Top Ten Moments of 2011: 1. Eric LeGrand Leads Rutgers Onto The Field

The average football fan might not know the name Eric LeGrand. No, Eric LeGrand did not score the game winning touchdown in the Super Bowl. No, Eric LeGrand did not kick the game winning field goal in the BCS title game. No, Eric LeGrand did not make the must-see, YouTube worthy catch of the year. Eric LeGrand did, however, help make the best moment in football from 2011. On a snowy day in Piscataway, New Jersey, former Rutgers defensive lineman Eric LeGrand led the Scarlet Knights onto the field for their game against West Virginia. Although it might sound like an ordinary event, the story behind LeGrand's opportunity to lead Rutgers onto the field is what makes this such an amazing football moment and one that won't be forgotten.


LeGrand was a top recruit out of Colonia High School in New Jersey and fielded scholarship offers from various Division 1 schools before deciding to attend Rutgers University. After seeing limited action during his true Freshman year, LeGrand played in all 13 games in 2009, recording 33 tackles as a defensive tackle. LeGrand continued to get playing time on defense and special teams during the first five games of his Junior season going into the October 16th game with Army. October 16th would be the day that would change Eric LeGrand's life forever. On a routine kickoff in the 4th quarter of a tied ball game, LeGrand collided with Army's Malcolm Brown when attempting to tackle him. LeGrand was unable to get up after his collision with Brown and laid on the floor for several minutes without movement. LeGrand appeared frozen on the 25 yard line, the crowd silent in fear. Fans and teammates began to realize the severity of injury when LeGrand was unable to give the usual thumbs-up when being carted off the field, still motionless from the hit. LeGrand was taken to the intensive care unit at Hackensack University Medical Center, where doctors determined that he was paralyzed from the neck down. At the young age of 20, Eric LeGrand, it appeared, would never walk again. 


Of course, if you know anything about Eric LeGrand then you know this remarkable young man would accept nothing less than perfection. And so he pushed on. LeGrand was transferred to world renowned Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation to undergo intense spinal cord rehabilitation in hopes of gaining movement and feeling in the areas under his neck. LeGrand announced in January of 2011 that he had regained sensation throughout his body and even movement in his shoulders. By July of this past year, LeGrand was able to stand upright during rehabilitation and began to regain movement in his arms. After proving that he can one day regain full control of his upper body, LeGrand continues to focus on regaining movement in his lower body. LeGrand believes he will one day walk again and, knowing his determination and courage, so do I. 

After spending the 2011 season as an analyst for the Rutgers radio network, LeGrand remained an integral part of the football program. Just over a year after LeGrand's career ending injury, head coach Greg Schiano asked LeGrand if he would lead the Scarlet Knights onto the field for their contest with West Virginia. LeGrand graciously accepted. LeGrand was met with a standing ovation from the Rutgers faithful who realize, like thousands of others across America, how courageous and remarkable Eric LeGrand is. LeGrand's entrance with the Scarlet Knights stole the show that day, overshadowing Rutgers' 41-31 loss and even earning Sports Illustrated's moment of the year. What a moment it was. LeGrand teaches us the importance of good character and moral fortitude and what young people can do when faced with tremendous adversity. Although he won't be scoring any touchdowns or making any third down tackles in the near future, Eric LeGrand is the type of role model that the game of football needs. Eric LeGrand is the type of man I look up to. The word "bELieve" is the motto for LeGrand's recovery, with the "E" and "L" emphasized for LeGrand's initials. I, like thousands of others, believe in Eric LeGrand. If this past year was any indication, 2012 will be a very good year for Eric LeGrand. Let's keep believing.

Top Ten Moments of 2011: 2. Tebow Time!

The second best moment of 2011 is more of a string of moments than a single one. Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow captivated the nation with five late game comeback victories, defying the media's low expectations on a weekly basis. Tebow's miraculous performances have polarized the nation, as fans are divided on whether or not Tebow is a legitimate NFL starting quarterback. Tebow's opposition have numerous arguments against his success, including his throwing motion, his performance in the first three quarter of games, and his success on third downs. While some of the arguments against his play on the field are legitimate, the ridiculous attacks against his expression of his Christian faith prove that Tebow's critics will go to any length to try to bring him down. On the other side, Tebow fans have the best argument of all: he wins games. Tebow is 7-3 as a starter this season after taking over for Kyle Orton in Week 7. One thing is for sure: people won't stop talking about Tebow anytime soon.

Tebow's magical run began on October 23rd against the Dolphins in Miami. On the day when the Dolphins were honoring Tebow's 2008 national championship Florida squad at halftime, Tebow stole the show in the fourth quarter. He would go 10 of 19 for 137 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and lead the Broncos to an overtime victory after trailing 15-0 with under five minutes remaining. After a blowout loss to the Detroit Lions that brought the Tebow haters out in full force, Tebow answered back with a huge 38-24 road victory over the Oakland Raiders. Tebow would run for 118 yards and throw for two touchdowns, an unconventional box score that would be criticized heavily by football analysts everywhere. The fact of the matter is, frankly, the guy wins.

Mr. Fourth Quarter would have another late game winning drive against the Chiefs the following week. And then against the Jets the next week. And then against the Chargers. And the Vikings. And the Bears. Right when his critics began to quiet down, two consecutive losses against the Patriots and Bills have led to even more criticism of Tebow and his chances in the NFL. But Tebow remains unfazed. A devout Christian, Tebow has always remained positive when faced with adversity and has ignored the constant criticism thus far. He has been the class act that the league and its players have needed after receiving a lot of heat from the media and fans alike over the lockout and Lions' star Ndamukong Suh's repeated classless on-field acts. And with 1669 passing yards, 644 rushing yards, 18 total touchdowns, and first place position in the AFC West, Tim Tebow isn't too bad of a quarterback, either. 

Top Ten Moments of 2011: 3. NFL Lockout Ends!

The NFL lockout was a scary moment for football fans across America. The mystery. The fear. The dread. Could there be no NFL season in 2011? With the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and the NFL owner disagreeing on such issues as revenue splitting, rookie salaries, and retired players' health insurance, it seemed as if a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) wouldn't be signed until the 2011 season was lost. NFLPA President DeMaurice Smith and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell led opposing sides in the battle for a new CBA but their stubbornness towards compromising put the NFL on the brink of losing millions of fans by the time summer came.

These worries and fears all came to a sudden end on July 25th when, out of nowhere, the NFLPA and owners came to an agreement on a new CBA and began preparations for the 2011 season. On this glorious Monday afternoon Roger Goodell gladly proclaimed, "Football is back!" Training camps for all 32 teams were opened by the end of the week and it was back to business as usual. General managers, owners and coaches quickly went to work to try to improve their teams during what would become the most wild and crazy free agency in NFL history.

As for the specifics of the new CBA deal, as in most deals, both sides won and loss. The revenue split was previously 50/50 but both sides agreed to a 53/47 split in which the owners would receive 53 percent of all revenue earned and the players would earn the remaining 47 percent. As part of that deal, the owners are required to spend 99 percent of the salary cap for the next two seasons, allowing as much money as possible to go to the players. The cap itself was dropped to $120.4 million, a near five percent decrease from last year. As for some other topics, the owners won the rookie wage scale battle, as both sides agreed to get rid of high salaries and guaranteed money for rookies who have yet to play an NFL snap. Also, the players shot down the owners' proposed 18 game schedule, citing an increase in the likelihood of injuries and a decrease in the importance of the regular season.

All things considered, the best moment of lockout's final days was the one shared between Colts center Jeff Saturday and Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Saturday embraced Kraft with a hug in front of the media and thanked him for all that he had done for the NFL during the negotiations. Kraft was present and vocal during the final CBA meetings despite losing his wife Maya to ovarian cancer a week earlier. Saturday's gesture was a fitting end for the lockout, as he was able to show the NFLPA's gratitude towards the Kraft family and all they have done for the league. As Saturday noted, the Krafts "helped save football."

When the dust was all settled, everything seemed to go back to normal. Fans began talking trash to opposing fans. SportsCenter began talking about NFL players and finally stopped blabbing on about the lockout. Fantasy football players began strategizing and drafting their teams. Talks of Brett Favre making a comeback surfaced. All these key ingredients were crucial in bringing back the culture of football that the lockout nearly tarnished. Unlike the NBA four months later, the NFL owners and NFLPA were able to put their egos aside and make a deal to save the NFL season and please the league's growing fan base.

Top Ten Moments of 2011: 4. Packers, Rodgers win Super Bowl XLV

Some games define a season. Some performances define a career. Super Bowl XLV was that game for the Green Bay Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Packers won their fourth Super Bowl and first since 1996 this past February after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. Rodgers shined the last six games of the season and came through big in the title game with 304 yards and three touchdowns through the air to help the Packers win 31-25.

 The Packers started the game hot with a Rodgers touchdown pass to Jordan Nelson, followed 24 seconds later by a Nick Collins 37 yard interception return for a touchdown. Down 21-3 with two minutes left in the first half, the favored Steelers drove down the field with poise and finished the drive with an eight yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to veteran receiver Hines Ward to make it 21-10 at halftime.

The Steelers carried the momentum into the second half with an early Rashard Mendenhall touchdown run to put them within four points of Green Bay. After a quiet third quarter from the Packers, Rodgers connected with Greg Jennings to start the fourth quarter to extend their lead to 28-17. Mike Wallace and the Steel-show answered back with a touchdown of their own with 7:34 remaining in the game before a reverse to Antwaan Randle El on the conversion put them within a field goal. The Steelers appeared to have the game in hand after holding the Packers to a Mason Crosby field goal to be down by only six points with 2:07 remaining. The late stop would be the last bright spot for Pittsburgh, though, as the Packers defense would force a turnover on downs with 49 seconds remaining to clinch the game and the Super Bowl.

The Packers performance legitimized the franchise for the first time in over a decade and proved they could win the big games without legendary quarterback Brett Favre behind center. The game was just as big for Rodgers, who earned game MVP honors and finally escaped from Favre's shadow. The Packers hot streak would continue into 2011, as they are currently 14-1 since winning the Super Bowl and sit atop the rankings as the best team in the NFL today and for many years to come.

NFL Power Rankings: Week 17

1. (1) Green Bay Packers (14-1) – The Packers did what they had to do against the Bears and secured that the road to the NFC Championship will be run through Lambeau Field. 

2. (2) New Orleans Saints (12-3) – Congrats to Drew Brees on the new NFL Passing record! That being said this offense, despite being picked off twice, seems unstoppable at this point.    

3. (3) New England Patriots (12-3) – The Patriots looked horrible in the 1^st half but got it together and pulled out the win. I’m still fearful of their defense when the playoffs begin.


4. (4) San Francisco 49ers (12-3) – The 49ers have won two very physical games in a row despite some speed bumps along the way. Their defense lost the TD and 100 yard record to Lynch, but the 49ers got the last laugh. 1 win away from having a first round bye.

5. (6) Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) – Even without Big Ben the Steelers took care of business and kept pace with the Ravens in the race for the AFC North Title.  

6. (5) Baltimore Ravens (11-4) – Inconsistency is the key here. If the Browns had half a brain in game management they would’ve beat the Ravens. Their defense doesn’t look the same.

7. (8) Detroit Lions (10-5) – Congrats to the Lions for making the playoffs for the first time since I can remember my time on this earth. They have to mature quickly though in order to win.

8. (12) Cincinnati Bengals (9-6) – Thanks to Early Doucet’s stumble the Bengals escaped with a win. The biggest story was Jerome Simpson doing a front flip into the end zone and landing it!

9. (7) Atlanta Falcons (9-6) – Unfortunately the Falcons ran into Drew Brees on Monday night and got ran over. This is still a very good team that can be dangerous in the playoffs.

10. (13) New York Giants (8-7) – Eli has set the stage for an NFC East showdown against the Cowboys. Winner gets into the playoffs, loser goes home. Doesn’t get any better than this!

11. (10) Dallas Cowboys (8-7) – Unfortunately the Cowboys had to play without Tony Romo in a game they needed to win. Hopefully he will be back for the NFC East crown showdown!

12. (9) Houston Texans (10-5) – The wheels have finally come off in Houston like we thought they would when they lost Schaub, Leinart, AJ and Super Mario. Where is the defense?

13. (11) New York Jets (8-7) – The Jets have proved to be all talk with not very much walk. Brandon Jacobs said it best after the game, go watch his interview!

14. (18) Philadelphia Eagles (7-8) – With all the talk of how horrible of a season the Eagles are having, they have a legitimate chance of going .500. That scares me for the years to come….

15. (14) San Diego Chargers (7-8) – So much for the Chargers fire, their inconsistency killed them again as the Lions handled San Diego and destroyed their playoff dreams.   

16. (19) Tennessee Titans (8-7) – The Titans will need some help to make the playoffs despite their win vs. Jacksonville. If only they hadn’t lost to the winless Colts….if only….

17. (15) Denver Broncos (8-7) – Tebow forced way too many throws against the Bills and looked awful. If he can beat his former teammate Kyle Orton he will be in the playoffs though!

18. (16) Seattle Seahawks (7-8) – Even though the Seahawks have been eliminated from playoff contention, this team looks to be heading in the right direction under the direction of Pete Carroll.

19. (21) Oakland Raiders (8-7) – The Raiders walked away with a win in KC thanks to Richard Seymour blocking 2 FG’s himself. Oakland will need help to make the playoffs though. 

20. (17) Arizona Cardinals (7-8) – The Cardinals were oh so close to beating the Bengals and probably should have if Early Doucet didn’t trip on his own feet wide open in the end zone.

21. (20) Kansas City Chiefs (6-9) – A devastating loss to the Raiders where they had two FG’s blocked has to hurt. But Kyle Orton and the Chiefs have a chance to play spoiler again this weekend against Tebow and the Broncos.

22. (24) Carolina Panthers (6-9) – The Panthers have to be excited about their future with Cam Newton as their QB. If they can build a solid defense, this team could be very dangerous.  

23. (22) Miami Dolphins (5-10) – The Dolphins had Tom Brady and the Patriots in their grasp in the first half and then decided to let go for whatever reason. This team looks better, but is still finding ways to lose football games.

24. (26) Buffalo Bills (6-9) – The Bills got back to their winning ways by forcing turnovers and taking advantage of them on offense. It worked in the beginning of the year and will work now.  .  

25. (23) Chicago Bears (7-8) – The Bears actually played the Packers well in the 1^st half and then killed themselves with a few costly turnovers that Aaron Rodgers quickly turned into points. 

26. (25) Washington Redskins (5-10) – The Redskins not only lost to the Vikings, but they took both AP and Ponder out of the game. As Dave Damashek would say, “SHAMEEEEEE!!!!!”  

27. (28) Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11) – Literally the only good thing about Jacksonville is MJD. Teams know MJD will be getting the ball and he still manages to put up great numbers. 

28. (29) Cleveland Browns (4-11) – The Browns have finally gotten Peyton Hillis going again, but they can’t seem to manage a football game and it cost them a win against the Ravens.

29. (27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11) – I don’t know what is going on in Tampa Bay. This team has been extremely disappointing; I just hope Raheem Morris doesn’t take the blow.

30. (30) Minnesota Vikings (3-12) – The Vikings won but at what cost? They lost Adrian Peterson, Christian Ponder and also a shot at the #1 overall 2012 draft pick.



31. (31) St. Louis Rams (2-13) – The Rams got shutout again this season. The only good thing about this is that if the Colts keep winning St. Louis may end up with the #1 overall pick.


32. (32) Indianapolis Colts (2-13) – THE COLTS WIN AGAIN! 2 IN A ROW!!! Dan Orlovsky for MVP! (Okay maybe the last one was a little crazy.) If the Colts keep this up, they may not get the chance to draft Andrew Luck. Settle down Indianapolis!

Top Ten Moments of 2011: 5. War Eagle Soars!

In yesterday's post we described the LSU-Alabama game on November 5th as "the best college football game of the 2011 season." In today's post we will discuss the best college football game of the 2010 season, which fortunately for this list took place in 2011. The game, played on January 10th, featured the Auburn Tigers, then 13-0, against the Oregon Ducks, 12-0, in the BCS National Championship. This would be the first time the champions of the Pac-10 and SEC would meet up in the BCS title game and the first championship game appearance for both schools. Networks advertised the game as the ultimate offensive showdown, as both Auburn and Oregon had high powered offenses that could score at will. Auburn was led by Heisman winning quarterback Cam Newton and Freshman tailback Michael Dyer, who ran for 1093 yards and 5 touchdowns in his first season as a Tiger. Oregon's spread attack was led by Heisman finalist and All-Pac 10 running back LaMichael James and Sophomore quarterback Darron Thomas. Both offenses would live up to their hype but it would be Auburn's ability to control the line of scrimmage on defense that would ultimately lead to their victory.

After a scoreless first quarter, a Rob Beard field goal gave Oregon the 3-0 lead before Cam Newton drove the Tigers into the end zone with a 35 touchdown pass to Kodi Burns. LaMichael James got onto the board only a minute later after an 8 yard touchdown pass from Thomas but would be safetied later in the quarter to give Auburn all the momentum. Auburn would add to their 16-11 halftime lead in the 3rd quarter after a Wes Byrum field goal to give them a 19-11. After being shut down in the third and most of the fourth, Thomas led Oregon to a touchdown with less than 3 minutes left with a pass to James, tying the game at 19. Although he caught two touchdowns, James was shut down on the ground, running for only 49 yards on 13 carries. Auburn's Nick Fairley and the rest of their front seven are to thank for the domination of Oregon's running attack. Oregon's late comeback effort would fall short in the end, as Byrum would kick a game ending field goal to give Auburn the victory and National Championship. Although Oregon's neon and cobalt uniforms will be missed, I can only hope that this year's championship game between LSU and Alabama will feature a few more touchdowns than last year's affair. Here's to wishful thinking!

Top Ten Moments of 2011: 6. LSU Beats Alabama in OT

The Tigers and Crimson Tide squared off in the game of the year in college football on November 5th in front of a sold out crowd in Tuscaloosa. The game pitted the No. 1 ranked LSU Tigers (8-0) against the No. 2 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (8-0) in what many labeled, albeit far too early, the "Game of the Century." The game featured two Heisman finalists, LSU's Tyrann Mathieu and Alabama's Trent Richardson, and two of the top coaches in college football, LSU's Les Miles and Alabama's Nick Saban. Although everyone knew that the winner would have the straight shot to the SEC Championship game, nobody thought that the loser of the game would have a serious shot at the BCS National Championship, as a rematch seemed impossible. LSU's overtime victory not only captivated a nation, but also started a controversy on the topic of who deserved to play LSU in the National Championship game. Many fans would call for Big 12 Champion Oklahoma State, but their wishes fell short when the BCS committee announced that LSU and Alabama would meet again in the title game on January 9th. The title game will be the first rematch in BCS National Championship game history and will be a classic if it lives up to their first contest.

As for the November 5th game, fans across the country expected a low scoring, back and forth contest that would probably end in the final minute of regulation or overtime. Well, it was back and forth. And it did end in overtime. As for the low scoring, well, let's just say the Tigers and Crimson Tide exceeded expectations. Both defenses shined, each allowing only 15 total points and no touchdowns, and LSU would eventually win 9-6 on a game winning Drew Alleman field goal. The story of the game was not the defense, though, but rather Alabama's poor kicking. The Crimson Tide offense was shut down in the red zone but was able to get in field goal range several times throughout the game. Alabama Junior Jeremy Shelley went 1 for 2 in the first half but was replaced by Sophomore Cade Foster in the second half. Foster struggled to say the least. He went 1 for 4, including a missed 52 yard field in overtime that would have helped the Tigers defense later in extra period. Despite both teams' struggles, I expect the National Championship game to be one of the closest games national title games to date and one of the best games of 2012.