[From the class of 09]

Ok, let's not act like MB's performance against WVU wasn't amazing, because it was. Obviously, Sam's performance should outweigh it, but MB played amazing on a very large platform.

No doubt it was a very good performance, but for me (again personal opinion) truly great performances result with a W.

[BJWilliams]

I actuall voted for Karen BLocker's streak (in light on the World Cup take that for what you will). going almost 500 minutes (that is four and a half games plus some change) without allowing a goal is pretty impressive (that and I guess I wanted to just be different even though I found MB and Sam;s performances to be amazing as well)

[Hold My Own]

You mean the streak that was primarily against BSC schools as opposed to the other option against the best individuals in the country?

Just making sure I'm clear

[BJWilliams]

Indeed...now if Blocker's streak HAD been against some of the best teams in the country I still think that the voting would have worked out the same regardless. I will leave it at that because I dont want to potentially turn this into a discussion of men's sports vs women's sports

[01LUGrad]

I'll say it again- This shouldn't even be remotely close.
Read very carefully: NATIONAL CHAMPION. That means you are the best in the United States of America at your sport. Oh, he did it TWICE too. Putting it in perspective, if Mike Brown wins the Heisman next year (I really hope he does!) and Sam wins 2 national championships again, we can then (and only then) make a comparison between the two.

[BJWilliams]

This isnt an award of (Best Individual Performance that resulted in a National Championship) or (Best Individual Preformance against major competition), this simply is Best Individual Performance...Now the venue where the performance happened is something to be considered, but its not right to be so shortsighted as to discount the merits of each performance.

[olldflame]

I have to agree that Blocker is a weak choice in this contest BJ. The fact is that a shutout in soccer often has little to do with the keeper. It's more about controlling the midfield and playing solid defense on the back line. I'm not planning on going back and looking at box scores from womens soccer to find out, but I feel pretty safe in saying that in a lot of those games she was not really tested.

[prototype]

This isnt an award of (Best Individual Performance that resulted in a National Championship) or (Best Individual Preformance against major competition), this simply is Best Individual Performance...Now the venue where the performance happened is something to be considered, but its not right to be so shortsighted as to discount the merits of each performance.

Seriously people - BJ is arguing this point against Sam... As far as I'm concerned this case is closed or be forever lumped with BJ...

[BJWilliams]

I wasnt making my point to go against Sam necessarily proto, I was simply stating that the point is that this category is Best Individual Performance, while everybody is getting hung up on the quality of competition and by doing so lessening the quality of the other nominated achievements just because it wasnt against some "major competition". I think that all the performances were quite noteworthy (I mean I was riveted to my computer screen watching Sam dominate that race last November and I was in Buffalo Wild Wings with a friend to watch MBs amazing performance against West Virginia, Devon Brown practically took Liberty on her back in that championship game against Gardner-Webb, I was listening in my room to that game. KB's shutout streak was a catalyst for a massive turnaround on the season for the women's soccer team that led to a BSC regular season title at about the point when some people on this board were starting to question Coach Hain and Robert Karlsson did something that no Liberty golfer had done in what...10 years?) The point is that there is a reason that there are five nominees for that category. if the requirements for this award included that it had to be done on a national stage or against major competition then of course MBs game and Chelanga's national championship would be the only worthy candidates...the point is that those are not the only requirements. If Sam's performance wins I will be happy. If Mike's performance wins I will be happy. All Im saying is consider that all of the performances were noteworthy for some reason for another not just the two that came on a "big time stage"

[01LUGrad]

I see what you are saying, BJ, but that doesn't change the argument at all. How can we determine the best individual performance? I could go out and score 101 points in a game of basketball against an elementary school rec team, but that doesn't mean that I was more dominant than Wilt. You have to take into account the level of competition in order to determine the person who had the best performance.

In any case, isn't a cross country race the epitome of an individual performance? No defense or blockers...just you against everyone else.

[jcmanson]

if Mike Brown wins the Heisman next year (I really hope he does!) and Sam wins 2 national championships again, we can then (and only then) make a comparison between the two.

No. If that were to happen MB's achievement would FAR outweigh Sam's. How many people in America that follow sports know Sam's name even after he's won 2 National Championships - very few. How many people in America that follow sports would know Mike Brown's name if he won the Heisman - millions.

[01LUGrad]

No. If that were to happen MB's achievement would FAR outweigh Sam's. How many people in America that follow sports know Sam's name even after he's won 2 National Championships - very few. How many people in America that follow sports would know Mike Brown's name if he won the Heisman - millions.

Actually, no. Millions do know Sam Chelanga's (and Liberty's) name because of his accomplishments. Maybe you don't follow the sport very closely, but people who do know exactly what he can do.

In any case, the Sparky's name isn't "Accomplishment That Makes A Bunch Of People Know Who You Are." It is "Best Individual Performance."
Winning a cross country national championship = Best runner in the country.
Winning a Heisman = Best football player in the country.
The only difference is that a bunch of people vote (based on who ESPN hypes the most) on the Heisman. In cross country, you prove who the winner is by beating the best in the country by 25 seconds, and setting national records in the process.

[flamesbball84]

as far as i'm concerned, unless you are related or a close friend of someone on that list other than chalenga, it's disrespectful and insulting to vote for anyone other than chalenga. a national championship, especially one in dominating fashion, trumps everything else every single time.

[jcmanson]

as far as i'm concerned, unless you are related or a close friend of someone on that list other than chalenga, it's disrespectful and insulting to vote for anyone other than chalenga. a national championship, especially one in dominating fashion, trumps everything else every single time.

Agreed, but we have fans who are football fans and not necessarily liberty or liberty all sports fans.

[prototype]

as far as i'm concerned, unless you are related or a close friend of someone on that list other than chalenga, it's disrespectful and insulting to vote for anyone other than chalenga. a national championship, especially one in dominating fashion, trumps everything else every single time.

Agreed, but we have fans who are football fans and not necessarily liberty or liberty all sports fans.

Then they shouldn't vote. It would like me voting for The Oscars, but I didn't even watch all the movies...

[jcmanson]

as far as i'm concerned, unless you are related or a close friend of someone on that list other than chalenga, it's disrespectful and insulting to vote for anyone other than chalenga. a national championship, especially one in dominating fashion, trumps everything else every single time.

Agreed, but we have fans who are football fans and not necessarily liberty or liberty all sports fans.

Then they shouldn't vote. It would like me voting for The Oscars, but I didn't even watch all the movies...

Well they're allowed to and will continued to be allowed to. So, get over it.

[01LUGrad]

All of this is true. Remember, stupid people are allowed to vote in national elections, and look what that got us.

[jcmanson]

Mike Brown and Chelanga are tied at 46%

[jcmanson]

Chelanga held on in a tight contest.

Now you can vote for best newcomer. There's some good choices this year.

http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm?PID=21552

Voting is now open for Best Newcomer, the third of five award categories in the 2010 Sparkys. The five nominees include freshmen Meghan Burggraf, Evan Gordon, Katrina Johnson, Max McKay and Siim Tuus.

[olldflame]

The right choice, but the closeness was a clear indication of how thoroughly football dominates our fan base, and how much love and respect those fans have for Mike. Sam will likely win at least 2 more national championships next year. Personally, I would love to see Mike do something that would merit his winning this award next year anyway. Something like a win over Ball State, a BSC title and a deep playoff run maybe.

[olldflame]

Devon Brown is not on the list for best newcomer. That's just dumb. Who cares if she was in school the year before. last fall was the first time she had competed at the NCAA level. On the other hand, Sam was eligible for it last year even though he had competed a year at another school and transferred.

[01LUGrad]

Glad Sam won. I also hope Mike Brown does something this fall that makes him deserve the win next year!

Now, the fun part will be the last award, Best Male Athlete. That should spark some conversation on here...

[jcmanson]

I think best male athlete has to be Sam.

[prototype]

I think best male athlete has to be Sam.

But is Sam really an Athlete? I mean all he does is put one foot in front on each other for a couple of hours... He doesn't throw, catch or even kick anything...

[olldflame]

I think best male athlete has to be Sam.

But is Sam really an Athlete? I mean all he does is put one foot in front on each other for a couple of hours... He doesn't throw, catch or even kick anything...

waiting for 01LUgrad response in 3, 2, 1....................