wtf is the Davey O'Brien Award and how did Mac Jones win it?

Phil Plantier

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I'm starting Dane Brugler's Big Guide, because that's a thing to do on a Sunday morning. There was a note that Mac Jones won the Davey O'Brien award. I had never heard of this award. But how did the 5th best pro prospect win the award? Was there an outcry? Or does no one care? I figure one of our draft experts (or college football experts) knows.
 

terrynever

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I'm starting Dane Brugler's Big Guide, because that's a thing to do on a Sunday morning. There was a note that Mac Jones won the Davey O'Brien award. I had never heard of this award. But how did the 5th best pro prospect win the award? Was there an outcry? Or does no one care? I figure one of our draft experts (or college football experts) knows.
I’ll bite. It’s one of several regional college football awards begun over the years, smaller versions of Heisman, usually sponsored by groups of rich college football backers who want to grab a brief share of the spotlight for themselves. The NY Athletic Club sponsored the Heisman. Maxwell Club in Philly has its own award that often features a regional bias. The Davey O’Brien Award began in 1977 after the former TCU QB dropped dead at age 60. Earl Campbell won it early on but by 1981 the club members decided to limit their award to QBs. Doug Flutie won in 1984 so it can’t be all bad. Regional bias often figures in these smaller awards.
Jones has also won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Manning Award.
These banquets form the “rubber chicken” circuit and have lost their former importance over the years.
 

Phil Plantier

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I’ll bite. It’s one of several regional college football awards begun over the years, smaller versions of Heisman, usually sponsored by groups of rich college football backers who want to grab a brief share of the spotlight for themselves. The NY Athletic Club sponsored the Heisman. Maxwell Club in Philly has its own award that often features a regional bias. The Davey O’Brien Award began in 1977 after the former TCU QB dropped dead at age 60. Earl Campbell won it early on but by 1981 the club members decided to limit their award to QBs. Doug Flutie won in 1984 so it can’t be all bad. Regional bias often figures in these smaller awards.
Jones has also won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Manning Award.
These banquets form the “rubber chicken” circuit and have lost their former importance over the years.
This is great, thanks. But is the only reason Mac Jones won a "he's a winner" argument?
 

MuppetAsteriskTalk

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He had the best numbers this year.
Yes, without knowing anything more than what I learned in this thread about the award, there is also a point to be made that the best college QB any given year may not be one of the top several NFL QB prospects, for one or many reasons.
 

terrynever

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Yes, without knowing anything more than what I learned in this thread about the award, there is also a point to be made that the best college QB any given year may not be one of the top several NFL QB prospects, for one or many reasons.
Very true. I can only guess who votes on the O’Brien Award but it’s got to be mostly Texans, big boosters and media types.

Googled it. Since 2006, fans have formed part of the voting process.

https://daveyobrienaward.org/voting-process-fan-vote/
 

tims4wins

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I mean Danny Wuerffel (sp?) won the Heisman. So did some awful Oklahoma QB that I’m too lazy to look up.
 

67YAZ

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I was so baffled why Gino Torretta - national champion QB & Hesiman winner - went in the 7th round! In his 5 year NFL career, he logged 41yds, 1 TD, & 1 INT across 5 franchises.
 

DJnVa

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I was so baffled why Gino Torretta - national champion QB & Hesiman winner - went in the 7th round! In his 5 year NFL career, he logged 41yds, 1 TD, & 1 INT across 5 franchises.
TOM BRADY COULDN'T AVERAGE A TD FOR EVERY 41 PASSING YARDS NOW COULD HE???