I vote for Manamanu. He was rock in the middle. What a genius Straight Arrow Gennaro was for finding the requisite diamonds-in-the-rough to surround him and lead the Armadillos to the upset of Texas.
Who would have seen Featherstone as anything other than a CB, except for Gennaro!
Huzzah.
I agree, Manu was the bedrock of the team (and he got that big block at the end). But you could also make a case for Paul Blake as MVP (anyone who can come back to college football at age 34 deserves to win something). Or even Charlie Banks- after all, he was the only guy on the last team who wasn't corrupt, he helped Featherstone overcome his problems catching the ball, and he caught the winning pass at the final game.
"Now get your patchouli stink out of my store!"
Manamanu just for this line:
"Mr. Blake. They'll never touch you."
Great call!
The only part I didn't care for was the bad dude's entire fasemask flying off, followed by gushing blood. Those helmets are awfully strong and don't break that easily. They could have at least showed the rival dude (can't recall his name) one last time after being beaten. That would have been sweet, since the dillos rose above and just upset his team! Payback for the barfight, too.
Julie, did I ever tell you about my Uncle Henry Kotter?
I believe you are referring to Flat Top, the All-American inside linebacker. Total badass, I might add.
In the MVP debate, I'd be remissed if I didn't bring Popki into the debate. The man was clearly the locker room and emotional rock of the team! Also, he threw a decent block on the final 2-point conversion.
You know he went in the April draft in the later rounds that year.
After reading the last 11 months worth of comments, all of which are interesting and valuable. I am sticking with Manu as the MVP. Without him, that Texas game would have been U-G-L-Y. Plus, he eased the gender tensions that would have existed on a team that had a woman kicker and was already burdened with the tension of a losing season and pending academic persecution. If they couldn't make PATs at the end of the year, well, let's just say Flat Top would have been a much happier guy around Bowl season.
As a side note, I think Manu probably went somewhere around the 4th-5th round in the draft and may still be playing in the NFL as we speak. That Texas game, though not televised, would have lifted the stock of every armadillo in the eyes of professional scouts.
Manu is definitely important to the entire team but Blake is clearly the leader and MVP. He's the QB, case closed. The offense goes no where if Blake isn't there. We see what happens in the 1st game when Blake is taken out. Papke just runs for his life asking the ref to blow the whistle. Plus, Blake is the one taking all of those vicious hits and he keeps getting back up to play without coming out. In addition, Blake recruits Andre to join the team as well as gets Edison to rejoin the team and teaches him a life lesson in the process. Blake is easily the MVP of the team.
shareEdison...he got a touchdown in the final game and then threw a pass to blake to tie the game. Or Papke
shareI would have to say Paul Blake deserves the MVP in my opinion due to his age and plus, he had good leadership skills as well. Paul Blake and the other Armadillos gave that rival player the name Buzz Top I believe.
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Manumana anchored both lines. But I think Paul Blake was the MVP.
share