Tommy Mellott wins Payton Award

[BLACKnBLUEnGOLD]

There were 56 first place votes, so at least 56 voters. I suspect the people leaving Tommy off their ballot were the same idiots awarding first place to guys from irrelevant eastern teams...just because you'd have to be an idiot

[blueandgoldblitz]

There were 56 first place votes, so at least 56 voters. I suspect the people leaving Tommy off their ballot were the same idiots awarding first place to guys from irrelevant eastern teams...just because you'd have to be an idiot

I can understand a few people not thinking Tommy or Cam were worthy of first or second, but anyone that left them off their ballot completely need to have their votes taken away...

[coloradocat]

There were 56 first place votes, so at least 56 voters. I suspect the people leaving Tommy off their ballot were the same idiots awarding first place to guys from irrelevant eastern teams...just because you'd have to be an idiot

I can understand a few people not thinking Tommy or Cam were worthy of first or second, but anyone that left them off their ballot completely need to have their votes taken away...

The unfortunate part of having that many voters is that many of them don't watch enough games to earn their votes. They watch their local team and maybe their conference and that's it. They have to go on stats and word of mouth to vote for players they haven't seen. That's why Tommy and Cam have so many votes below 2nd place.

[MSU01]

The FCS is a large enough division that it's impossible for any one media member to really watch all of the other teams play a significant amount. So there will always be some regional bias to the voting for awards like these, especially when the winning player doesn't necessarily have the eye-popping stat lines that some QBs have in the past. But, as long as the votes are well-distributed around the country the best player will still win overall most of the time, as we saw this year. No need to take anyone's vote away, all regions of the country should be included and considered. Tommy's accomplishment isn't diminished in any way because some voters didn't have him on their ballots.

[Bocephus]

There were 56 first place votes, so at least 56 voters. I suspect the people leaving Tommy off their ballot were the same idiots awarding first place to guys from irrelevant eastern teams...just because you'd have to be an idiot

I can understand a few people not thinking Tommy or Cam were worthy of first or second, but anyone that left them off their ballot completely need to have their votes taken away...

The unfortunate part of having that many voters is that many of them don't watch enough games to earn their votes. They watch their local team and maybe their conference and that's it. They have to go on stats and word of mouth to vote for players they haven't seen. That's why Tommy and Cam have so many votes below 2nd place.

Isaiah Land who beat Troy out in 2021 for the Buck has 1 tackle this year for the Colts. They really missed on that one.

[TomCat88]

There were 56 first place votes, so at least 56 voters. I suspect the people leaving Tommy off their ballot were the same idiots awarding first place to guys from irrelevant eastern teams...just because you'd have to be an idiot

Thanks for having the logic that I fail to grasp.

[TomCat88]

The FCS is a large enough division that it's impossible for any one media member to really watch all of the other teams play a significant amount. So there will always be some regional bias to the voting for awards like these, especially when the winning player doesn't necessarily have the eye-popping stat lines that some QBs have in the past. But, as long as the votes are well-distributed around the country the best player will still win overall most of the time, as we saw this year. No need to take anyone's vote away, all regions of the country should be included and considered. Tommy's accomplishment isn't diminished in any way because some voters didn't have him on their ballots.

If so, then it’s the principle of the matter. I don’t think anyone should be allowed to vote if they’re so out of touch that the QB of the undefeated team that has had his team to two title games, a semifinal and playoffs all four years doesn’t at least make your ballot.

I mean, if someone gives you a ballot you’ve got to at a minimum know someone who can help you get familiar with a few of the top candidates so you can start your research by comparing those guys with the players you think are in the running.

[The Big Bad Wolf]

The most deserving player by far. Congratulations Tommy! Now go out and get that MVP tomorrow night!

[blueandgoldblitz]

The FCS is a large enough division that it's impossible for any one media member to really watch all of the other teams play a significant amount. So there will always be some regional bias to the voting for awards like these, especially when the winning player doesn't necessarily have the eye-popping stat lines that some QBs have in the past. But, as long as the votes are well-distributed around the country the best player will still win overall most of the time, as we saw this year. No need to take anyone's vote away, all regions of the country should be included and considered. Tommy's accomplishment isn't diminished in any way because some voters didn't have him on their ballots.

I understand your point and I'll admit I haven't looked at the other regions very much (I'm also not a voter) but even just looking at the stats I feel like anyone should be able to tell that Cam and Tommy deserve to be in everyone's top 5 (probably the RB that took 3rd as well) but I'm not a voter so who knows

[tetoncat]

The FCS is a large enough division that it's impossible for any one media member to really watch all of the other teams play a significant amount. So there will always be some regional bias to the voting for awards like these, especially when the winning player doesn't necessarily have the eye-popping stat lines that some QBs have in the past. But, as long as the votes are well-distributed around the country the best player will still win overall most of the time, as we saw this year. No need to take anyone's vote away, all regions of the country should be included and considered. Tommy's accomplishment isn't diminished in any way because some voters didn't have him on their ballots.

If so, then it’s the principle of the matter. I don’t think anyone should be allowed to vote if they’re so out of touch that the QB of the undefeated team that has had his team to two title games, a semifinal and playoffs all four years doesn’t at least make your ballot.

I mean, if someone gives you a ballot you’ve got to at a minimum know someone who can help you get familiar with a few of the top candidates so you can start your research by comparing those guys with the players you think are in the running.

Agreed. Voters don't have to watch all games, but with ESPN+ and other media there really is no reason they can't look at those in top stats categories and watch 2 or 3 games, if they are not willing to do that they should not vote. There definitely showed a trend that a voter picked the local or regional kid. I think 10 guys with at least 1 1st place vote. Anyone not choosing Tommy or Cam in top 4 doesn't know football.

[MSU01]

The FCS is a large enough division that it's impossible for any one media member to really watch all of the other teams play a significant amount. So there will always be some regional bias to the voting for awards like these, especially when the winning player doesn't necessarily have the eye-popping stat lines that some QBs have in the past. But, as long as the votes are well-distributed around the country the best player will still win overall most of the time, as we saw this year. No need to take anyone's vote away, all regions of the country should be included and considered. Tommy's accomplishment isn't diminished in any way because some voters didn't have him on their ballots.

I understand your point and I'll admit I haven't looked at the other regions very much (I'm also not a voter) but even just looking at the stats I feel like anyone should be able to tell that Cam and Tommy deserve to be in everyone's top 5 (probably the RB that took 3rd as well) but I'm not a voter so who knows

Tommy was 28th in the FCS in total offense this year. As Bobcat fans we understand why that was and why he's still the best player from our undoubtedly biased perspective. But it maybe isn't quite as obvious for someone who doesn't watch MSU games week in and week out and saw a few box scores from games in which MSU didn't need him to put up big numbers to win. As I said before, it's not a personal affront to Tommy if a voter didn't put him on their ballot or voted him 4th or 5th below others. All those other guys who got first place votes are fantastic players and were well deserving players of consideration for the award. We shouldn't be calling for voters to lose their privileges because they judged the players different than we think they should have, IMO. Unless of course they do something really dumb that's obviously way out there, like voting for Bobby Hauck as Coach of the Year.

[nanacat]

Were all the voters from the media?

[SparkCat]

The FCS is a large enough division that it's impossible for any one media member to really watch all of the other teams play a significant amount. So there will always be some regional bias to the voting for awards like these, especially when the winning player doesn't necessarily have the eye-popping stat lines that some QBs have in the past. But, as long as the votes are well-distributed around the country the best player will still win overall most of the time, as we saw this year. No need to take anyone's vote away, all regions of the country should be included and considered. Tommy's accomplishment isn't diminished in any way because some voters didn't have him on their ballots.

I understand your point and I'll admit I haven't looked at the other regions very much (I'm also not a voter) but even just looking at the stats I feel like anyone should be able to tell that Cam and Tommy deserve to be in everyone's top 5 (probably the RB that took 3rd as well) but I'm not a voter so who knows

Tommy was 28th in the FCS in total offense this year. As Bobcat fans we understand why that was and why he's still the best player from our undoubtedly biased perspective. But it maybe isn't quite as obvious for someone who doesn't watch MSU games week in and week out and saw a few box scores from games in which MSU didn't need him to put up big numbers to win. As I said before, it's not a personal affront to Tommy if a voter didn't put him on their ballot or voted him 4th or 5th below others. All those other guys who got first place votes are fantastic players and were well deserving players of consideration for the award. We shouldn't be calling for voters to lose their privileges because they judged the players different than we think they should have, IMO. Unless of course they do something really dumb that's obviously way out there, like voting for Bobby Hauck as Coach of the Year.

What are the credentials, obviously not every single one, of those that are privileged to vote?

Edit* I won’t beat around the bush. Should not every individual who votes have the background, experience and duty to look at the individuals selected for the award and do a deep dive into their year? I understand that people have ‘lives’ outside of this, however, in the grand scheme, these awards are the most prestigious awards at the FCS level and should be thoroughly studied.

[MSU01]

What are the credentials, obviously not every single one, of those that are privileged to vote?

Edit* I won’t beat around the bush. Should not every individual who votes have the background, experience and duty to look at the individuals selected for the award and do a deep dive into their year? I understand that people have ‘lives’ outside of this, however, in the grand scheme, these awards are the most prestigious awards at the FCS level and should be thoroughly studied.

At the same time, a voter could do the thorough study you want and simply come to a different conclusion than you or I would. Different people judge these awards differently and there's no right or wrong formula for exactly how to do it. Some put more emphasis on stats, some put more emphasis on players who excel for the best teams, others put more emphasis on who the best player is regardless of win/loss record. I don't feel the need to get into a lengthy argument about this, but to me it's a bad look to turn this thread away from a celebration of what Tommy has accomplished over the course of his career into a gripe fest about the voters who picked other great players for their ballots. Looking at it from the other perspective, David Walker of UCA was the consensus Buchanan winner this year but Brody Grebe still got four 1st place votes and finished 9th overall. Should those four voters also lose their voting privileges for not doing enough thorough study to pick Walker instead? Hell no!

[SparkCat]

What are the credentials, obviously not every single one, of those that are privileged to vote?

Edit* I won’t beat around the bush. Should not every individual who votes have the background, experience and duty to look at the individuals selected for the award and do a deep dive into their year? I understand that people have ‘lives’ outside of this, however, in the grand scheme, these awards are the most prestigious awards at the FCS level and should be thoroughly studied.

At the same time, a voter could do the thorough study you want and simply come to a different conclusion than you or I would. Different people judge these awards differently and there's no right or wrong formula for exactly how to do it. Some put more emphasis on stats, some put more emphasis on players who excel for the best teams, others put more emphasis on who the best player is regardless of win/loss record. I don't feel the need to get into a lengthy argument about this, but to me it's a bad look to turn this thread away from a celebration of what Tommy has accomplished over the course of his career into a gripe fest about the voters who picked other great players for their ballots. Looking at it from the other perspective, David Walker of UCA was the consensus Buchanan winner this year but Brody Grebe still got four 1st place votes and finished 9th overall. Should those four voters also lose their voting privileges for not doing enough thorough study to pick Walker instead? Hell no!

I’m sorry. Not trying to derail or make into an argument at all. There has been some head-scratchers for votes and when you take into account other polls throughout the year, sometimes you can’t help but feel like a dart was thrown at a list. Anyhow, your explanation did open my mind and helped. Thank you!

[Cledus]

The FCS is a large enough division that it's impossible for any one media member to really watch all of the other teams play a significant amount. So there will always be some regional bias to the voting for awards like these, especially when the winning player doesn't necessarily have the eye-popping stat lines that some QBs have in the past. But, as long as the votes are well-distributed around the country the best player will still win overall most of the time, as we saw this year. No need to take anyone's vote away, all regions of the country should be included and considered. Tommy's accomplishment isn't diminished in any way because some voters didn't have him on their ballots.

While true, it seems like a voter could look at the top five QB’s, RB’s, WR’s, etc to narrow down the list and then begin an earnest analysis. Anyone who didn’t have him in their top 3 is just lazy.

[Prodigal Cat]

You can go back and forth on voters and who is right and wrong but this happens at the highest levels. People argue about Jenty or Hunter for Heisman or Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen for MVP. Not everyone agrees and I'm sure there is some joker out there voting for Dak Prescott that makes you go wut???? Ultimately, they get most right and some wrong (Troy was robbed and I'll die on that particular hill) but more right. I'm glad they got this one right.

[nanacat]

Another good article about Tommy, no pay wall
https://www.montanasports.com/college/m ... 3v7NULaeNA