Happy Friday Everyone from Sunny Florida.  I say that because my producer last night on MLB Network Radio was telling me how cold she was.  I felt bad that I was complaining I was tired of running my air conditioning and would love to wear a sweatshirt.  So the rest of the nation where its cold right now, sorry,

Speaking of temps it is forecasted to have great weather for the Army Navy game in Philly this weekend.  I am very excited to see the game with the drama that is built-in this season with the Mids’ 13 game winning streak.  If you are not from a military family sometimes the interest in the game might not be there.  I attended the game a few years ago and am now hooked.  It truly is one of the those things that you have be there to appreciate the event.  Watching the parade of the Corp of Cadets and the Brigade of Midshipmen is inspiring.  But what is even more impressive is standing in line at the concession stand with the Cadets and Mids seeing them face to face.

Tell me what it was like that last time you stood in line at a game with your countrymen and neighbors.  Now replace that scrum of humanity with the best and the brightest our nation has to offer.  Manners that are forgot everywhere else in the world are not forgotten here.  These are the people that we wish we could be.  But as you look closer at their faces, past their uniforms of the long Grey and Blue lines you see what they really are.  They are so young, they are just kids, that are stepping forward to “Say I will keep you safe and protect your freedom”.   Take them out of their impressive uniforms and stick a pair of shorts and t-shirt on them and they would look like any other teenager.

But these are not just any teenagers.  These are unique outliers in our society.  They put their country before themselves.  They studied and work their tails off in high school while their classmates played hacky sack.  They are the ones that were working out while their classmates where watching TV.  They were the ones that stepped up to be team captains, and did volunteer work while everyone else was playing Xbox.  They made the sacrifices it takes to achieve appointment to West Point and Annapolis.

That’s why I already set my DVR to record ESPN Game Day, CBS Sports Network’s pregame coverage and the game on CBS.  The one thing I did not set my DVR for was the Heisman Trophy Award Show.  It’s not a knock on the three players that are going to be featured, but more my feeling on the fact the Heisman (I No Longer) Trust did not do the right thing and invite Navy QB Keenean Reynolds.  Reynolds had an amazing career at Navy, starting his plebe (Freshman) year.  While other freshman were red shirts or maybe taking some easy classes to get used to college, he was enduring the toughest year at Annapolis, that is by design a year that is meant to push Mids to their limits and flo.  He has set NCAA TD records that will stand for years.

The Heisman is the trophy for the best player in college football.  The mission statement of the Heisman talks about on the field and off the field criteria.

The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Heisman Trophy Trust ensures the continuation and integrity of this award. The Trust, furthermore, has a charitable mission to support amateur athletics and to provide greater opportunities to the youth of our country. Our goal through these charitable endeavors is for the Heisman Trophy to symbolize the fostering of a sense of community responsibility and service to our youth, especially those disadvantaged or afflicted.

Once you read the statement please look me in the eye and tell me that Keenan Reynolds doesn’t meet the criteria.  After some past winners with some off the field “Issues” inviting Reynolds would have both recognized his accomplishments and made a statement about what they Heisman is all about.  Well the trust did just that!  They told us that integrity, diligence, perseverance, and hard work just don’t mean that much  any more.

It’s a sad day for the Heisman Trophy, but a sadder day for college football that has veered further and further away from what it was supposed to be all about.