Midseason CFB Awards: Catches, Blunders, Fans and Moments That Matter

The college football season is officially halfway complete, which is your cue to commence your midseason panic. Hug the nearest football—squeeze the hell out of that pigskin—and don’t let go.

Don’t ever let go.

By now you’ve perused through a handful of midseason awards pieces, and I’m sure you have your own thoughts on the players, teams and coaches of the year at the halfway point. And while these conversations should absolutely be taking place, you won’t find them here.

Oh, no. We have bigger plans in store when it comes to midseason hardware.

We’re here to award the moments that matter from the first half of the 2012 season: the fans, the plays, the blunders, the mascots and the happenings that deserve your utmost attention. If you missed them the first time around, you'll want to see them. If you've seen them already, you'll want to see them again.

Grab a brew and dig in.

The "Well, at Least You Tried Award": This Kentucky Fan

Kentucky lost its opening game to Louisville, although there were a few moments in this one that allowed Wildcats fans to celebrate. This gentleman did just that, although his high-five attempt may go down as the worst one in the history of everything. There's something special about it, though.

Down. He. Goes. HARD.

Well, at least Kentucky responded by really turning it around this year.

Best Catch: Ohio State's Devin Smith

It came in Week 1, and we thought, "You know what, that might just be the best catch of the year."

It was Week 1. We were excited to see football things, but Devin Smith's one-handed stab has held up through the first half. Seriously, this was special and smooth.

There are a handful of worthy contenders when it comes to this honor, but no one made it look as easy as Smith did here.

Most Outstanding Blunder: Kent State's Andre Parker

Kent State linebacker Andre Parker could feel the end zone approaching in college football's first week. He could sense it, and the quiet confusion of an entire stadium and the sidelines didn’t stop him from going 58 yards...the wrong damn way.

And it was beautiful.

Jukes, attempted stiff-arms, moves and determination. Why did Towson tackle him? That’s one of life’s great mysteries. And while this play was indeed blown dead because of stupid punting rules, in our eyes it’s still real and oh so glorious.

The “Remove That from the Playbook” Award: Kansas State

At first it looked like a quarterback draw, then it looked like a jump pass, and then, minus-19 yards later, it was a Harlem Globetrotter trick gone horribly wrong.

Collin Klein attempted to throw this behind his back in the team’s early beatdown against Miami, and the result was hilarity. Complete and utter hilarity.

This is basically the only wizardry that Bill Snyder has yet to pull off, and he will master it, Big 12 foes.

Be afraid. Be very afraid. 

Best Performance: The Ohio State Marching Band

Save your stat lines and comebacks. The Ohio State marching band gets this, and really it isn’t all that close. I'm sorry, Geno Smith. Watch this, and you'll agree.

Their halftime video-game tribute which they unveiled on October 6 might go down as one of the greatest intermissions of all time. If you’re a fan of these games—especially the old-school Nintendo gems—then you will undoubtedly agree.

Also, it has over 12 million views already, which deserves some other rewards, I suppose.

The Premature Celebration Award: BYU Holder JD Falslev

BYU and Utah played in an epic rivalry game that had 387 final plays. The Utah fans rushed the field, were penalized, were ready to rush the field again and finally rushed the field successfully after BYU missed this last-second field goal.

Before that field goal crashed off the post, however, BYU holder JD Falslev indulged in an early upright celebration that, well, never came to fruition.

He was then trampled by 145 million Utah fans on the 387th play.

Best Block: Virginia Tech's Ronny Vandyke

Pulling off the ultimate block isn’t about knocking your opponent’s helmet into the stands. In fact, you don’t need a bone-crushing blow to be effective. Virginia Tech freshman linebacker Ronny Vandyke demonstrated this against Pitt.

Two players, one block, one touchdown.

It was like you on the bowling alley looking to pick up that key spare, only Vandyke absolutely nailed his. You usually just clip one of the pins and then go in the tank for the next three frames. 

The BAC Tailgating Appreciation Award: LSU R2-D2 Keg

It's a keg dressed up as R2-D2 that lights up and pours beer automatically. I'm not quite sure what else needs to be said other than I'd pay top dollar for one.

Ballsiest and Most Beautiful Play Call: Western Kentucky

Beating Kentucky doesn’t exactly give you a trophy these days (sorry, high-fiving Kentucky fan), but doing so in rather outstanding fashion is certainly good for something. 

Forget kicking the PAT in OT, Western Kentucky wanted the win. To achieve this, the Hilltoppers didn’t just draw up a normal play. No, they had QB Kawaun Jakes lateral via pass to running back Antonio Andrews, who then threw it back to Jakes, who ran into the end zone for the classiest two-point conversion you will see all year.

I believe I used “testicular fortitude” to describe the call before. Yeah, I’ll stick with that.

Fan Appreciation Award: Shirtless NC State Fan with a Pole

The biggest upset of the first half has to be NC State over Florida State. Yeah, sure, but we're not handing out upset awards at the moment. We are, however, handing over a halfway trophy for the best fan of the first half.

Think about what that Kentucky fan did, and now try and imagine the exact opposite. 

Anyone looking to take this crown away in 2012 is going to have their work cut out for them. Props, shirtless, lack of tan, timing. My goodness, this is large man art.