Who is the Greatest of the Greatest? Who is the Champion among Champions? There can be only one. We have seeded our 16-player field into a single elimination bracket, and it's up to you, the commentariat, to decide who advances to the next round. So cast your vote, then get down in the comments and explain why you are right, and those who voted for the other guy are clearly misinformed.
Round #1, Match #5
Stats gathered from 2012 Alabama Football Record Book, www.cfbstats.com and www.sports-reference.com. (I understand that some of these records will have changed after the 2012 season.)
[Author's Note: I understand that it can be as difficult to compare across positions as it is to compare across generations - if not more so. Please bear in mind that some positions, particularly offensive linemen, simply aren't going to generate measurable statistics - not positive ones, at any rate.]
AJ McCarron, QB
Photo credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Official Alabama Profile. [That doesn't seem to include his stats from the BCSNCG.)
Stats
460 completions on 609 attempts (66.67%), for 5,956 yards (8.63 yards per attempt), 49 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions
Passer Efficiency Rating of 160.3
85 carries for -28 yards, -0.33 yards per carry, 3 rushing touchdowns
1 tackle (1 solo)
- http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/aj-mccarron-1.html
Alabama Records
#4 in terms of most yardage in a season (2,612 yards, in 2011, a 13-game season - in next year's book, he will be #3 and #5, since he gained 2,937 yards in 2012, a 14-game season)
#6 in terms of yards per game in a season (200.9 ypg, in 2011 - in next year's book, he will be #6 and #7, since he gained 209.8 yards per game in 2012)
#6 in terms of most passing attempts in a season (328, in 2011 - in next year's book, he will be #6 and #8, since he attempted 314 passes in 2012)
#3 in terms of most completions in a season (219, in 2011 - in next year's book, he will be #3 and #5, since he completed 211 passes in 2012.)
#2 in terms of completions percentage over a season (minimum 200 completions) (66.8%, in 2011 - in next year's book, he'll be #2 and #3, since he completed 67.2% of his passes in 2012)
#4 in terms of most passing yards in a season (2,634, in 2011 - in next year's book, he'll be #2 and #5, since he passed for 2,933 yards in 2012)
#2 (3-way tie) in terms of most touchdown passes in a game (4, against Vanderbilt in 2011 - in next year's book, this will be a 7-way tie, since AJ threw four touchdown passes against Western Kentucky, Tennessee, the Auburnite, and Notre Dame in 2012)
#5 (3-way tie) in terms of touchdown passes in a season (16, in 2011 - in next year's book, he'll be #1 and #5, having thrown 30 touchdown passes in 2012, breaking Greg McElroy's 2010 record of 20)
#3 in terms of lowest touchdown % in a season (1.52%, in 2011 - in next year's book, he'll be #1 and #4, since only 0.96% of his pass attempts were intercepted in 2012, breaking Greg McElroy's 2009 record of 1.2%)
#3 in terms of most consecutive pass attempts without an interception (152, in 2011 - in next year's book, he'll be #1, having thrown 291 consecutive passes without an interception, breaking Brodie Croyle's streak of 190)
Awards
2012 BCS National Championship Game Offensive MVP (after the 2011 season)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AJ_McCarron
Andre Smith, OL
Photo credit: Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE
Stats
1 Tackle
1 carry for 2 yards, (2.00 yards per carry), 1 rushing touchdown
Awards
Outland Trophy (2008)
Jacobs Blocking Trophy (2007, tie)
Unanimous 1st-Team Al-American (2008 - AFCA, AP, FWAA, TSN, WCFF, CBS, CFN, ESPN, PFW, Rivals, SI)
1st Team All-SEC (2007, 2008 - AP)
#6 overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Smith_%28offensive_tackle%29