The end of the college football season ended with another success for Alabama in its 52-24 victory against Ohio State in the National championship game Monday in Miami Gardens, Fla.. The Alabama championship was its sixth in 12 years. Ohio State has won one championship in a comparable time, in 2014. The football championships have rotated among six or seven schools in the last 20 years.
Ohio State success may be one reason the team’s middle linebacker, Tuf Borland, from Bolingbrook High School, found his way to the school. Football schools such as Ohio State and Alabama attract premier players from all over the country, although Ohio State’s in-state draw yields significantly bumper crops. Ohio State’s basketball team attracted the Illinois two-time high school player of the year, E.J. Liddell. He is a premier player for the team.
Borland, 6-1 and 234 pounds, is a redshirt senior. He collected seven tackles and seven assisted tackles against Alabama. He eagerly will await the National Football League college draft in April. His capability is unquestioned, however, 6-1 and 234 pounds in recent years has become a little small for a middle linebacker. Evaluation charts will reveal his future in the NFL.
With the Chicago Bears’ 21-9 defeat at the hands of the New Orleans Saints Sunday, the organization’s evaluation will turn to the draft process, just as will the other teams who are out the Super bowl chase. Eight teams remain in the hunt, with two games each Saturday and Sunday.
• Football players selected Monday for the College Football Hall of Fame were 11 in number and two coaches. Quarterback Tony Romo of Eastern Illinois University, 1999-2002, was among those players selected. The only other quarterback in the 2021 Class is Carson Palmer, Southern California, 1998-2002.
Other former college players selected included Aaron Taylor, offensive tackle, Notre Dame, 1990-1993; Andre Tippett, defensive end, Iowa, 1979-1981; Al Wilson, linebacker, Tennessee, 1995-1998; Harris Baton, offensive tackle, North Caroline, 1983-1986; David Fulcher, defensive back, Arizona State, 1983-1985; Dan Morgan, linebacker, Miami, Fla., 1997-2000; Kenneth Sims, defensive tackle, Texas, 1979-1981; C.J. Spiller, running back, kicker returner, Clemson, 2006-2009; and Darren Sproles, running back, Kansas State, 2001-2004. Coaches inducted were Rudy Hubbard, Florida A&M, 1974-1985, and Bob Stoops, Oklahoma, 1999-2016.
The induction will be held December 7 along with the 2020 Hall of Fame Class which did not receive induction honors because the COVID-19 cancellation. The announcement was held during the 11 a.m. Sports Center on ESPN. Archie Manning, quarterback from the University of Mississippi and later the New Orleans Saints in the NFL is the chairman of the National Football Foundation.
• College basketball continues after a fashion, even though the Wednesday game this week between the University of Illinois and host Nebraska in the Big Ten Conference was postponed because of COVID-19 complications for Nebraska. It might be a breath of good news following the Illinois defeat at the hands of visiting Maryland, 66-63. Illinois suffered its fifth defeat of the season of high expectations and second in the Big Ten Conference.
Following a slow start Wednesday of last week against in-State rival Northwestern, the visiting Illini won impressively, 81-56. They must continue the high level of play and avoid letdowns if they are to challenge for the Big Ten Conference championship.
• The Chicago Bulls had their first postponed game postponed earlier this week because of COVID-19 against visiting Boston Tuesday.
• Host Northern Illinois University (2-9) won, 67-65, against Akron, Tuesday afternoon, its first victory under interim head coach Lamar Chapman.