| | The race for the Heisman Trophy is heating up, but it is still a little early and too many games lie ahead to hand out the trophy right now, says ESPN's Mike Tirico.
The college football commentator and NFL studio host, compared Michael Vick and Drew Brees, two of the leading Heisman candidates. He also looked around the NFL Week 7 and answered the most persistent question surrounding the league -- 'Can anyone stop the Rams.'
If you missed Tirico's Oct. 16 chat, an edited transcript follows:
Michigander: Who will win the Big Ten?
Mike Tirico: The Big Ten would like to know that too.
I still think Michigan has the best shot because Ohio State still has some tough games. I was
impressed by the way Michigan bounced back this weekend, it was the most impressive win in the
conference this year.
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Tue, May
2
Mike Tirico hosts ESPN's Monday Night Countdown, a weekly
two-hour program featuring NFL news, discussion, interviews and
features. He also hosts halftimes and cut-ins during the network's college
football games, and co-hosts the NFL on ESPN Radio, providing
day-long NFL news, updates and interviews Sundays throughout the
season from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. In addition, he occasionally anchors
SportsCenter and golf coverage.
Since joining ESPN in July 1991, he has reported from the Super Bowl,
the NCAA Final Four, and the NFL Draft for both television and radio.
Prior to joining ESPN, Tirico worked in Syracuse, N.Y., from 1987 to
1991. He was sports director at CBS affiliate WTVH-TV where he
covered the NCAA Basketball Tournament, U.S. Open golf, the
Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and the Sugar Bowl. At
WKFM/WFBL-AM he provided morning drive sports commentary and
hosted a live sports talk show, while at the Super Sports Network of
Cook CableVision he was play-by-play voice for Syracuse University
basketball, football, lacrosse and volleyball.
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Chauncey: What's up with the Patriots? Do they have any chance of turning their season around?
Mike Tirico:
Not unless they can draft some offensive linemen in the middle of the season. If they can't keep
Bledsoe upright, there is too much pressure on him and success is impossible.
Hokie High: Neb-Okla winner vs. VT-Miami winner in the title game? Agree or disagree?
Mike Tirico:
No. There are too many twists in the road in addition to those games. Nebraska still has the
K-State game. If Nebraska or Oklahoma go undefeated, they still have to win the conference
championship game in Kansas City, at night -- not easy.
Nebraska, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech and Clemson control their own destiny.
Jon: What do you think about Doug Flutie going in for Rob Johnson now that he's hurt?
Mike Tirico:
I think Flutie's role takes on greater significance because Buffalo has struggled on the offensive
line just like New England.
Marty: How can anyone favor Michael Vick over Drew Brees for the Heisman? Brees' numbers are way better, on a
tougher Big Ten schedule. Who's your favorite?
Mike Tirico:
The Big Ten may be more equally balanced but a lot of people are putting up big stats in the Big
Ten which tells you defenses are down this year. Remember, the award doesn't go to the best
stats, but the best player. As a quarterback, Vick is a better player. Right now Brees is a
better quarterback for the next level.
JR: What is up with the San Diego Chargers? They have a different quarterback every week and they can't win
a game. Do you think they will go under some big changes at the end of the season?
Mike Tirico:
I don't think big changes. I think this is another step in their reworking. This is not a good team
and not many felt it was going into the year.
D. Smith: What do you think of the future games in Clemson's schedule? Do you think that Woodrow Danztler
should win the Heisman?
Mike Tirico:
If he can beat Florida State, he certainly goes into the final five or six. That's their key game. But
if they get past that, they still have South Carolina, both teams are tough and it is a big rivalry.
Gawk: Is there any way that the Rams can be stopped this year?
Mike Tirico:
If I knew, I would be immediately hired as a defensive coordinator. I don't think they can be
stopped. They have a difficult test this week on grass against K.C.
Josh An: Is there any chance the Chiefs can be St. Louis this Sunday? If so, how?
Mike Tirico:
Ball control and stopping them. The team that I see beating the Rams is a team that can score
40 points. Kansas City is not that team.
Billy-boy: What stadium would you rather not play in as a visitor?
Mike Tirico:
Arrowhead is the best in the league, Oakland is the nastiest. Buffalo can be a combination of
the two when the team is good.
I don't think the NFC has any intimidating places to play. Maybe the Metrodome because of
the noise, but that is about it.
In college football there are so many. All the obvious ones. Va. Tech is developing into a tough
place to play. Oregon and Miss. State. have also become very tough stadiums. Those are ones
that people don't think of right away, but they are among the toughest.
Most college programs that have had any success in the last ten years are all tough places to
play. It is more across the board in college football then it is in the pros.
Spurr: Is Lee Corso as much of a blast to work with in the booth as he is to listen to at home?
Mike Tirico:
Lee is a laugh a minute. But I've also never been around someone who has a better sense of
what is going to happen in a game or the key moment in the game.
Gawk: What are your feelings about the XFL?
Mike Tirico:
Come February, I have no interest in watching players that were cut from NFL rosters in
August. Quarterbacks in the NFL are mediocre right now, I can't imagine what it is going to be
like in that league. I can't imagine people will want more football in February, especially of
inferior quality.
Dphelps: After all the places you've been, where is your favorite place to cover a sport?
Mike Tirico:
If we limit it to just college football -- I would say the Orange Bowl for the right kind of game
because of the history there.
Snr_fan: I have read all of the stories and articles on ESPN.com. All
I've gathered from your columnists is how Oklahoma isn't a quality team and cannot go up
against the better teams. Well, I look at them like they can take anyone in the country. What is
your perspective on that?
Mike Tirico:
I didn't have that impression. I thought K-State would be tough to beat at home. Oklahoma has
not had many games that would give us the impression they would be able to handle a big road
game. I thought they showed an example of the passing of the guard in college football -- a
passing team can control a game.
I wasn't overly surprised because I thought they would be beat Nebraska. But I didn't see them
jumping out to that big of a lead.
PhiSlam: Can the Titans win the Super Bowl?
Mike Tirico:
Yes, they can. Obviously they came up with a plan to stop the Rams last year. They are more
mature on offense.
My confidence would increase if I could see Steve McNair drive them down at the end of the
game for a winning touchdown. I wouldn't be as afraid of McNair in that situation as I would say,
a veteran like Rich Gannon in that situation.
Vikingjon: What's your take on the Bills-Vikes games this weekend? Could this be the first loss for the
Vikes?
Mike Tirico:
I don't like the way Buffalo played (Sunday). San Diego hit a lot of big pass plays against them. If the
Chargers can do that, the Vikings can do that. I thought the second half of that games was as
big an October game as they have played in the last five years. Simply because if they lose that
game they are 2-4 and I think all hopes of the playoffs go out the window.
Rudy: If Notre Dame runs the table, do they deserve a BCS bid?
Mike Tirico:
I personally don't think so. Their best wins would be over USC and Purdue and I don't know if
that is enough. It all depends on how many of the one-loss teams don't lose again. There are
some very good teams with one loss right now.
What if -- Clemson is 10-1 with a close loss to Florida State and a win over South Carolina
and Va. Tech is 10-1 and a loss to just Miami and K-State is 10-1 with a win over Nebraska
-- I think two of those teams are a better pick for the at-large bids then Notre Dame.
Miguel: Do the 49ers have a chance to make playoffs?
Mike Tirico:
Doubtful.
They are playing better than their record, but simply not a good team right now. They are extraordinarily
young by NFL standards.
Chris Elliott: Do you think the Cardinals and Mariners can come back and win their series?
Mike Tirico:
Yes, I think the Cardinals, with two home games, have a better chance.
It is hard to imagine the Yankees losing two clinching games at home with Hernandez and Andy
Pettitte pitching.
Alan: How good is Daunte Culpepper right now and how good can he be?
Mike Tirico:
He has benefited by having the best talent around him that a young QB could ask for. But we
have not seen the finished product, there is more growth ahead.
Dave: Do you think the Packers will finish with a winning record?
Mike Tirico:
It is going to be tough. Brett Favre's supporting cast is about 60 percent from what it was in their Super
Bowl days. That is a significant drop off.
PhiSlam: Who would be your No. 1 pick in this year's NFL draft?
Mike Tirico:
It all depends on who gets the pick and who comes out.
It is still too early to say. If I ran a West Coast offense, I would say Drew Brees. But if Vick
comes out, that would change your thinking. If your a terrible defensive team, Jamal Reynolds --
DE from Florida State -- could make a difference.
It will be interesting to see what the Bengals do.
Ben Copeland: Who do you think will be playing in SEC championship game in December?
Mike Tirico:
Mississippi State against Florida.
I like Florida in the East because they host South Carolina.
That will wrap it up. I will see you on Monday Night Countdown at 7:30 p.m. ET.
I think Jacksonville will upset Tennessee on Monday Night Football.
Take care and we'll see you next week. | |
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