B/R's New CFB Columnist Bryan Fischer's Surprise Heisman Pick: Seth Russell
Introductions can be awkward. Sometimes, even more awkward than you thought possible.
Over the years traveling the country covering college football, I've had my fair share of them. Sometimes it's on me, sometimes it's on the head coach or sports information director who has no idea what I look like and leaves me in the hallway thinking Iโm a graduate assistant.ย
This, however, doesn't have to be awkward at all. My name is Bryan Fischer and I'm excited toย be named a new National College Football Columnist here at Bleacher Report..
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As pumped as we all are for the season to start, Iโm doubly so because Iโm joining a great team here with plenty of top-notch ideas about how to best cover the sport we all love in a way that resonates with you, the fan.
If you havenโt already been following me on Twitter or familiar with some of my past work, Iโve covered everything from recruiting at Rivals to Johnny Manzielโs antics at CBS Sports and plenty of other things at a number of diverse outlets. I most recently covered college football and the NFL draft for NFL.com and the NFL Network group, and Iโm thrilled to bring a bit of a different spin on things to Bleacher Report.
Iโll be up front. Youโre not always going to agree or enjoy what I write. Thatโs fine and doesnโt bother me. All I ask is for an open mind. Oh, and I donโt root for (insert your rival here) nor despise (your team here). I also donโt care who wins or loses, but I do root for Hawaii to become a threat to make the College Football Playoff so the company sends me there to cover a game.ย
So buckle up and get ready for what should be another thrilling season of college football filled with more twists and turns than a soap opera. I canโt wait, and Iโm sure plenty of you canโt either after making it through the desert of another offseason.
Best athlete or coach to interview
There are plenty to choose from and hard to pick just one coach from all the years of one-on-ones, press conferences and random chit-chats. Itโs hard to top Stanfordโs David Shaw though, who is not only one of the most thoughtful and eloquent around, but one of the few coaches who doesnโt cringe or look like he wants to be elsewhere when the media comes walking up.ย
Nebraskaโs Mike Riley is another one who instantly comes to mind, mostly because we always end up dovetailing at the end of an interview into talking about the best places to visit in the Texas Hill Country. You also never know what youโre going to get when you talk to Les Miles or Bret Bielema.
As far as players, Iโll go with two of the quarterbacks I talked with the most, with either Matt Barkley or Brett Hundley.
Best player or team covered
Andrew Luck pops into my head as the best offensive player Iโve covered in the past decade or so. There have been plenty of great quarterbacks, running backs and more to spend a few years playing college football, but few who did so many little things the right way.
From high school through college, Jadeveon Clowney was the best defensive player I ever laid eyes on, but Ndamukong Suh had the best season of any defensive player back in 2009.
Most memorable game ever covered
This year's Rose Bowl between Oregon and Florida State came to mind initially, but I was at the Coliseum for the 2007 Stanford-USC game, so Iโm going to go with the biggest point spread upset in college football history as my pick.
As fun as national championship games and dozens of Rose Bowls have been, that whole contest on a chilly night in Los Angeles was just so bizarre, and I donโt think I can ever forget the look of shock everywhere but the Cardinal bench. The final matchup between Texas and Texas A&M in College Station also sticks out, but that probably is just me being a little sentimental.ย
Who will win the CFP National Championship in 2015?
Sorry to disappoint everybody, but Iโll go with the overwhelming favorite this year in Ohio State. They are loaded at just about every position, have plenty of team chemistry and, by the way, are led by one of the best coaches in the history of the sport in Urban Meyer.
The coaching staff and a number of folks around the program seemed up front in thinking 2015 was the season the team really would be in position to win a national title, and thatโs certainly the caseโonly this time theyโre gunning for a repeat.ย
Heisman pick?
The winner of the Baylor-TCU game between Horned Frogs quarterback Trevone Boykin and Bears signal-caller Seth Russell. I'm leaning Russell at the moment.
Bold Prediction for 2015
Chaos is the easy answer, especially with what should be so many tight races in the ACC and Pac-12, plus a potential party crasher in Notre Dame. If I had to nail down just one thing though, Iโll go out on a limb and say that after not getting any teams into the College Football Playoff last year, the Big 12 places two in the final four in 2015.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
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