An apology to Brock Berlin

By Michael Bashera Sports Central Columnist

On behalf of college football fans, writers, and observers everywhere, let me be the first to tell Brock Berlin sorry. We are sorry that we are going to take every opportunity we get from now until the end of the Sugar Bowl to criticize, lambaste, deride, and disparage your performance as the quarterback of the Miami Hurricanes.

It's not personal, Brock, it just comes with the territory. Your predecessor at quarterback for Miami, Ken Dorsey, had one of the best careers in the history of college football, but had to suffer through a year of being told he lacked arm strength, lacked mobility, and that any QB could have been successful in the Miami offense. This guy lost two games in three years, and the pundits treated him like a kid who couldn't walk-on as a backup at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School.

If they treated a college football legend like that, Brock, just think how they are going to treat you: the guy replacing the college football legend. I can tell you right now, the 'Canes better win each game by 50 points and you better throw for 7 touchdowns (with no picks, of course) every week or else you are going to start to hear it.

What's "it?"

"It" is winning by 30 points over a weaker team (I'm looking at you, Temple) and being told that the 'Canes offense looked sloppy and lackluster. "It" is beating a tough team by less than a touchdown, and being told that the 'Canes would have blown them out if Dorsey was still here. "It" is blowing out a top team with a sterling performance, and then being told that there are approximately 116 other D-1 quarterbacks who could have done the same thing if surrounded by the talent you will be surrounded with at Miami.

"It" could be the unthinkable: losing a game. The criticism you take after "sloppy" and "unconvincing" wins will be nothing compared to what you will hear if Miami loses a game this year. There will be shouting about the demise of the 'Canes. There will be pseudo-intellectual discussion addressing how modern college football promotes parity and makes it difficult to sustain a dynasty. And there will also be a nation of college football fans calling for your head (or, at least, your backup).

But take heart, Brock. As I told you at the beginning of this apology, all of your critics will be silent as soon as the Sugar Bowl is done. After all, it will be pretty hard to take a shot at you while you are helping your teammates hoist another Sears National Title trophy in the air.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.