Gradowski Co-MVP?

h2oville rocket · Post by **h2oville rocket** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 10:14 am

On the NIU board someone mentioned that coaches nominate players for this award, one per team, usually a senior. I don't know but apparantly Sam Hurd was NIU's nominee, hence Wolfe not getting votes. Hurd did get votes so I have to give that some credence although I'm too lazy to look it up.

rc_ziggy84 · Post by **rc_ziggy84** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 1:22 pm

If it were me I would have given it to Jennings, with Wolfe as a second choice. Without Jennings, WMU would not have come close to having the successes they did this year. That is what makes a player valuable. Gradkowski is a decent player, but he's surrounded by some talent that makes him look better than he is. Jennings was more or less alone up there at WMU and led or at least was leading the nation in receiving this year. The MVP should be his straight-up. IMO it sucks for him that he has to share with Gradkowki

h2oville rocket · Post by **h2oville rocket** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 2:23 pm

cowboyjoe wrote:Player of the year is player of this year...2005 not what anyone did the last 2 or 3 years. Who is the best player in the league? Maybe Mel Kiper could tell us who should be the player of the year. And BGSU33 the pass at the end of the Central Michigan game by Gradowski was not a dropped pass. It was overthrown--Nick Moore could only get a finger on it...watch it again. spike it. Gradowski's post game quote was "It's tough. Football is a game of inches. If I give Nick a better ball, he pulls it in and the game is over." He choked it just like he choked against Northern Illinois at home. Player of the year winners win those games and make those passes.

Actually we don't call that choking, we call it class. Maybe leadership-the pass wasn't perfect but it was certainly catchable. Classy leaders take responsibility and don't pass out blame in public.

TJRocket · Post by **TJRocket** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 3:34 pm

h2oville rocket wrote:
cowboyjoe wrote:Player of the year is player of this year...2005 not what anyone did the last 2 or 3 years. Who is the best player in the league? Maybe Mel Kiper could tell us who should be the player of the year. And BGSU33 the pass at the end of the Central Michigan game by Gradowski was not a dropped pass. It was overthrown--Nick Moore could only get a finger on it...watch it again. spike it. Gradowski's post game quote was "It's tough. Football is a game of inches. If I give Nick a better ball, he pulls it in and the game is over." He choked it just like he choked against Northern Illinois at home. Player of the year winners win those games and make those passes.
Actually we don't call that choking, we call it class. Maybe leadership-the pass wasn't perfect but it was certainly catchable. Classy leaders take responsibility and don't pass out blame in public.

I suppose Bruce should just blame over-inflated balls next time.

44 - 41

rocketfootball · Post by **rocketfootball** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 3:59 pm

Something to keep in mind is that the award is for the MVP, not the best player. The best offensive player was Greg Jennings and I don't think Gradkowski got very many votes for that award. I seem to remember Jennings getting most of the votes for Offensive Player of the Year and Wolfe was 2nd, I believe.

MVP is so much more than stats and talent. MVP also includes leadership abilities, heart, toughness, and the ability to find a way to win games. Gradkowski didn't find a way to beat NIU on November 16th, but you can't really blame him for that loss. Same thing at CMU. So many dropped balls in that game and even though the pass at the end was a little high it should have been caught.

Gradkowski did find a way to lead his team to a big victory on the road against Bowling Green in a game that his team fell behind with 5 minutes to play in the 4th quarter. He also found a way to lead Toledo to victories in many other games that were very close early one....like Ohio, Buffalo, and Ball State.

Gradkowski is viewed as a great leader and that is probably why he has gained so much respect by the people that voted on this award.

rocketfootball · Post by **rocketfootball** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 4:01 pm

cowboyjoe wrote:Player of the year is player of this year...2005 not what anyone did the last 2 or 3 years. Who is the best player in the league? Maybe Mel Kiper could tell us who should be the player of the year. And BGSU33 the pass at the end of the Central Michigan game by Gradowski was not a dropped pass. It was overthrown--Nick Moore could only get a finger on it...watch it again. spike it. Gradowski's post game quote was "It's tough. Football is a game of inches. If I give Nick a better ball, he pulls it in and the game is over." He choked it just like he choked against Northern Illinois at home. Player of the year winners win those games and make those passes.

CowboyJoe - the Vern Smith Award is not for player of the year, it is for Most Valuable Player. Player of the Year awards were won by Greg Jennings on offense and Baubin (CMU) on defense.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:18 pm

I don't have a problem with Gradkowski but I would have voted for Jennings or Wolfe.

Hard to say Gradkowski wasn't deserving, though. I, for one, am glad we don't have to face him again. His leadership skills and confidence are great. He can will his team to a win just like Josh Harris did.

Redwingtom · Post by **Redwingtom** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:51 pm

TJRocket wrote:
h2oville rocket wrote:
cowboyjoe wrote:Player of the year is player of this year...2005 not what anyone did the last 2 or 3 years. Who is the best player in the league? Maybe Mel Kiper could tell us who should be the player of the year. And BGSU33 the pass at the end of the Central Michigan game by Gradowski was not a dropped pass. It was overthrown--Nick Moore could only get a finger on it...watch it again. spike it. Gradowski's post game quote was "It's tough. Football is a game of inches. If I give Nick a better ball, he pulls it in and the game is over." He choked it just like he choked against Northern Illinois at home. Player of the year winners win those games and make those passes.
Actually we don't call that choking, we call it class. Maybe leadership-the pass wasn't perfect but it was certainly catchable. Classy leaders take responsibility and don't pass out blame in public.
I suppose Bruce should just blame over-inflated balls next time.

44 - 41

WHY CAN'T YOU TOLEDO MORONS EVER LET ANYTHING GO...FOR CRIPES SAKE!!!!

transfer2BGSU · Post by **transfer2BGSU** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 6:21 pm

RWT - We obviously did not put enough water down on the field. I'll just have to double my donation to the Athletic Department next year.

BGSU33 · Post by **BGSU33** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:01 pm

cowboyjoe wrote:And BGSU33 the pass at the end of the Central Michigan game by Gradowski was not a dropped pass. It was overthrown--Nick Moore could only get a finger on it...watch it again. spike it. Gradowski's post game quote was "It's tough. Football is a game of inches. If I give Nick a better ball, he pulls it in and the game is over." He choked it just like he choked against Northern Illinois at home. Player of the year winners win those games and make those passes.

I did see the play, and the ball was certainly catchable, and should have been caught.