As I retreated to my hotel in West Lafayette, Ind., after Iowa's 27-14 loss to Purdue, I turned on ESPN to see my favorite college football player/soldier, Kellen Winslow Jr., go on a rampage after the Hurricanes lost to Tennessee, 10-6. The loss broke Miami's 26-game home winning streak, something that would've upset me if I were a Miami fan.
But Winslow wasn't mad about losing to Tennessee. He was mad about the officials.
In the game, Winslow asserted that Tennessee players were going for his knees and the SEC crew that called the game was targeting him.
This, all from the biggest trash-talking, Heisman-posing crybaby in college football. During the game, Winslow put a vicious block on Tennessee's Corey Campbell, then decided it would be OK to stand over the visibly shaken Campbell and taunt him, for which he should've been flagged.
Winslow caught seven passes for 88 yards, but he dropped a pass in the end zone at the end of the first half and was called for a key 15-yard unsportsmanlike-conduct call late in the fourth quarter.
But the real fireworks came after the game.
In a postgame interview, Winslow compared the game of football to war, said he was out to kill someone because they were out to kill him, said all he cared about was "this U," then claimed he was pissed off and said "I'm a [expletive] soldier."
Wow. What an embarrassment to himself, his family, and his school.
If I were Miami coach Larry Coker, I would almost wish Winslow had gone pro early. He would fit right in with the NFL. He has been nothing but a distraction this year.
In Miami's first game of the year against lowly Louisiana Tech, Winslow caught a touchdown (his only one of the year), then proceeded to strike a Heisman pose after the play. Everytime he touches the ball, I'm afraid he's going to rip someone's head off with his celebrations.
Winslow has been a headache in the locker room. He's been critical of starting quarterback Brock Berlin (who hasn't?), but instead of keeping the issue in-house, he has made it public, both through the press and on the field. Every time Winslow doesn't get a ball thrown to him or thinks Berlin's pass isn't good enough, he complains on the field.
After hearing Winslow's comments, it makes one appreciate such players as Dallas Clark and Bob Sanders even more. Neither Clark nor Sanders would have said that. They are both players who let their play do the talking for them. Winslow is the exact opposite - he likes to talk about how good he is, then doesn't back it up on the field.
Winslow has all the talent in the world. He has 4.5 speed, amazing for a tight end, and he is as strong as a bull. NFL scouts are drooling over his abilities, and he will likely be a top-10 draft pick, as a player with his abilities should be. He is a complete football player.
Unfortunately, he can't keep his mouth shut.
Posted by Ron at November 14, 2003 06:44 PM