)
6’5”, 348, SENIOR, ALBANY, GA
The glue of an OL that lost two all-league picks, Quarterman softened up Temple with the fourth rushing touchdown of his career.
OL LUTE BARBER, RICE
6’7”, 280, JUNIOR, LUBBOCK, TX
An interception in the waning seconds seemingly foiled a Rice rally vs. UAB, but the interception-maker lost the handle and Barber pounced on his fumble. Given a reprieve, the underdog Owls rewarded their backers in the form of a mild upset.
C JON COOPER, OKLAHOMA (10-3)
6’2”, 285, SOPH, FORT COLLINS, CO
Although short on experience, Cooper came back from a broken leg to become the stabilizing force of an OL that depended heavily on first-year starters. With Adrian Peterson, the Sooners averaged 155 rushing yards per game. Without him, they averaged 197.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK BRIAN JACKSON, BALL STATE (8-3)
5’7”, 183, SENIOR, DOTHAN, AL
Jackson converted 17 of his 19 FG attempts. His two longest – covering 50 and 52 yards – were keys to pointspread covers. Did anyone else notice that the Cardinals were highly competitive in three games vs. Big 10 opponents?
P RYAN DOUGHERTY, EAST CAROLINA (10-2)
6’1”, 232, SENIOR, ORLANDO, FL
Fifth nationally among active players in career punting yards, Dougherty set a career high with a 72-yard boot vs. Virginia and then iced the game with his first touchdown, a short run off a fake FG. The Pirates prevailed by “10” as a 6-point favorite.
KR SAMMIE STROUGTER, OREGON STATE (7-5)
6’0”, 183, JUNIOR, SACRAMENTO, CA
One of four players to top 1200 yards in receptions, Stroughter tied a school record with three touchdowns on punt returns. His 70-yarder vs. Southern Cal put the Trojans in a deeper hole.
COACH
SKIP HOLTZ, EAST CAROLINA
We’ve knocked his dad (a highly overrated coach who had the audacity to write two biographies), but we can’t knock Skip, a peachy-keen fellow. Working with mediocre talent, Holtz is 18-5 ATS in two seasons at East Carolina.
written by Arne K. Lang
--EOG
