[OutsiderFan]

How foolish it all is: Imagine if we started the year with the last four games we actually played, beginning with OSU and ending with ND, then we played the first eight of the year--ending with SC. There would be absolutely NO Voldemort discussion. Color me jaded and cynical on the Voldemort.

I think the big thing is just the fact the Oregon game was so ugly. It's one thing to lose, but another to lose by 22 in your own house and look sloppy in the process.  It wasn't like Luck was flawless in the loss and the defense let him down.  If he hadn't beat the University of South Central before Oregon, he probably wouldn't have been the front runner even after the Oregon game, so he did get a boost by beating U.S.C.  That said, if a one loss, likely AP Top 5 U.S.C. was the last game, he would probably solidified his position.  I don't have that much of a problem with this because it is just the nature of the beast that down the stretch is when people pay the most attention and want players to deliver "when the pressure is on."

The one thing I don't like is the whole "signature moment" mentality.  A QB that leads a team to an 11-1 record has to be consistent in what he does, and has to be a team leader.  He gets other guys to buy in, even on defense, and raise their games, because they believe in the QB.  How many times has Stanford won 11 games?  How many times has Alabama?  Sure Stanford has some pretty good players surrounding Luck, but Luck has proven he can do more things on a football field well, than any other player.  The fact he didn't play OLB doesn't mean he can't.  The fact he didn't play Fullback or TE doesn't mean he can't.  All that on top of the fact he is charged with reading defenses, calling plays, and isn't throwing to Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, should end the debate about who the best player is.  The fact he came back to finish his degree, not to improve his draft status, should also be factored in. 

Put together an Andrew Luck highlight tape and you will see a guy do more things on a football field than any other Voldemort candidate.  You will see him make throws in the pocket, on the run, and falling down.  You will see him avoid sacks by running away from defenders and by breaking their tackles.  You will see him crush defenders with the ball.  You will see him run for 50+ yard TDs.  You will see him run through defenders.  You will see him make one handed catches on the sideline.  You will see him take responsibility and encourage his teammates after mistakes are made.  You will see him stay calm in pressure moments.  I'm pretty sure Luck could punt and kick field goals well if he tried.  But one of the reasons Luck is so great is because he didn't ask to do those things, because he didn't want to take away from his teammates or do anything to seek extra attention for himself. 

I've been watching football for over 30 years.  I've never seen a guy demonstrate he can do more things well on a football field than Andrew Luck.  No, he doesn't have once in a generation size/speed like a Bo Jackson.  No, he doesn't have the ridiculous passing numbers like Andre Ware.  No, he didn't split a lot of time at another position simply to try to win the Voldemort like Charles Woodson.  No, he isn't playing in the BCS Championship game like so many previous winners.  But he is probably the only QB in the history of college football to beat the University of South Bend and U.S.C. three straight years; probably the only consensus #1 NFL pick to ever return to school to finish his degree; and the only Voldemort candidate that could finish #2 as a Soph, #1 or #2 as a Junior, and still be the favorite as a Senior if he wished to return for his 4th season, something he won't do because he is still the consensus #1 NFL pick.

[OutsiderFan]

How foolish it all is: Imagine if we started the year with the last four games we actually played, beginning with OSU and ending with ND, then we played the first eight of the year--ending with SC. There would be absolutely NO Voldemort discussion. Color me jaded and cynical on the Voldemort.

I think the big thing is just the fact the Oregon game was so ugly. It's one thing to lose, but another to lose by 22 in your own house and look sloppy in the process.  It wasn't like Luck was flawless in the loss and the defense let him down.  If he hadn't beat the University of South Central before Oregon, he probably wouldn't have been the front runner even after the Oregon game, so he did get a boost by beating U.S.C.  That said, if a one loss, likely AP Top 5 U.S.C. was the last game, he would probably solidified his position.  I don't have that much of a problem with this because it is just the nature of the beast that down the stretch is when people pay the most attention and want players to deliver "when the pressure is on."

The one thing I don't like is the whole "signature moment" mentality.  A QB that leads a team to an 11-1 record has to be consistent in what he does, and has to be a team leader.  He gets other guys to buy in, even on defense, and raise their games, because they believe in the QB.  How many times has Stanford won 11 games?  How many times has Alabama?  Sure Stanford has some pretty good players surrounding Luck, but Luck has proven he can do more things on a football field well, than any other player.  The fact he didn't play OLB doesn't mean he can't.  The fact he didn't play Fullback or TE doesn't mean he can't.  All that on top of the fact he is charged with reading defenses, calling plays, and isn't throwing to Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, should end the debate about who the best player is.  The fact he came back to finish his degree, not to improve his draft status, should also be factored in. 

Put together an Andrew Luck highlight tape and you will see a guy do more things on a football field than any other Voldemort candidate.  You will see him make throws in the pocket, on the run, and falling down.  You will see him avoid sacks by running away from defenders and by breaking their tackles.  You will see him crush defenders with the ball.  You will see him run for 50+ yard TDs.  You will see him run through defenders.  You will see him make one handed catches on the sideline.  You will see him take responsibility and encourage his teammates after mistakes are made.  You will see him stay calm in pressure moments.  I'm pretty sure Luck could punt and kick field goals well if he tried.  But one of the reasons Luck is so great is because he didn't ask to do those things, because he didn't want to take away from his teammates or do anything to seek extra attention for himself. 

I've been watching football for over 30 years.  I've never seen a guy demonstrate he can do more things well on a football field than Andrew Luck.  No, he doesn't have once in a generation size/speed like a Bo Jackson.  No, he doesn't have the ridiculous passing numbers like Andre Ware.  No, he didn't split a lot of time at another position simply to try to win the Voldemort like Charles Woodson.  No, he isn't playing in the BCS Championship game like so many previous winners.  But he is probably the only QB in the history of college football to beat the University of South Bend and U.S.C. three straight years; probably the only consensus #1 NFL pick to ever return to school to finish his degree; and the only Voldemort candidate that could finish #2 as a Soph, #1 or #2 as a Junior, and still be the favorite as a Senior if he wished to return for his 4th season, something he won't do because he is still the consensus #1 NFL pick.