Omar Jacobs listed in USA Today for Top-5 for Heisman in '05

Buddy Urban Larranaga · Fri Jan 07, 2005 11:44 pm

If you guys want to continue to curse Omar Jacobs, start touting him as our great Heisman hopeful.

It really worked for Ben Roethlisberger. Anybody remember that?

Roethlisberger and Miami go into Iowa, even the announcers were talking about how he was a Heisman hopeful. Miami gets smashed on national television and Roethlisberger throws four interceptions.

Everyone quit talking about his Heisman chances and then he went out and won his final 13 games.

Jacobs has Wisconsin, Boise State, and the MAC ... that's enough pressure as it is. Let's take it one game at a time and hope for an outright MAC title. I don't expect Jacobs to put up the same numbers as he did last season, but I do expect him to win. That's what it's really all about.

Lay off the sauce fellas.

bgsuarkie · Post by **bgsuarkie** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 11:51 pm

If I have learned one thing about Omar Jacobs this season, it's the fact that he thrives under pressure. I mean for crying out loud, his first game was against the #2 team in the country in Norman, Oklahoma. He had tremendous pressure nationwide after following such a tremendous quarterback in Josh Harris.

Most people in the country (not including bowling green faithful's like ourselves of course) believed Bowling Green was taking a step back with Jacobs replacing Harris. He had a lot of pressure and some enormous shoes to fill, and exceeded expectations. What's to say he can't thrive under pressure again?

To be honest with you, I can't name one single player I would rather have at quarterback for us. He is young, yet mature, and is perfect for our system.

There's nothing wrong with having some high expectations. It's not like we're going to turn our backs on him if he doesn't finish top 5 in heisman voting. We're proud of him no matter what, but I see nothing wrong with campaigning for him.

James

Buddy Urban Larranaga · Sat Jan 08, 2005 12:05 am

Okay, yes he is good under pressure.

You're still going to curse him.

Bleeding Orange · Post by **Bleeding Orange** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 12:06 am

Buddy Urban Larranaga wrote:If you guys want to continue to curse Omar Jacobs, start touting him as our great Heisman hopeful.

It really worked for Ben Roethlisberger. Anybody remember that?

Roethlisberger and Miami go into Iowa, even the announcers were talking about how he was a Heisman hopeful. Miami gets smashed on national television and Roethlisberger throws four interceptions.

Everyone quit talking about his Heisman chances and then he went out and won his final 13 games.

Jacobs has Wisconsin, Boise State, and the MAC ... that's enough pressure as it is. Let's take it one game at a time and hope for an outright MAC title. I don't expect Jacobs to put up the same numbers as he did last season, but I do expect him to win. That's what it's really all about.

Lay off the sauce fellas.

Dude, you aren't serious, are you? Jacobs is going to be under pressure no matter what we say around here or anywhere else, for that matter. Fact is he put up some of the best numbers in the history of sophomore quarterbacks, and the media is going to be expecting big things out of him next year. I can't really say I fault them for that, either. Omar is a tough kid and he can handle it. We can buy as many billboards in Times Square and start as many websites as we want, but the media will be, and already is expecting more. It takes a lot for Omar, a MAC quarterback, to even be ranked with the likes of Leinart and Young who come from HUUUGE football programs. That basically says it all.

Oh, Rothlesberger wasn't cursed by his Heisman hype. He simply had a bad game and paid for it in his Heisman chances. Thats no curse, sir, thats running into a solid Hawkeye team. Fortunately, the 2005 Badger defense won't even compare to the 2003 Hawkeye defense.

manager · Post by **manager** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 8:02 am

If OMAR wasn't under pressure this year I don't know when he will be.

I understand they underplayed things and most fans were leary of how he could follow J5 to keep BG on the move. But I think Omar put pressure on himself and knew where he stood. I also suspect we can give J5 a lot of credit for helping Omar out while he was waiting in the wings. I think he's the kind of young man who thrives on the pressure and I think we as fans just need to sit back and enjoy. Yes, he'll have a bad day now and then -- he is human (at least a bit). On those days we just need to know the sun will come up the next morning.

FALCON FLIER · Post by **FALCON FLIER** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 8:41 am

I wondered if someone could answer this for me. What were the star ratings from the recruiting services for the following players coming out of high school.

Omar Jacobs
Steve Sanders
Charles Sharon
Cole Magner

The reason I ask is that all of these players have becme outstanding players at BG and IMO could start for most if not any team in the country. But I doubt if any of them were rated higher than a 3 star recruit . Unless these rating services are pretty lousy (and they probably are) the coaching these kids get at BG must be outstanding. I heard a former Ohio State player (I don't recall the name), after the BG game last year, say the difference in skill level between Bowling Green and Ohio State starting players is so small that unless Ohio State plays with intensity the entire game, a team like BG can beat them. I thought that was very interesting especially coming from a former Ohio State player. BG never. to my memory has never signed anyone over a 3-star and I dount if OSU signs many who are less than a 3-star recruit.
When I see so many of the top BCS teams that have quarterbacks who cannot throw the football I am amazed that Omar slipped past them and ended up at BG. Imagine, going from being offerred by BG, Buffalo and Florida Atlantic only to a top 5 Heisman candidate. Like a line from an Art Garfunkel song says "finding....a diamond in a five and ten cent store."

FALCON FLIER · Post by **FALCON FLIER** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 8:43 am

I wondered if someone could answer this for me. What were the star ratings from the recruiting services for the following players coming out of high school.

Omar Jacobs
Steve Sanders
Charles Sharon
Cole Magner

The reason I ask is that all of these players have becme outstanding players at BG and IMO could start for most if not any team in the country. But I doubt if any of them were rated higher than a 3 star recruit . Unless these rating services are pretty lousy (and they probably are) the coaching these kids get at BG must be outstanding. I heard a former Ohio State player (I don't recall the name), after the BG game last year, say the difference in skill level between Bowling Green and Ohio State starting players is so small that unless Ohio State plays with intensity the entire game, a team like BG can beat them. I thought that was very interesting especially coming from a former Ohio State player. BG never. to my memory has never signed anyone over a 3-star and I dount if OSU signs many who are less than a 3-star recruit.
When I see so many of the top BCS teams that have quarterbacks who cannot throw the football I am amazed that Omar slipped past them and ended up at BG. Imagine, going from being offerred by BG, Buffalo and Florida Atlantic only to a top 5 Heisman candidate. Like a line from an Art Garfunkel song says "finding....a diamond in a five and ten cent store."

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 9:50 am

TG1996 wrote:Beat Boise State and the table is set. (No matter how much 1987alum warns us about Temple! )

I get the point.

But don't forget I was also the one who cautioned about the Toodaleedoo game when a lot of folks were talking about hanging 70 on them and winning by a few touchdowns.

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 10:24 am

Omar was a ** star. The others weren't even on the radar and didn't carry a ranking. That's the problem with services like Rivals. They do a really bad job of tracking mid major prospects. They also rely solely on the kids, parents and the HS coaches for info. (NCAA rules prohibit college coaches from commenting on recruits until they sign) As a result, kids can claim offers from all kinds of schools that have barely expressed interest in them

That can confuse things quite a bit....

ham0331 · Post by **ham0331** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 11:05 am

I feel that Omar's most realistic chance at the Heisman is to have two more years like the past one. If that happens it would be very difficult to pass him by. Omar's chances will also be enhanced with a few wins over the "high profile teams" on our schedule as the media never seems to feel that MAC games count.

Also, Ed Marinaro won the Heisman didn't he? When was that, 70's? He was from Colgate, I believe. Then again, maybe Cornell--I always get those two mixed up.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 11:18 am

1987alum wrote: I get the point.

But don't forget I was also the one who cautioned about the Toodaleedoo game when a lot of folks were talking about hanging 70 on them and winning by a few touchdowns.

Just messin with ya.

I just remember wondering if you knew something we all didn't about what the Owls were bringing to the table, and before I knew it we're up 30.

And I don't remember playing Toledo this year. Did we play Toledo this year? Hmmm... my mind seems to have gone blank.

And ham0331... Marinaro finished 2nd in 1971, and was from Cornell.

FalkinCruiser · Post by **FalkinCruiser** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 12:01 pm

When BG beats Boise State AND Wisconsin, then there will be some real consideration for Omar and the little dude with his hand up. I know it is a long shot - but these two wins against quality teams will boost his stock into the top 5 players in the country. The numbers still have to be astronomical (like this year) to keep the attention - then the wins help.

Jacobs4Heisman

out
FalkinCruiser

transfer2BGSU · Post by **transfer2BGSU** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 12:45 pm

Flipper wrote:... kids can claim offers from all kinds of schools that have barely expressed interest in them

When I worked at a D-III school in North Carolina, I had a kid tell me in late May that he had been contacted by the coach at NC State and was waiting on an offer. When I asked him when he had talked to the NC State coach, he stated "in January".

Dayons_Den · Post by **Dayons_Den** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 2:23 pm

Here you go falcon cruiser: (feel free to use the avatar. . .)

bgfanwisc · Post by **bgfanwisc** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 4:16 pm

I want to make it clear that I do not think our offense is gimmicky. I feel, however, that when a smaller school puts up huge offensive numbers, they will always face the misconception that it is a gimmicky offense solely because it isn't "pro style." Also, your point about Alex Smith only helps mine. He had great numbers and was a Heisman finalist on an undefeated team, but he was not even close to winning.