Sometimes you hear things you just can’t believe, especially when a precedent has been set.
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum’s rise to fame came from being the mouthpiece of the SEC. At times it’s warranted, and at other times it feels like a schtick to how he plays things up and riles up opposing fanbases not drinking sweet tea and eating grits. And while Finebaum has given Ohio State credit in the past, more often than not, teams and players performing athletic feats in the game of football in the south often get the benefit of the doubt.
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Color me and a lot of others surprised then by the way Finebaum reacted to the question of whether or not Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith was the best in college football. ESPN’s unofficial SEC mascot didn’t even hesitate when asked the question on a segment of “Get Up” on the “worldwide leader.”
“That he is, he’s so good, Greeny. You know, doing the draft, where he would have gone last year, it’s incredible he has to stay in college with all the convoluted rules, “Finebaum said. “The biggest issue they had last year with Chip Kelly calling the plays was getting him the ball enough. Remember, in the Michigan game. He didn’t get the ball enough in the Texas game. I think that will change this year, but he is without a doubt the best player in the game.”
I wouldn’t say Finebaum’s response is shocking, but it might be a little surprising. However, when you have a talent like Smith, who almost every national media member believes is the best player in college football, sometimes it’s so obvious that going against it just doesn’t make any sense. Heck, even Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore was drinking the scarlet and gray colored Kool-Aid when asked about Smith at Big Ten football media days.
Finebaum does bring up a good point, though. Can the Ohio State coaching staff and new quarterback get Smith the ball enough in some of the most important games to pull out wins that could mean the difference between a Big Ten and College Football Playoff national championship, and simply having another really good year?
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Paul Finebaum reacts to Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith being best in CFB
