ESPN confuses clutchness with popularity
by Kevan Lee on Aug 4, 2008 12:15 PM PDT
in Boise State football
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Is Jared Zabransky clutch?
We asked ourselves this question over and over again this weekend, and each time we came to the same conclusion.
No. Jared Zabransky is not clutch.
He is confident, brash, and cocky, but those components have little to do with being clutch and more to do with tattooing your initial on your bicep. Being clutch means showing up in big games every time and not folding under the pressure of the moment. Zabransky may have done this once or twice during his career, but did he do it enough to warrant consideration as "clutch"? We don't think so.
ESPN.com's Graham Watson disagrees. She recently listed the most clutch non-BCS players throughout history, and good old "Z" made her list.
Jared Zabransky, QB, Boise State -- Led the Broncos to a perfect 13-0 season in 2006, including throwing for 262 yards and three touchdowns in an overtime win against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.We find it so interesting that Zabransky is remembered as a hero of this game. The national media seems to pick and choose the best parts of this classic game and focus solely on those aspects. "The Fiesta Bowl was great. Ian Johnson asked that hot cheerleader to marry him!" Meanwhile, there was terrific drama, intrigue, emotion, and suspense that gets lost in the shuffle.
Allow us to let the facts get in the way of this discussion:
- Jared Zabransky threw a horrendous interception that was returned for a touchdown that could have very easily lost the game.
- Zabransky took an awful sack while the Broncos were driving for the tying score.
- The hook and ladder was a clutch team play, not a clutch Zabransky moment (deep in routes are not clutch).
- Zabransky did not throw the tying score in overtime. A wide receiver did.
And those moments just describe his Fiesta Bowl. If we are taking this "clutch" debate further, we would also point out the 2005 Humanitarian Bowl and the Georgia game. Oh, the Georgia game! Zabransky proved over his Boise State years that he was a capable, play-making quarterback who could run hot and cold at times. And so long as we are celebrating that Zabransky, then we are all for it.
Besides, if we're going to be sainting Boise State athletes, we would prefer to start with Marty Tadman.
Clutch non-BCS players through history [ESPN.com]
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Speaking of which…I watched KTVB’s rebroadcast of the 2005 Hawaii game and it memories flooded back about how…well…not good Zabransky played in ’05. That was a rough year.
by Drew on Aug 4, 2008 12:59 PM PDT reply actions
Zabransky’s play in ’05 was down right awful he made guys like James rethink the art of catching the ball.
by JT Ray on Aug 4, 2008 1:17 PM PDT reply actions
The more and more I read from ESPN.com’s “non-BCS” blogger Graham Watson, the less and less I like. I’m just not convinced she knows what she’s talking about.
And I concur… coming through in one spot on the biggest stage does not make one clutch (I really like your breakdown). Hendricks was clutch. Dinwiddie was clutch. Zabranksy? Not so much.
by Jason Haberman on Aug 4, 2008 1:23 PM PDT reply actions
Glad we’re all in agreement. Zabransky = not clutch.
by kevanlee on Aug 5, 2008 7:02 AM PDT reply actions
Let’s also remember that Zabransky’s last pass as a collegiate football player was an interception that was returned for a touchdown (oddly enough) in the All-Star game in Hawaii. None of his passes were on target throughout his entire career. He was blessed with athletic receivers. The Fiesta Bowl offensive MVP shouldn’t have been given to him…Drisan James?!?, Derek Schouman (I’ve basically forgotten about his apparent volleyball career)?!? Z = Douche
by Jason on Aug 5, 2008 12:07 PM PDT reply actions
Wow, you reached back for that Hawaii all-star game reference. Kudos.
I am just concerned that we are not remembering Zabransky the way he really was. And with disparaging opinions ranging from douchness to clutchness, it is evident that someone’s not remembering things right (I’ll go with the national media every time on that one).
by kevanlee on Aug 5, 2008 5:46 PM PDT reply actions
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