Nice article on McNeal vs. Young (for A&M fan that is)

indyfrisco · Post by **indyfrisco** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 4:46 pm

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug ... &type=lgns

Texas-sized snubs won't slow A&M's McNeal

By Matt Hayes - SportingNews

The guy can't catch a break. He has been dealing with this -- what's that term athletes use? -- disrespect going on seven years now. Since back to high school, when his tall, skinny rival from the big city always got credit for doing more and showing more even though he really didn't.

All Reggie McNeal needs now is that annoying uncle at the annual family reunion, the one who always says you'll never be as good as ...

"It's always been Vince," McNeal says. "He's the one I'm always compared to."

Anyone who has followed Texas quarterback Vince Young and Texas A&M quarterback Reggie McNeal knows there is no comparison. McNeal is a complete quarterback; Young is not. McNeal can make all the throws, and he can be dazzling and deflating when he scrambles away from pressure. Young is a tailback trapped in the body of a quarterback, the first guy you pick when choosing sides because God knows you don't want to tackle him.

McNeal has better career numbers -- and has been a more productive player -- than Young, yet Young is everybody's All-American. Young has every able-bodied sportswriter, television bobblehead and amateur analyst gawking over his quick feet and flashy moves. McNeal barely is known outside of College Station.

Young is a Heisman Trophy favorite, but he's not the best quarterback in his conference. Or even in his division.

"Reggie is a once-in-a-lifetime player," says A&M coach Dennis Franchione.

That's what all of the recruiting experts were saying about Young four years ago. The best player in the nation, the best quarterback in the nation, a consensus No. 1 recruit. And McNeal? They didn't even know where to slot him, and some gave him the catchall "athlete" label. Yet it was McNeal who led his small-town Lufkin High team to a Texas Class 5A state championship after Young's big-city Houston team lost in the semifinals -- with an opportunity to play Lufkin on the line.

"Would've been a great game," McNeal says.

It also would've been his only fair shot at competing against Young. The reality: Young is playing with a bazooka behind a talented Texas team. McNeal is playing with a pop gun. Young plays for one of the nation's top five teams, a media darling of a program that gets bigger with every season. McNeal plays for the Longhorns' stepsister, a once-proud program in the middle of a housecleaning under Franchione.

Yet, with all of that, one thing stands clear: Young is style; McNeal is substance.

"No one in this conference scares you more than Reggie McNeal," says Iowa State coach Dan McCarney.

A few weeks ago, Franchione sat at a table during the Big 12 media days and humbly said McNeal ran a legitimate 4.3 40 in summer timing. Not a pencil moved. A day later, when told of a teammate's alleged sub-4.3 40 time, Young defiantly responded, "Ain't nobody on this team faster than me." The assembled throng of media giggled and feverishly scribbled on notepads before launching into a series of Heisman Trophy questions.

Heisman Trophy.

What's that word again? Yeah, disrespect.

Senior writer Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.

indyfrisco · Post by **indyfrisco** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 6:55 pm

Team game.

Reggie will be better on Sundays. I could care less about Sundays though.

indyfrisco · Post by **indyfrisco** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 8:44 pm

Not huge yet but looking at comparisons he measures up ok.

7 Michael Vick QB 6'-0" 215 Virginia Tech
1 Reggie McNeal QB 6'-2" 206 Sr-3L Lufkin, TX (Lufkin)

Adelpiero · Post by **Adelpiero** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:03 pm

IndyFrisco wrote:Team game.

Reggie will be better on Sundays. I could care less about Sundays though.

Indoor football moved to Sundays?

indyfrisco · Post by **indyfrisco** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:18 pm

You should know. Isn't Banks going to be drafted first by the Dallas Desperados?

Jimmy Medalions · Post by **Jimmy Medalions** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:41 pm

Frisco is on fiah today

Left Seater · Post by **Left Seater** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 10:29 pm

Bottom line is the guy is 0-2 against Vince.

Strange thing is this article sound like the usual Texas fan arguement with OU. Yeah, well we lost but our guy is better.

Vito Corleone · Post by **Vito Corleone** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 4:08 am

Every article by Haynes needs a disclaimer

bitter Cal Grad.

The guy has been a non-stop Texas basher since Texas went to the Rosebowl. He is 2% facts and 98% bitter golden bear.

Fact is McNeal gets hit and he generally curls up in the fetal position (See Cotton Bowl).

The guy has skills I won't deny it, nor will I deny that he is a better Passer than Young, but the fact is Vince has carried Texas on his back to wins that would have been loses without his superhuman skills. Not since his Soph year has Reggie even come close to being a difference in an aggie win or loss.

Another thing that Matty conviently left out is that Vince still has 2 years of eligibility left while Reggie is going to be a senior.

Jimmy Medalions · Post by **Jimmy Medalions** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 4:21 am

Two things:

It's Kal not Cal.

And bitter Kal Grad is way too redundant.

s'all.

Left Seater · Post by **Left Seater** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 1:58 am

I totally understand your arguement BtH, but the guys main point seemed to be disrespect. That is a stretch I think when you look at the record.

King Crimson · Post by **King Crimson** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 3:57 am

read Texags.com and it's pretty clear "Reggie" has cured cancer and wrote most of the songs on the White Album in addition to singing all the cuts on AiC's Dirt. and played guitar on the Velvets "Sister Ray".

though no one on Texags.com has ever heard those records. but "Reggie" could do it.

Harvdog · Post by **Harvdog** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 1:46 pm

and....Vince has never lost to Baylor. Reggie is a good college QB. A once in a lifetime player??? Wow. Fran is really reaching.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 6:58 pm

I just started doing my research for fantasy league and was quite impressed with McNeal's numbers. Granted Young having Benson meant he didn't get to be the workhorse that McNeal was and Young is an incredible athlete, but in terms of being a dual-threat qb I might give McNeal the nod at this point. But I guess we'll see how they develop over the coming season. I'm glad my 'skers don't face either one.