quote:
After the 2010 season I was convinced that out of all our guys, Hamilton was the most talented. He's just built like a prototypical NFL wideout and most publications I've read have this same feeling as well.

Problem is that I've heard this story far too many times when it just didn't pan out. If he were truly a better player, one would think he would have been starting. I mean, was he hurt or something last year?

Now, there IS precedent for this sort of thing. Back in 1987, the Oklahoma assistant coaches came to Barry Switzer with all these grand plans of how to take Oklahoma State star running back Thurmon Thomas out of the game. Switzer said no, they didn't want to do that, because Thomas' backup was better than he was.

1988 proved him right, as Barry Sanders set an NCAA record for total yards that I believe stands to this day en route to the Heisman.

Still, that's the exception, not the rule, and generally speaking if a player isn't starting, there's a reason why. Time will tell if Hamilton breaks out and has a great season, and maybe he will. Maybe the others leaving will make something in his head click and he'll become the go to guy, I sure as hell don't know. I just question the whole backup being more talented than the starter, especially after hearing that shite about Neiko Thorpe being better than Jerraud (sp?) Powers...

This post was edited on 7/15/12 at 8:01 am