[Lefty Noob]

Notre Dame C John Sullivan has been named an Outland Trophy Candidate.

According to the team's official website, "Sullivan enters his fifth year at Notre Dame having started 33 of the last 37 contests for the Irish, including 21 consecutive games at center. The Old Greenwich, Conn. native was previously named to the Rimington Award Watch List (presented to the nation's top center) and has not only opened holes for a 1,000-yard rusher in each of the last three seasons, but also protected a 3,000-yard passer in 2005 and 2006." Think he can win it?

[Neopet_Girl]

Why do you have a candidate beforea a season starts? Won't that bias the voters a little tiny bit? LOL.

Too easy.

Voters should have to figure it out for themselves. Or is it like Politics? Was there a primary and Mr. Sullivan beat out some people, and now he is courting votes? Totally confusing really.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Neopet_Girl

Why do you have a candidate beforea a season starts? Won't that bias the voters a little tiny bit? LOL.

Too easy.

Voters should have to figure it out for themselves. Or is it like Politics? Was there a primary and Mr. Sullivan beat out some people, and now he is courting votes? Totally confusing really.

Well, there are over 100 different Division I schools... the watch list gives voters a look at the people who should be the best this season based on past performances, much like the preseason polls for the AP and coaches rates the teams.

[Neopet_Girl]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Well, there are over 100 different Division I schools... the watch list gives voters a look at the people who should be the best this season based on past performances, much like the preseason polls for the AP and coaches rates the teams.

See there, and I thought writers just happen to know the sport by watching endless hours. HA! They have cheat-sheets. Totally too funny.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Neopet_Girl

See there, and I thought writers just happen to know the sport by watching endless hours. HA! They have cheat-sheets. Totally too funny.

Well, there's only so many hours in a day, and a lot of guys have to fly back and forth to the games they cover. Plus they have midweek interviews, if they're beat writers. Writers to the best that they can to follow as much as they can, but nobody can do it all. So these things at least cut it down a bit, so there are fewer people to watch. Makes it a little easier.

[Neopet_Girl]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Well, there's only so many hours in a day, and a lot of guys have to fly back and forth to the games they cover. Plus they have midweek interviews, if they're beat writers. Writers to the best that they can to follow as much as they can, but nobody can do it all. So these things at least cut it down a bit, so there are fewer people to watch. Makes it a little easier.

Okay, but how do they know to put them on the list to begin with? Popularity? School campaigns? School pays someone?

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Neopet_Girl

Okay, but how do they know to put them on the list to begin with? Popularity? School campaigns? School pays someone?

Well, all of these awards have a committee that compile information, including, statistics throughout their careers, reports from people who have seen these guys in action, and then, yes, I'm sure they spend the offseason reviewing tapes. Yeah, school often time start promotional campaigns. It doesn't have much of an impact in the long run, though, believe me.