Tim Hiller: How Good Is This Guy?

With the college football season approaching, I wanted to take the time to talk about the MAC, the Mid-American Conference for those of you who have never heard of it. You see, the MAC never gets the attention it deserves. Yes, it is a conference with smaller schools, but, it continuously develops players who seem to have success in the NFL. This year, the player to watch in the MAC is Western Michigan Quarterback, senior Tim Hiller.

Tim Hiller is a fourth year starter and he has consistently put out impressive numbers. In his freshman year he threw for 1334 yards, but he has improved each year. As a sophomore he threw for 3021 yards, and as a junior 3725. In just three years he has thrown for 8080 yards and 76 touchdowns. Along with these impressive accomplishments he was named the Michigan College Athlete of the Year last year.

Depending on how Hiller performs in his senior season, I believe he will be drafted, and if he can get Western ranked in the top 15, he could be a Heisman finalist.

Hiller is an incredible player all around. If football was Greek mythology, you could compare him to Hercules. He is always there for his team, he is a strong leader, and he is consistently working hard to improve his game. For this, I commend him and look up to him as a role model.

The MAC Conference never gets enough attention, however, with a few glimpses of greatness, it could turn into something special. Hopefully, this year there will be a tight race for the MAC championship between Western Michigan, Central Michigan, and Ball State. I look forward to seeing how this season plays out.

For Every King there is an Heir

One of the most important, honorable, and toughest positions to play in football is quarterback, the leader of the offense. They call the plays in the huddle and being each offensive play. During the 1980's and 90's, the San Francisco 49ers were privileged to have two superstar quarterbacks; Joe Montana and Steve Young. Each of these players shared similar qualities. They both attended religiously oriented universities, played for the same NFL team, together for a while, and they both prospered in their retirements. Although these men had many similarities, their playing styles, college and NFL careers, and retirements have been unparallel.

At age 18, an auspicious Joe Montana graduated from High School. In the fall of 1974, Montana made his way onto the Notre Dame campus really to play some football. However, his plans were soon cut short when he was listed as seventh string on the depth chart. Throughout his whole freshman year, Montana played on the practice squad and prepared the real defense for their next game. Then, after a coaching change in 1975, Montana finally got his first start as a sophomore when the first and second strings went down with season ending injuries. Throughout the course of his sophomore and junior seasons Montana led his school to victory. He brought his team back on game winning touchdown drives many times and in 1977 he brought Notre Dame a National Championship. Montana graduated in 1978 with a degree in Business Administration.

As a senior in high school, Steve Young had already made a name for himself on the national stage. He was heavily recruited by schools such as North Carolina, Miami, and Nebraska for his unorthodox running style which at the time had not been seen from a quarterback. However, when Young made his final decision on where to go, he decided to attend Brigham Young University (BYU). As a freshman in 1980, Young was immediately the starter. At first, he struggled with passing, but his quickness and stellar scrambling ability kept his team in the games. Over the next two seasons, Young's passing ability improved and in his senior season he threw for an NCAA record 3,902 yards and 33 touchdowns, making him a Heisman Trophy Finalist, however he didn't win and finished as the runner up. Young graduated in 1985 with a degree in Law.

Although Young and Montana took different paths to college stardom, they still had very similar experience during their collegiate years. Both of these young men attended religious oriented universities; Montana went to Notre Dame, a Roman Catholic school, and Young went to BYU, a Mormon school. Each of these men had to attend church on a regular basis. Religion played a very important role in their college experiences. Along with religion their football experiences ended the same way. Neither of these men left college early for the pros, yet they both continued on to play in the NFL.

Joe Montana was drafted by the San Fransisco 49ers in the 3rd round, 82nd overall, in 1979. During Montana's first two seasons in the league he was the second string quarterback, however, he finally made his starting debut in 1981. For his first two years as a starter Montana led his team to the playoffs, however, the 49ers were never able to get past the NFC Championship game. The tide changed in 1983 however when the 49ers broke their losing streak and made it to the Superbowl in Detroit where they faced the Cincinnati Bengals. With little time left in the game, the 49ers were trailing by six points. Starting from his own 20 yard line, Montana led a 80 yard drive capped off by a last second touchdown pass to win the game. Today, this play is known as "the catch." Montana would go on to win one more Superbowl against the Miami Dolphins. Following this game Montana's career took a turn for the worse. He became plagued by injuries, and when the 49ers acquired Steve Young from Tampa Bay it became obvious that Montana's career was coming to a conclusion. Montana was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993, and he retired in 1995.

Instead of going pro, in 1984, right after college, Steve Young signed a record 10-year, $40 million contract with the Los Angeles Express of the now-defunct United States Football League. However, the team went bankrupt in Young's second season and the team shut down. After this, Young was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He immediately started for them, but he did not play well. In his career there he was 3-16 as a starter and he threw for 11 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. The Bucs then selected Vinny Testaverde in the following years draft, so Young was traded to the 49ers for two draft picks. Steve Young played behind Montana his first several years, but shone as a backup. Subbing for an injured Montana early in the first quarter of a 1987 game against the Chicago Bears, he threw 4 touchdown passes in a 41–0 victory, and thus, his hall of fame career began. Young began to start for the 49ers in 1991 when Montana was injured in the '90 playoffs. In the 1994 season, Young finally took the 49ers back to the Superbowl where they defeated the San Diego Chargers 49-26. Young was named Superbowl MVP. In Young's later years, he was plagued by concussions. The 1999 season would turn out to be Young's last. During a Monday Night Football game Young was violently sacked by a Arizona Cardinals conerback. It would turn out to be the last play of Young's career.Montana and Young were both stellar football players. They both won game after game for their team and eventually took them to the top with a Superbowl victory. Today, both of these men are in the Hall of Fame and they should be. Young was Montana's protege. Young learned everything from Montana while playing behind him for several years. They had similar playing styles and were great leaders. For every king there is an heir and Montana is the King and Young is the Heir.

It Is Possible

Unlike most kids who go to my school I like to listen to sports talk raido when I'm driving instead of music. However, over the last few weeks it has become obvious that with all the drama going on with the Lions that most of the people who call in are complete morons. Seriously, I just cant stand some of these idiots who call in and say some of dumbest stuff ever.

Last week, I was driving down 13 mile road on my way home from school listening to my favorite station, 97.1 The Ticket. They were talking about the Lions. As I was listening to an intelligent conversation when a man called in talking about how the Lions didn't really need a quarterback; when I heard this my I.Q. dropped by at least 40 points. I swear to god I wanted to call in myself and say "Have you ever seen a Lions game you dumb son of a b****?"
Now, with the draft approaching next month the Detroit Lions need to be careful with every single decesion they make. The first thing they need to do is make an effort to try and trade for Jay Cutler. With all the drama taking place in Denver odds are that becasue Cutler wants out of there so badly that they will eventually have to get rid of him. It would be smart for the Lions to do this because if they were able to get him, they could trade the top pick and get an offensive lineman.
Second, if the Lions were not able to get Cutler, the obvious thing to do would be to draft Matt Stafford out of Georgia. He is a better passer than USC's Mark Sanchez. Even though Stafford is not the most accurate person in the world he has a rocket launcher for an arm. For weeks now ESPN analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay have debated about what the Lions will do with the number one pick. I do believe that the Lions should take Stafford because there really isn't anyone else to take. Yes, the Lions have a large amount of holes to fill on the offense and defense but the biggest open gap on the team is at quarterback. The quarterback is the team leader. They call plays and begin them, and without a strong leader at quarterback, it is impossible to win. I believe that with Stafford, or Cutler if possible, can be that leader who turns this team around.

Third, the Lions really need to improve thier offensive line. If they ever want to be a playoff contender they cannot give up sack after sack after sack. For the past several years they have led the league in this category.
The Lions are my team and I hate to see them lose. After going 0-16 last year, this year will be a rebuilding year, however a turn around is possible. Two years ago with the absence of a good quarterback the Miami Dolphins went 1-15, but one year later, Chad Pennington came in a led them to a 11-5 record and he was the runner up for NFL MVP. This year, the Detroit Lions are almost in the exact same situation. They have decent wide recievers, a defense that with support from the offense can keep the team in games, and they have a running back who with an improve offensive line can run past defenders. Don't forget that Miami drafted Chad Henne last year and then got Pennington from the New York Jets. Maybe the Lions can learn from another team and do the same thing. Trade for a veteran quarterback. There a few good ones still on the market. Hopefully the Lions can follow Miami's footsteps and have a turn around season. It is possible.

The Big Game

The Superbowl is this weekend. Arizona will play Pittsburgh, not that you didn't already know. However, I believe, that outside of Arizona and Pittsburgh, this has been the least hyped Superbowl in my lifetime. I can't seem to figure out what it is. Over years past, during the week leading up to the game, I seem to remember constant breakdowns of the match up on ESPN and constant in depth scouting reports on the Internet. Yes all this is still there, but I feel like there has been more hype surrounding the NFL draft than there has been the Superbowl.

Over the past week, during my time on ESPN.com and CBSsportsline.com, I keep seeing all the links to mock NFL Draft results. What? already? The Superbowl hasn't even taken place yet and we are already looking at the Draft? is all I can think when I see this. I don't know what it is like outside of Detroit, but everywhere I go here it seems that the big question on every ones mind is who are the Lions going to take with the first overall pick of the draft. So called expert analysts have already made their choices, but what qualifies them as an expert? Is it all the research they did during the college football regular season. What research can you do? Most of the information about a player entering the draft comes from the NFL combine, which doesn't take place until Feb. 18, so in that sense, Mel Kiper can take his "expert pick" and put it up his butt.

So, with all the attention placed on the draft, I would like to take sometime away from that, if you don't mind Kiper, to dissect the Superbowl. Star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and the Arizona Cardinals have made it to their first Superbowl ever. You see Detroit, it is possible. Unlike the Lions however, Arizona has made good decisions in the off season to sign decent free agents and pick good players in the draft. The likes of the next Terrell Owens, Aquan Boldin, and the man who has broken all of Jerry Rice's postseason records, Fitzgerald. Kurt Warner isn't that bad of a quarterback either. The offensive line is somewhat decent, and former Michigan Wolverine Steve Breston, although I prefer the Spartans to the Wolverines, is a pretty well rounded return man.

Then there is Pittsburgh, the team that won the Superbowl three years ago in Detroit. Led by Big Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers were 12-4 during the regular season and won the AFC North. Another set of Wolverines, Larry Foote and LaMarr Woodley lead the defence along with star safety Troy Polamalu. Wille Parker and Hines Ward are back healthy and are set to play and tight end Heath Miller has had a decent season himself.

So, who will win the big game. Well in my opinion, I'd like to see Arizona win as the fan of the Lions, a team that loses every week. I mean, if someone said that your team should play all their games on Comedy Central next season you probably would to. But who really cares who wins the Superbowl, isn't it all about the commercials anyways?

Detroit's Lions

Well, the Lions have hired a new head coach. Jim Schwartz is his name. Ever heard of him? I sure haven't, and I am one of those fans, ya know, the ones who follow every little aspect of the game. Well, Schwartz was hired on Jan. 16. He served as Tennessee Titan's defensive coordinatior from 2001-2008, and last year he had the best defence in the NFL.

All these are great accomplishments for him, however, did William Clay Ford and the 0-16 Lions make the right call? The answer is no.

Yes, Schwartz will probably make a great head coach for the Lions, however, there was a pool of much better bait out there for hire. Mike Shanahan, for example, was recently fired by the Denver Broncos. He would have been the best choice. He lead the Broncos to back to back Superbowl wins with a quarterback by the name of John Elway. Remember him? He was good wasn't he. If the Lions had hired Shanahan he could have turned Drew Stanton or who ever the Lions draft into a all pro quarterback. Also Bill Cower, who three years ago, led the Steelers to a Superbowl victory wants to come back and coach.

The Lions continue to surprise me. They make mistake after mistake. They drafted a quarterback and three wide receivers in the past 8 years, and not a single one of them is still on the team. They didn't fire Matt Millen until three years after he should have been.

Although the Lions suck and probably will forever, it is appalling that Shannon Sharpe would, on air, not just insult the Lions, but also the city of Detroit by wearing a paper bag over his head and saying that the Thanksgiving tradition should be taken away from us.

The city of Detroit is in shambles right now, but it will come back. Columnist Mitch Albom recently wrote in Sports Illustrated that its not a question of will Detroit comeback, but when.
I took what he said and applied it to the Lions. You see. in a lot of ways, Detroit and the Lions are the same. They each have or had a leader who, is terrible at what they do, Kwame Kilpatrick and William Clay Ford. They both are in shambles and need major reconstruction, Detroit, with the streets and buildings, and the Lions with coaches and players. And they also both are in danger of collapse. The Lions were blacked out over 12 times this season, and Detroit's economy and unemployment rate are a result of the collapsing of the auto industry.

So, the Lions did actually take a step in the right direction. They hired a coach who has done some good, and while there were better options out their, Schwartz will make a good head coach. Detroit, well, with the upcoming mayoral election, hopefullly the people of Detroit can learn something from the Lions, and take a step in the right direction themselves.