Ernie Banks (1931-2015)

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Mr. Cub

NFC Championship Game: Never Underestimate The Heart Of A Champion!!

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'Nuff Said!!

The Ohio State Buckeyes Win "The National Title"!!

Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer

CONGRATULATIONS to the Ohio State Buckeyes on their thrilling victory over the Oregon Ducks in the CFP National Title Game, thus becoming the first national champion in the "playoff" era! The Buckeyes beat the Ducks, 42-20, in what many consider a shocker. Of the 4 playoff teams (Oregon, Florida State, Alabama and Ohio State) the Ducks, with their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota, were considered overwhelming favorites. The Buckeyes, on the other hand, were considered the least deserving in the eyes of many. This was probably due to the fact that the Buckeyes were playing with third-string quarterback Cardale Jones and were representing the Big Ten which was thought to be weaker than in years past.

Many believed the Big 12 deserved a representative in either the Baylor Bears or the TCU Horned Frogs whom (at the time) were also 1-loss teams. There's no question that if the Big 12 had had a conference title game, one of these two teams would have made the playoffs and Ohio State (Big 10 champions) would have been left out. But the Big 12, with no conference title game, declared them co-champions and the only solution was to keep them both out in order to avoid a major controversy within the Big 12. Ohio State was the safe choice, in other words.

As it turned out, Baylor lost a thriller in the Cotton Bowl to Michigan State (Big 10), 42-41, thus eliminating themselves from the conversation. TCU, however, crushed Mississippi in the Peach Bowl, 42-3, preserving their 1-loss season. That left them with the same (1-loss) record as Ohio State thus creating the first-ever controversy in the "playoff" era. The chant of "We Wuz Robbed" was heard all over Horned Frogs Nation!

Star-Telegram

But in the end, Ohio State's unbelievable run to the national title was HUGE for the new playoff system because it justified their representation and helped the system as a whole DODGE a major bullet. Had Ohio State not performed well, the controversy would have been even bigger! No doubt!

It's Marcus!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO MARCUS MARIOTA
2014 HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER

jlgraffix

HEISMAN #MahaloMarcus #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/OCBocnvlZz
— Oregon Football (@WinTheDay) December 14, 2014

Oregon QB Marcus Mariota wins the 2014 Heisman Trophy. pic.twitter.com/1hJ99hPFQv
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 14, 2014

BREAKING: Oregon QB Marcus Mariota wins Heisman Trophy. Mariota threw 38 TD passes and ONLY 2 Int this season. pic.twitter.com/dAmij4B5VP
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 14, 2014

Official: Oregon Ducks QB Marcus Mariota wins 2014 @HeismanTrophy award. He is the first winner in Oregon History. pic.twitter.com/IuBx8NENAj
— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) December 14, 2014

Could it be anyone else? Oregon’s Marcus Mariota wins the Heisman. http://t.co/hyeFwoDNyu pic.twitter.com/r1SEtGUw8d
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) December 14, 2014

Marcus Mariota wins 2014 Heisman Trophy: • 1st #Oregon player to win • 1st Hawaiian-born player to win #HeismanHouse pic.twitter.com/wBydFPImRH
— 120 Sports (@120Sports) December 14, 2014

Oregon QB Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy http://t.co/4WbunHZBOA pic.twitter.com/H6SAihJjlj
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 14, 2014

What a season for Marcus Mariota: - 38 Pass TD - 14 Rush TD - 2 Int - 4,452 total yards (school record) pic.twitter.com/GvqvRIA1Vd
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 14, 2014

Congrats Mad Bum!

si.com

Well deserved and probably a no-brainer choice!

Why The Big 12 Got Hosed!!

Just ask Commissioner Bob Bowlsby and his "CO-CHAMPIONS"!

"We were penalized for not having a postseason championship game." - @Big12Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby pic.twitter.com/jPWfrmyGd1
— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) December 7, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Tom Terrific!

The Greatest New York Met ever!