Before we get to the 'next level' of the Top 25 debate with the as-always-wonderful Keith Arnold of NBC, I wanted to lay this out there:
The views expressed on HLS' behalf by DMQ are DMQ's views and his views alone. They do not represent the opinions or views of The Biscuit or PootND, or HLS as an institution.
Heh. Institution.
Really, this activity is DMQ's. That said, I think the outrage is a bit overblown. He doesn't need me to defend him, but I think you all need to recognize a few things. 1) Everything DMQ says is with a smirk on his face, and especially anything he says on this site or on his HLS Twitter account. Literally everything. He proposed to his wife and he was kind of joking (but not really. but kind of) 2) He is coming at this with a different definition of what a "Top Player" is than most of you. Figure that out, and you'll likely get his list a bit better. 3) It's a freaking off-season list to give us all something to do. Keep that in perspective before you actually get upset about it. coughcoughpootcough.
That said, a few things on what would have been my list had I participated: 1) Crist would've been Top 20, but barely. High Teens. 2) Ruffer would've been Top 10 for sure, probably 6 or 7ish. 3) LNIII wouldn't have been on the list, only because he simply cannot be quantified. 4) Teo would've probably been my #1. 5) Aaron Lynch wouldn't have made my list. He's probably somewhere in the 30's. He could be up there come season-end, but the coaches have said he'll be situational for the most part, and I think you have to be a regular contributor/starter to get the nod here.
Anyway, just jumping in here for a second before the whole world explodes.
Carry on.
By Nate July 29, 2011 - 1:17 pm
Harrumph Harrumph!
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By Trey July 29, 2011 - 1:17 pm
So, i deleted my twitter account and must have missed something. People are literally UPSET about what mq said? Wtf? I dont even know mq personally, but even i can tell when he says wha he does, it’s never a vindictive thing or meant to be taken personal. Geeze guys, lay off the guy.
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By tjak July 29, 2011 - 3:12 pm
You tell em’ Trey.
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By KA July 29, 2011 - 1:44 pm
I support Biscuit’s defense of MQ. Ruffer was a finalist for the Lou Groza. That’s Top 3 at his position, right? If that’s the only rationale used, I’d be fine with it.
(For the record, I had Ruffer at No. 7)
Really — any exercise like this, especially a subjective preseason list, is essentially a water cooler topic.
Props to MQ for keeping it fresh. And making it much more fun to read my Twitter feed and watch Poot kill him for it.
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By PootND July 29, 2011 - 2:27 pm
hahaha I try…I try. DMQ just makes it so easy to kill him. I don’t even have to try anymore :-/
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By Casey July 29, 2011 - 2:13 pm
I have to admit its been alot of fun watching people get upset about his list, so i thank you domer mq for at least making my work day more enjoyable.
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By SDI July 29, 2011 - 2:53 pm
Keep it coming MQ. A good respectful argument about ND players, coaches, and opponents is the whole purpose of this site in my opinion. That and the glorification of the all powerful LNIII.
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By TLNDMA July 29, 2011 - 2:59 pm
Finding out who his #1 was, made it all make sense. DMQ has man love for kickers. I have no idea how that could have started, anyone???
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By SDI July 29, 2011 - 3:51 pm
Here is my list:
1. Floyd
2. Teo
3. G. Gray
4. Z. Martin
5. Wood
6. H. Smith
7. Blanton
8. Eifert
9. Ruffer
10. KLM
11. E. Johnson
12. Fleming
13. Shembo
14. Crist
15. Ridjohnson
16. TJ Jones
17. Cwynar
18. Robinson
19. Cave
20. Rees
21. Ragone
22. Watt
23. Motta
24. Slaughter
25. Bennett Jackson
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By trey July 29, 2011 - 4:09 pm
Mine:
LNIII
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By tjak July 30, 2011 - 1:34 am
Better then DMQ’s. But this is only preseason hype, so, so what.
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By sec25row45 July 30, 2011 - 7:36 am
No Riddick?
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By The Biscuit July 30, 2011 - 8:46 am
No 15. He has taken to Ridjohnson Bc shoutbox censors the rid****
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By rocket89 July 30, 2011 - 9:53 am
Ruffer at No. 1 is about 10 million times more believable and acceptable than Crist outside the top 25.
That’s all I have to say.
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By Nate July 30, 2011 - 9:18 pm
Crist isn’t allowed to have an agent yet, but you being tied to his success financially is the only reason I can see you being so worked up about this. It’s a list to pass time and generate discussion. GET OVER IT. If Crist doesn’t start, which is still a possibility, though one I don’t think is likely, then he shouldn’t be on the list. It’s one thing to disagree, but you act like he left off Joe Montana or Rocket Ismail. MQ decided to take a less safe, more debatable stance on things. He didn’t break into your house and kick your dog. Settle down.
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By Rocket89 July 31, 2011 - 11:42 am
Haha ok Nate, thanks for the great tips.
What’s funny is that I’ve been “debating” here about the picks…isn’t that why we’ve been doing it to “pass the time”?
Are you telling me that this was just done to generate discussion, and then telling me not to discuss it?
Weird.
You’re right I disagreed with his placement of Crist, but I’m not that worked up about it. Forgive me for trying to inject some discussion into this—hey remember that’s why you said we’re doing it!!
And although I think it’s kind of lame that DMQ can take the “I say everything with a smirk on my face” route, literally no one wanted to actually debate the issue.
That’s what irked me. Everyone was fine with just turning it into a Rees sucks, Rees is awesome, Crist sucks, Crist is awesome bunch of arguments…which really wasn’t what this should be about.
That’s great that you should bring up “if Crist doesn’t start” he shouldn’t be ranked. I’m like Walter Sobchak and calmer than you are dude. I just want you or someone else to “discuss” why someone like Schwenke—someone who has never started at ND, maybe never will, and totaled 2 tackles last year—should be ranked ahead of Crist RIGHT NOW.
If you want to debate that with me to pass the time, be my guest. Just be aware that your comment above isn’t gonna cut it cupcake.
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By The Biscuit July 31, 2011 - 2:41 pm
My guess is that nate was reacting more to all the freaking than your particular comment.
I think your point about Schwenke and the relative ranking is a good one. But I think it all goes back to definitions of ‘top players’.
Oh, and Poot ripping doesnt count. He’s the intern and we generally just ignore him.
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By Nate August 1, 2011 - 12:33 am
Dude, discussion is one thing, but you’re treating DMQ’s comment like he said Pat Eilers was a better WR than Tim Brown, or that Sam Bowie was a better draft pick than Michael Jordan. You ARE worked up about it–go back and read your posts. Writing 11 paragraph posts and using phrases like “beyond ridiculous” don’t exude calm. Calling DMQ the “trolliest of trolls” doesn’t exude rationality.
I don’t want to debate anything, because *GASP* I don’t CARE one way or the other. I’m not watching practices, nor am I qualified to tell much of anything even if I were. Stats look pretty even, but Crist had less of a defense to work with and Kelly called plays to protect Rees, so he gets a slight nod there. Rees, on the other hand, QB’d four wins, even if much of that isn’t attributable to him. I can see a case made for either. Spring didn’t reveal much. Fall camp might, but bottom line whoever Kelly picks as the starter, I’m going to support. Eventually I want to see Golson get a shot, as I think he’ll be our version of Oregon’s QB this past year. It’s not going to happen this year, though. Crist never showed me that he had “gotten” it, that he grasped what reads he should be making and that he’d ever be a good QB in Kelly’s system. Perhaps a chance to sit and observe and some maturity over the course of the offseason changes that, and if it does, great. I’m not invested in any of these guys, so I find it hard to get worked up about it to the point I’m going to call someone a troll and ridiculous. “Ridiculous” is what I would call getting worked up over it when there’s no clear evidence one way or the other who should be the starter. Also, calling someone “cupcake” is pretty ridiculous, too. What, are you 12? In your own words, you’re “better than this”.
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By rocket89 August 1, 2011 - 1:26 pm
You still don’t get it do you?
It’s not about who is going to be starter!
Crap, I put Rees at No. 16 on my list which was higher than everyone on the panel except DMQ!
No, he didn’t say Eilers was better than Brown, he said Schwenke was better than Crist.
I stand by everything I said without regret, because I’m making completely valid points—points you aren’t addressing at all, but instead accusing me of getting too worked up about it.
Please.
All DMQ did to back up his snubbing of Crist was to say basically he lost to Navy and Rees has some better stats. I know he didn’t take it too serious, but it was pretty ridiculous nonetheless.
I mean I don’t get it…why is it so hard to understand why people think putting Schwenke ahead of Crist is a troll-like statement? You’re mad at me for pointing that out and then not backing up your argument with anything of substance, and topping it with a nice heaving pile of “I don’t care.”
I can see a case made for both Crist and Rees, that’s why they’re both inside my Top 25 and ahead of a guy who might not even break the two-deep in 2011.
I don’t see what leg you have to stand on now, do you? I really don’t care that you think I’m worked up…it’s not the point (just like who’s going to start isn’t) and if I was, so what? Why does it bother you so much?
Unless you care to explain to me why Schwenke should be ranked ahead of Crist, then don’t bother responding.
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By Nate August 2, 2011 - 1:50 am
Cheers, dude. I’m not backing up any argument or addressing your points because as I said, I don’t have any argument to make. You go right ahead and make your points, I’m glad you enjoy it. I’m going to go back to simply wishing the season was here so we can move past the pointless arguing.
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By Rocket89 July 31, 2011 - 11:43 am
Also, a member of DMQ’s own blog was apparently ripping on him for the Crist pick. But I’m WAY out of line for doing it too, huh?
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By kyndfan August 1, 2011 - 8:47 am
What’s a twitter?
LNIII can be quantified. Simply multiply his current weight by infinity, since every single pound of LNIII is infinately awesome.
Good discussion. Is it September 3rd yet?
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By Trey August 1, 2011 - 10:28 am
Youre getting pretty good at this..
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By Brad August 2, 2011 - 6:04 am
You know, I hear all this chatter about people being upset with DMQ’s list (which I find hilarious), but what everyone is failing to notice is that ALL THESE LISTS ARE WRONG.
Here is the correct ND Top 25.
1. LNIII
2. LNIII
3. LNIII
4. LNIII
5. LNIII
6. LNIII
7. LNIII
8. LNIII
9. LNIII
10. LNIII
11. LNIII
12. LNIII
13. LNIII
14. LNIII
15. LNIII
16. LNIII
17. LNIII
18. LNIII
19. LNIII
20. Michael Floyd
21. LNIII
22. LNIII
23. LNIII
24. Manti Te’o
25. LNIII
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By kyndfan August 2, 2011 - 7:23 am
Where’s the “like” button on this thing
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By Trey August 2, 2011 - 8:12 am
I just watched a highlight of 2010. I found mysekf thinking, this is nice, but next year, this video is just going to be 3:00 of a still pic of LNIII standing over a vanquished Denard Robinson
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By Nate August 2, 2011 - 2:47 pm
I’m shocked, SHOCKED that you left LNIII out of the #20 spot. This is a travesty. You should be ashamed of yourself. And you call yourself a fan.
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By Brad August 2, 2011 - 2:51 pm
It was a tough call.
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By IrishLion10 August 2, 2011 - 5:50 pm
Has anyone seen whether or not ESPN has “analyzed” LNIII’s Heisman hopes yet?
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