Foster, Johnson, Sanders named finalists for Payton Award

[gsugt1]

Georgia Southern's Jayson Foster, San Diego's Josh Johnson and Eric Sanders of Northern Iowa are the three finalists. The Payton Award winner will be announced Dec. 13 at the Chattanooga Marriott during the annual Sports Network awards dinner

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=/cfoot2/news/AGN4114600.htm

[danefan]

Congrats to all. Tough choice.

[Purple For Life]

SAH-WEET!!

Please be Sanders, please be Sanders...

[GaSouthern]

Foster, Landslide ;)

[CharlestonAppFan]

Foster, Landslide ;)

I will have to agree with you on this one...xthumbsupx Wow, I think that was a first for me picking GSU :D

[89Hen]

Is a tough one. Of course I am disappointed that Cuff was only fourth. :(

[GannonFan]

Foster wins this easily - who gets to be there with him was always just a formality.

[Barnstormer]

Sanders!! :)

[DetroitFlyer]

Wow, Josh Johnson has it in the bag! Congratulations to all the finalists! It will be nice for Foster and Sanders to be there when JJ wins the award!

[UNIFanSince1983]

If they go by just stats itself then I am sorry, but Sanders isn't going to win it. If they evaluate everything overall he has a great chance. This sounds like a tough one. Of course I am pulling for Sanders to win, but good luck to all the candidates.

[straightshooter]

Too bad Johnson didn't get to show what he could do in the SoCon, CAA or Gateway. Life might have been a little different if he had...

Foster should win this, but you never know. Best of luck to all three. They are all great players.

[Barnstormer]

Don't you have to divide your stats by 2 if you play in the Pioneer?

I kid... I kid.... :)

[ButlerGSU]

The other two are great players but none carried a team in the way Foster did this season.

[HENJOHN]

Wow, all of these guys are great players, but Omar Cuff not even in the top 3? What a joke.

[VT Wildcat Fan53]

From what I saw Saturday (& I know it doesn't count), the choice is SANDERS. Of course, I would have loved to see Santos be one of the top 3, but injuries causing him to miss time and some untimely late season poor team efforts cost him a chance to repeat.

[nmatsen]

If you are not good enough to lead your team at least to a berth in the playoffs then you haven't carried the team that well. Ricky Santos is an example of someone that carries a team. He took them to the post season. Un-fortunately without anyone else he was un-able to carry his team to a playoff victory.

Eric Sanders, no question.

[Purple For Life]

If you are not good enough to lead your team at least to a berth in the playoffs then you haven't carried the team that well. Ricky Santos is an example of someone that carries a team. He took them to the post season. Un-fortunately without anyone else he was un-able to carry his team to a playoff victory.

Eric Sanders, no question.

Plus Eric can really come through in the clutch, as we've all seen, I'm sure.

[Barnstormer]

The other two are great players but none carried a team in the way Foster did this season.

Foster is a stud, no doubt about it.

[FCS Go!]

Nice that Sanders made the final three! I'd have like to seen Cuff instead of Johnson but it seems like a solid three regardless (duh).

[Barnstormer]

Nice that Sanders made the final three! I'd have like to seen Cuff instead of Johnson but it seems like a solid three regardless (duh).

Agreed. I would have stuck Cuff in there too.

Look at it this way.. If they win their next two, Cuff will have a much better reason for being in Chatty during that time. :)

[Syntax Error]

Wow, all of these guys are great players, but Omar Cuff not even in the top 3? What a joke.No, this is a joke:
What do you get when cross a godfather with a lawyer?
An offer you can't understand

[SuperEagle]

If you are not good enough to lead your team at least to a berth in the playoffs then you haven't carried the team that well. Ricky Santos is an example of someone that carries a team. He took them to the post season. Un-fortunately without anyone else he was un-able to carry his team to a playoff victory.

Eric Sanders, no question.
**
What a crazy comment. Are you saying that since GSU didn't make the playoffs that Jayson shouldn't win the award? That he didn't carry the team? So since Arkansas is not one of the top 16 FBS teams, should McFadden not get invited to New York? Did he not carry his team? And then you talk about how Santos carried UNH to the playoffs.
They finished the regular season 7-4 losing 2 of their final 3. I would hardly say he carried them to the playoffs.
Jayson was the best player in the #1 conference in America. He has more rushing yards than any QB has ever had in a season. EVER. No one has ever done what he has.
And we had statistically the worst D we've ever had. Had nothing to do with Foster. He took his team down the field with a chance to win the conference. He did all he could. Unfortunately, our kicker missed a chip shot FG. That's not Foster's fault. Every game we had a chance to win thanks to him.
I think he deserves the award. I hope he gets it.
Congrats to the finalist.

[Mountaineer#96]

Foster will likely win it...... all three are great picks although.

[blueballs]

If you are not good enough to lead your team at least to a berth in the playoffs then you haven't carried the team that well. Ricky Santos is an example of someone that carries a team. He took them to the post season. Un-fortunately without anyone else he was un-able to carry his team to a playoff victory.

Eric Sanders, no question.

I guess Foster should have kicked the potential conference winning 33 yard FG instead of just being the holder.xeyebrowx

Puh-leeeze!!!!!

[Houndawg]

Looks like Nick Hill will have to be satisfied with a national championship. Too bad, the kid is on fire right now.

[USDFAN_55]

I'm of course pulling for JJ. San Diego is going to miss him dearlyxnodx

[Houndawg]

No, this is a joke:
What do you get when cross a godfather with a lawyer?
An offer you can't understand

What happens when lawyers take Viagra?

They get taller.

[Mn_Moose]

From what I saw Saturday (& I know it doesn't count), the choice is SANDERS. Of course, I would have loved to see Santos be one of the top 3, but injuries causing him to miss time and some untimely late season poor team efforts cost him a chance to repeat.

I'm real surprised that Santos isn't in the mix. Won the Payton last year and for FCS to have a two time MVP would mean allot to press.

[USDFAN_55]

I'm real surprised that Santos isn't in the mix. Won the Payton last year and for FCS to have a two time MVP would mean allot to press.

How would that help with publicity? It would look bad if the two time winner didn't get drafted (which is a possibility). I think it would look better if the Payton Award winner was a player drafted (say maybe the 3rd or fourth round:D )

[Syntax Error]

I think it would look better if the Payton Award winner was a player drafted (say maybe the 3rd or fourth round:D )Or doesn't get drafted (which is a possibility).

[Barnstormer]

I guess Foster should have kicked the potential conference winning 33 yard FG instead of just being the holder.xeyebrowx

Puh-leeeze!!!!!

Or maybe led his team to the TD instead? :)

I don't have a problem with Foster winning though. He's very good.

[nmatsen]

**
What a crazy comment. Are you saying that since GSU didn't make the playoffs that Jayson shouldn't win the award? That he didn't carry the team? So since Arkansas is not one of the top 16 FBS teams, should McFadden not get invited to New York? Did he not carry his team? And then you talk about how Santos carried UNH to the playoffs.
They finished the regular season 7-4 losing 2 of their final 3. I would hardly say he carried them to the playoffs.
Jayson was the best player in the #1 conference in America. He has more rushing yards than any QB has ever had in a season. EVER. No one has ever done what he has.
And we had statistically the worst D we've ever had. Had nothing to do with Foster. He took his team down the field with a chance to win the conference. He did all he could. Unfortunately, our kicker missed a chip shot FG. That's not Foster's fault. Every game we had a chance to win thanks to him.
I think he deserves the award. I hope he gets it.
Congrats to the finalist.


No, I think McFadden should get to be a finalist for the Heisman but he shouldn't win it. If he was THAT GOOD his team would be better. No, its not Fosters fault that the kicker missed the field goal, its Foster's fault the kicker had to attempt the field goal. If he was THAT GOOD his team would have had the lead. If you are not going to like the result, don't leave the outcome up to someone else, like a kicker. Eric Sanders doesn't, he marches 71 yards in one minute with no time outs because he is the best QB in the FCS, someone else (the defense) put him in a position where he could have folded, or came up short and needed a kicker to bail him out, or he could be the best and do what he did. You can all disagree, you should think your QB is better than ours. Thats what being a message board homer is all about.

[straightshooter]

Actually Foster was injured after racing to a first down on fourth and seven to keep the drive alive that got GSU in position for the FG. Hatcher called plays for the RB with Foster hurt to get the ball in position for what should have been an easy FG, the win, the conference championship and the conference auto bid.

Foster shouldn't have even been on the field the last minute of that game, but he was. His hold was perfect. The kick went over the upright and was called missed. Without his heroics on fourth down, we don't even get the shot at the FG.

[Jerbearasu]

If he was THAT GOOD his team would be better. No, its not Fosters fault that the kicker missed the field goal, its Foster's fault the kicker had to attempt the field goal. If he was THAT GOOD his team would have had the lead.

I think all can agree that Sanders has more overall talent around him though than Foster was given. Foster was that good and he made his team that much better. A GSU team without Foster is 4-7 or 5-6 at best. A UNI team without Sanders is still one of the Top 4 teams this year in the FCS... Foster carried that team hands down.

There was a statement that Foster shouldn't be in the running bc his team didn't make the playoffs but it should be Santos instead bc his team was in the show... That is a joke especially since many think the committee screwed Ga Southern out of the playoffs and had UNH in there instead. I am not saying that UNH is a bad team, they proved their worth this weekend in the UNI dome but Foster wasn't given the chance to show his stuff and I think he would have been equally impressive....

[SuperEagle]

No, I think McFadden should get to be a finalist for the Heisman but he shouldn't win it. If he was THAT GOOD his team would be better. No, its not Fosters fault that the kicker missed the field goal, its Foster's fault the kicker had to attempt the field goal. If he was THAT GOOD his team would have had the lead. If you are not going to like the result, don't leave the outcome up to someone else, like a kicker. Eric Sanders doesn't, he marches 71 yards in one minute with no time outs because he is the best QB in the FCS, someone else (the defense) put him in a position where he could have folded, or came up short and needed a kicker to bail him out, or he could be the best and do what he did. You can all disagree, you should think your QB is better than ours. Thats what being a message board homer is all about.
**
so by your logic, when Navy beat North Texas, 76-62, and North Texas' QB was 40-50 with 478yds and 8 td's, he should not have been the player of the game or even player of the week in his conference? Why should he receive any awards, his team LOST the game? Who cares what his defense did, he didn't carry them to a victory. I guess numbers don't matter when you lose? Is that your argument? Who cares about his stats, his team lost?
And to use a baseball analogy, if pitcher A is 18-6 with a 3.86 ERA, leading a team that made the playoffs, and is on a team that has the best offense in America, he should win a CY Young over a pitcher that is 16-8,
on a non-playoff team who has an ERA of 1.02? A pitcher who lost most of his games 1-0? Afterall, he didn't have to let them score 1 run did he? By giving up a run he left the outcome into his offenses hands and lost 1-0
Your logic is EXTREMELY flawed. It's not about being a homer, it's about common sense.

[Baldy]

No, I think McFadden should get to be a finalist for the Heisman but he shouldn't win it. If he was THAT GOOD his team would be better. No, its not Fosters fault that the kicker missed the field goal, its Foster's fault the kicker had to attempt the field goal. If he was THAT GOOD his team would have had the lead. If you are not going to like the result, don't leave the outcome up to someone else, like a kicker. Eric Sanders doesn't, he marches 71 yards in one minute with no time outs because he is the best QB in the FCS, someone else (the defense) put him in a position where he could have folded, or came up short and needed a kicker to bail him out, or he could be the best and do what he did. You can all disagree, you should think your QB is better than ours. Thats what being a message board homer is all about.
xlolx

Sorry, with only 2500 yards and only 16 TD's (22 total), Sanders' invite was nothing more than a courtesy for his career accomplishments.
Maybe he'll be lucky enough to sit next to Foster and be the first to congratulate JFoz when he accepts the award. xthumbsupx

[Houndawg]

I think all can agree that Sanders has more overall talent around him though than Foster was given. Foster was that good and he made his team that much better. A GSU team without Foster is 4-7 or 5-6 at best. A UNI team without Sanders is still one of the Top 4 teams this year in the FCS... Foster carried that team hands down.

There was a statement that Foster shouldn't be in the running bc his team didn't make the playoffs but it should be Santos instead bc his team was in the show... That is a joke especially since many think the committee screwed Ga Southern out of the playoffs and had UNH in there instead. I am not saying that UNH is a bad team, they proved their worth this weekend in the UNI dome but Foster wasn't given the chance to show his stuff and I think he would have been equally impressive....

Without Sanders UNI loses to SIU and YSU at least. That means they wouldn't have played UNH, but if they had, they lose that game too.

[Barnstormer]

xlolx

Sorry, with only 2500 yards and only 16 TD's (22 total), Sanders' invite was nothing more than a courtesy for his career accomplishments.
Maybe he'll be lucky enough to sit next to Foster and be the first to congratulate JFoz when he accepts the award. xthumbsupx

Riiiiiight... I'm sure he's making phone calls right to make sure he's sitting close. xrolleyesx Well if stats are all that matter, we may as well go with the guy who has 3000 yards passing, 48 TD's 1 INT, plus over 700 yards rushing (With a long of 89, which also beats your boy.) :)

There are three kinds of lies.. Lies, damned lies and statistics. :)

Seriously though, I think it will probably be Foster, and that would be fine.. But to think anybody else is just hoping to be lucky enough to sit by him? Best laugh of the day.

[UNIFanSince1983]

That is why I said if it was stats alone Sanders has no chance. If you take into consideration what control he brings to this UNI offense. I don't care what anyone else says without Sanders UNI would probably have been 8-3 at best. I am fully confident in Pat Grace our backup, but for the few plays Sanders was hurt our offense struggled. He is what makes this offense go whether or not he has big stats. He personally led the comeback this weekend. Now I know all the votes have been tabulated before this weekends games, but man it is impressive what he can do with our offense.

[USDFAN_55]

I like how JJ is a non-factor to most of you guys in here. Keep overlooking his accomplishments, after all they were against JV teams, right? This will come down to JJ or Foster. Their numbers will outshine Sander's.

[Houndawg]

That is why I said if it was stats alone Sanders has no chance. If you take into consideration what control he brings to this UNI offense. I don't care what anyone else says without Sanders UNI would probably have been 8-3 at best. I am fully confident in Pat Grace our backup, but for the few plays Sanders was hurt our offense struggled. He is what makes this offense go whether or not he has big stats. He personally led the comeback this weekend. Now I know all the votes have been tabulated before this weekends games, but man it is impressive what he can do with our offense.

QB is the ONE position where the intangibles count more than the stats. Sanders has all the intangibles. Just like Joe Montana did.

[Nebuta]

Wow. I am shocked. Omar not getting in. Omar might have a little chip on his shoulder and have something to prove this week against UNI. I am certain he will get 40 TDs now.

[nmatsen]

Actually Foster was injured after racing to a first down on fourth and seven to keep the drive alive that got GSU in position for the FG. Hatcher called plays for the RB with Foster hurt to get the ball in position for what should have been an easy FG, the win, the conference championship and the conference auto bid.

Foster shouldn't have even been on the field the last minute of that game, but he was. His hold was perfect. The kick went over the upright and was called missed. Without his heroics on fourth down, we don't even get the shot at the FG.

Oh jeeze straightshooter. I didn't know that his hold was perfect, go ahead and give him the award. I didn't know he cold hold for field goals.:p

[TexasTerror]

1) Sanders
2) Foster
3) Johnson

I figured Johnson and Sanders would be in the mix. Foster, his numbers are impossible to overlook, but I figured we'd see Cuff there based on his team's record compared to that of the Eagles, who did not even qualify for the playoffs.

[Barnstormer]

Wow. I am shocked. Omar not getting in. Omar might have a little chip on his shoulder and have something to prove this week against UNI. I am certain he will get 40 TDs now.

Being in the playoffs should be motivation enough. :)

He is also a victim of a balanced attack.

[UNHWildCats]

Cuff being 4th is pathetic!

[straightshooter]

Don't be a wise guy nmatsen. You made your comment without gathering your information regarding the situation you mentioned. I just wanted you to know the facts. Now that you have them, I'm sure that you're sorry for making such an asinine statement.

Look we all know that Sanders is a great player. So is Foster and so is Johnson. Each of them were the catylists for their teams. Without them, each team probably loses more games.

Had I watched Sanders or Johnson play all year, I'd probably be trumping them up just like you are. And had you had the pleasure to watch Foster this year, you'd probably be beating his drum just like I am. You and I don't have a vote in this, so I guess we'll leave it to those who do. The die is already cast no matter what Sanders does in the playoffs. We'll see how it all shakes out on December 13.

[pantherfan]

1) Sanders
2) Foster
3) Johnson

I figured Johnson and Sanders would be in the mix. Foster, his numbers are impossible to overlook, but I figured we'd see Cuff there based on his team's record compared to that of the Eagles, who did not even qualify for the playoffs.

I would tend to agree with your list personally. However, I think it will probably be:
1) Foster
2) Sanders



3)Johnson...xcoffeex

[eaglewraith]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOfVreEXJM4

Game....Blouses...

[Purple For Life]

Or doesn't get drafted (which is a possibility).

He could always go play in the CFL and Arena Football and then back into the NFL...oh wait. Just like Kurt Warner. :D

[USDFAN_55]

I would tend to agree with your list personally. However, I think it will probably be:
1) Foster
2) Sanders



3)Johnson...xcoffeex

This is an award for the best offensive player. Sanders doesn't even compare to Foster or Johnsonxsmhx

[nmatsen]

This is an award for the best offensive player. Sanders doesn't even compare to Foster or Johnsonxsmhx

I am glad you are finally realizing that. Sanders is on an entirely different level than either of the above. I will even listen to arguments that Sanders is not the best offensive player in the FCS, just not when the argument entails talking about a player who's biggest game in two years is a battle with Dayton or a player who in two years his biggest claim to fame is an upset win over an injured App State team such as the other two involved as finalists. I am glad that Sanders is a finalist but seriously, no Flacco, no Ricky Santos, what a joke.

[pete4256]

I am glad you are finally realizing that. Sanders is on an entirely different level than either of the above. I will even listen to arguments that Sanders is not the best offensive player in the FCS, just not when the argument entails talking about a player who's biggest game in two years is a battle with Dayton or a player who in two years his biggest claim to fame is an upset win over an injured App State team such as the other two involved as finalists. I am glad that Sanders is a finalist but seriously, no Flacco, no Ricky Santos, what a joke.


I honestly don't think you've considered the accomplishments of the entire field. If you had, you'd know why Foster is the frontrunner.

And to claim that Santos had an edge because UNH got into the playoffs as the fifth CAA team is a joke.

Educate yourself.

[JayJ79]

The other two are great players but none carried a team in the way Foster did this season.

I suppose that could go against Sanders' chances. He didn't have to carry the team by himself, since there are a plethora of other talented players that helped carry the load.

Personally, I'd like to see the award go to an offensive lineman, such as Chad Rinehart, since he helped make it possible for not only Sanders to do his thing, but opened holes for a pretty decent running game too. (and he WILL be drafted). Granted, a lineman won't ever get such an award since they don't get the glory. But oh well.

[Rob Iola]

Sanders won't even be the best QB on the field this coming Saturday...

[Pantherpower]

Sanders won't even be the best QB on the field this coming Saturday...

Hmmmm....sounds familiar. Have another Natty Lite in that stylin' wife-beater of yours.xrolleyesx

[GannonFan]

Hey, I'm not saying he should've won, but there has to be something glaringly wrong with the system for the Payton Award when a QB like Joe Flacco throws for 1,000 more yards than Sanders, and throws the same number of INT's in 100 more pass attempts, and Flacco can't even make the ballot, let alone come close to the top 3. I understand there may be some serious biases against transfers (and the voting history for both the Payton and Buchanan Awards is proof enough of this entrenched bias) but to completely brush aside a great player like this sorta demeans the award itself. Flacco shouldn't have won the award, there's no argument there, but to not be considered, well, that's pretty weak. The decline of Sportsnetwork continues apparently.

[unigriff]

Sanders won't even be the best QB on the field this coming Saturday...

truly familiar...he never has been the BEST...but the BEST doesnt always win when they are supposed to. Every game listed below...the quarterback was a higher profile quarterback than Sanders.

2005
Sanders vs. EWU's Meyer. SANDERS won!
Sanders vs. Santons Round 1 SANDERS won @ UNH!
Sanders vs. Tx States McNealy Sanders won @ Tx State.

2007
Sanders vs. Santos Round 2 SANDERS won
Sanders vs. Flacco UP NEXT!

If the reward is given to the player that has led his team to victory and just not padding his own stats...Sanders wins in a landslide.
12 Comeback 4th quarter/OT victories. Playing injured. He embodies what a TEAM is. Not what a player is.

sidebar: Cuff and Santos should be in the final 3.

[eaglesrthe1]

The thing that kept Cuff out is 4.7

It'll be Foster, then Johnson, and then Sanders, and there will be a significant dropoff in points between 1 and 2.

[Rob Iola]

OK, this should probably be in the smack board, but unless Delaware turns the ball over early I really don't see this game being close - Cuff/Flacco will absolutely flay your defense. The Payton snub is just fuel to that fire. Your only hope on D is to mimic the Villanova mob defense with no down linemen and a different blitz every down - and possibly knock our dinged-up center out of the game - and maintain pressure on Flacco. But frankly as good as your D may be we've already seen much, much better in the CAA (Richmond, JMU, even Northeastern and Towson) and have hung bunches of points on them.

[straightshooter]

Come on Rob. I don't see Cuff not getting in as a snub. He finished fourth in the balloting, and it may have been very close. My guess is that Santos took some votes from Cuff and vice versa. I'm not sure why Flacco wasn't on the list, but it's probably because Cuff was perceived as the candidate from Delaware.

[bluehenbillk]

Foster should win the award. In total shock that Cuff is not one of the final 3. If Sanders is lucky maybe he can get Flacco's autograph on Saturday.

[GSU 25+yrFan]

"The Sports Network established the Walter Payton Player of the Year Award in 1987, and it is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player on the Division I-AA level."

Ya'll have to remember that the Walter Payton is for the top player not the best "Quarterback". Jayson was the biggest impact player in FCS 2007. Every time the ball was in his hands he was a treat to go all the way and Jayson can do it all. This year he played, quarterback, running back, wide receiver, slot receiver, place holder, punt returner and decoy all in one game against App in Boone, GSU won and broke their home game streak but App is still playing. He was used for kick returns in a game or two. His career was screwed up last year by the stupid VanGoober, no telling how many total yards he would have had but the WP is year to year not a career.

[Rob Iola]

Come on Rob. I don't see Cuff not getting in as a snub. He finished fourth in the balloting, and it may have been very close. My guess is that Santos took some votes from Cuff and vice versa. I'm not sure why Flacco wasn't on the list, but it's probably because Cuff was perceived as the candidate from Delaware.

Actually I don't see Cuff not getting in as a snub; Sanders/Johnson/Foster are as worthy a final 3 as you can name - but you better believe Keeler is playing this up as the snub to end all snubs. He's pretty good at questioning his players' manhood (did it to Cuff at halftime in the Northeastern game), and they respond.

[straightshooter]

If I were Keeler, that's exactly what I'd be doing. Of course, I doubt that he needs to do much of that rah-rah stuff to get the Hens ready for this game. If he does, they're in trouble.

[appfan2008]

by far the three best choices... of course i would love to see kevin richardson on that list but he has not been as good as those three this year...

[blueballs]

No, I think McFadden should get to be a finalist for the Heisman but he shouldn't win it. If he was THAT GOOD his team would be better. No, its not Fosters fault that the kicker missed the field goal, its Foster's fault the kicker had to attempt the field goal. If he was THAT GOOD his team would have had the lead. If you are not going to like the result, don't leave the outcome up to someone else, like a kicker. Eric Sanders doesn't, he marches 71 yards in one minute with no time outs because he is the best QB in the FCS, someone else (the defense) put him in a position where he could have folded, or came up short and needed a kicker to bail him out, or he could be the best and do what he did. You can all disagree, you should think your QB is better than ours. Thats what being a message board homer is all about.

You obviously didn't see what happened... Foster had 3 TD's passing and converted a 4th and 13 on a 15 yard run with about a minute and a half left. THE COACH CHOSE to run dives into the line and run the clock down and let his ALL CONFERENCE KICKER attempt a 33 yard FG w/3 seconds left which unfortunately for GSU was missed by inches.

[JDC325]

QB is the ONE position where the intangibles count more than the stats. Sanders has all the intangibles. Just like Joe Montana did.

OK ....Sanders = Montana ..... step away from the key board and finish your bong hits and then come back.

[ChickenMan]

GSU's Jayson Foster is EASILY the choice.. not even close.

[unigriff]

OK, this should probably be in the smack board, but unless Delaware turns the ball over early I really don't see this game being close - Cuff/Flacco will absolutely flay your defense. The Payton snub is just fuel to that fire. Your only hope on D is to mimic the Villanova mob defense with no down linemen and a different blitz every down - and possibly knock our dinged-up center out of the game - and maintain pressure on Flacco. But frankly as good as your D may be we've already seen much, much better in the CAA (Richmond, JMU, even Northeastern and Towson) and have hung bunches of points on them.

have u talked to Herb D from WIU lately? :) he was over 1000 yards in midseason and he had 80 measley yards on the ground. Im assuming that same rush defense will show up.

[Rob Iola]

have u talked to Herb D from WIU lately? :) he was over 1000 yards in midseason and he had 80 measley yards on the ground. Im assuming that same rush defense will show up.

Dunno what a "Herb D from WIU" is, but I'm assuming it's somewhat germane to the discussion, the way a popgun is germane in a discussion about artillery...

[Thundering_Herd]

Foster's gonna win it.

[Houndawg]

OK ....Sanders = Montana ..... step away from the key board and finish your bong hits and then come back.

Now stop acting like you're three years old for crying out loud. I said Sanders has great intangibles like Montana did, I didn't equate the two.xrolleyesx If it was only about the numbers Sanders wouldn't even be the top rated QB in his own league. Come to think of it, he isn't. The kid is a winner, that's why he is still playing. Numbers are for RBs.

[Houndawg]

This is an award for the best offensive player. Sanders doesn't even compare to Foster or Johnsonxsmhx

Except that he's still playing for an NC while the other guys are watching TV.
xnodx

[ChickenMan]

Anyone who would vote for someone other than Jayson Foster.. apparently has never seen Foster play.

[USDFAN_55]

Anyone who would vote for someone other than Jayson Foster.. apparently has never seen Foster play.

Same can be said about Johnsonxnodx

[WVAPPmountaineer]

I have seen Foster this season and he was the most exciting, most dangerous player I have seen in some time (not including APPs) - I saw Sanders in the NC game and he is a quality QB and looks to be a great team leader - Sorry, I'm sure Johnson is a quality player as well, but you have to play against the best - Foster is absolutely the best player ---

[skinny_uncle]

Looks like Nick Hill will have to be satisfied with a national championship. Too bad, the kid is on fire right now.

If I had to make a choice between a title and a Payton, I know which one I would pick. I'll bet Nick would agree with me, too.

[T-Dogg]

Jayson Foster was incredible! I think he was the reason GSU beat Wofford. To bad he did not a get a chance to play in the FCS palyoffs and continue to show his talents. I did not see all of the candidates, but he certainly would not be a bad choice.xthumbsupx

[SuperEagle]

To the App fans, Wofford fans and ChickenMan, thanks for showing Foster some love. I believe he deserves it and I do think without him we would have really struggled. It's amazing how much one man can mean to a team. He was the reason we had some offensive success.
Thanks for the props

[Chi Panther]

OK, this should probably be in the smack board, but unless Delaware turns the ball over early I really don't see this game being close - Cuff/Flacco will absolutely flay your defense. The Payton snub is just fuel to that fire. Your only hope on D is to mimic the Villanova mob defense with no down linemen and a different blitz every down - and possibly knock our dinged-up center out of the game - and maintain pressure on Flacco. But frankly as good as your D may be we've already seen much, much better in the CAA (Richmond, JMU, even Northeastern and Towson) and have hung bunches of points on them.

Off Topic....and Delaware may beat UNI this week....but I am very surprised that the CAA has 4 much much better defenses than UNI. Pretty amazing considering UNI has the #1 defense regarding points scored against....

[Rob Iola]

Off Topic....and Delaware may beat UNI this week....but I am very surprised that the CAA has 4 much much better defenses than UNI. Pretty amazing considering UNI has the #1 defense regarding points scored against.... until they were lit up for 35 by UNH, which, even with Santos, is a pretty average (ok, slightly above average) CAA offense (yeah, yeah, yeah, they beat Delaware).

Simply put, UNI's D would not be #1 if they played a CAA schedule.

[Rob Iola]

Off Topic....and Delaware may beat UNI this week....but I am very surprised that the CAA has 4 much much better defenses than UNI. Pretty amazing considering UNI has the #1 defense regarding points scored against....

And I didn't even list the best team D - UMass - 'cause we didn't play them. Yet.

[Baldy]

I am glad you are finally realizing that. Sanders is on an entirely different level than either of the above. I will even listen to arguments that Sanders is not the best offensive player in the FCS, just not when the argument entails talking about a player who's biggest game in two years is a battle with Dayton or a player who in two years his biggest claim to fame is an upset win over an injured App State team such as the other two involved as finalists. I am glad that Sanders is a finalist but seriously, no Flacco, no Ricky Santos, what a joke.
Hilarious. xlolx

Ignorant, but hilarious nevertheless... xthumbsupx

"in two years his biggest claim to fame"????
The Payton award is about this season, not the past two, but since you foolishly opened that can of worms.....

Foster is the first player in college football history to:
1. Have an 80+ yard TD run.
2. Have an 80+ yard TD pass.
3. Have an 80+ yard punt return for a TD.
4. Have an 80+ yard kickoff return for a TD.
5. Have an 80+ yard pass reception for a TD.

On top of all that, Foster also set an NCAA all division record for rushing yards for a QB this season. Don't know if beating App State is a larger "claim to fame" than setting an NCAA all division record, but I'm very curious......which NCAA all division record did Sanders break this year? xconfusedx

xrolleyesx