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Biletnikoff voters missed the boat

By Brett Friedlander
©2014 Bonesville.net
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At some point during Saturday’s game against Tulane, probably in the first half, Justin Hardy will come off the line, get a step on his defender and catch his fourth pass of the day from quarterback Shane Carden.

When he does, he will surpass Oklahoma’s Ryan Broyles to become the all-time receptions leader in FBS history.

It’s an achievement that will be acknowledged with an announcement over the Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium PA system. The game may even be stopped for a short ceremony.

But while the Pirates and their fans will celebrate the moment with the respect and admiration it deserves, it’s likely to come and go with barely a mention on SportsCenter and little to no fanfare among those not as familiar with Hardy and his prolonged greatness.

That’s a group much larger than anyone could ever have imagined.

We learned that earlier this week when Hardy was inexplicably left off the list of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, presented annually by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation to the top receiver in college football.

The omission, in its simplest terms, means that according to the award’s 268-member voting panel, the ECU star isn’t among the nation’s 10 best players at his position. All it takes is one look at the statistics to debunk that notion.

The 5-foot-11, 188-pound senior, who started his career as a walk-on, currently ranks third in the FBS with an average of 8.9 catches per game (80 in nine games). He is eighth nationally in receiving yards per game at 111.3 and is ranked higher in both categories than six of the 10 players named as Biletnikoff semifinalists.

Though Hardy has clearly caught the eye of those who actually matter in football, as his selection along with Carden as one the first players named to the prestigious Senior Bowl proves, his award snub means that despite all he’s accomplished, one of the greatest players in Pirates history is also, sadly, one of the most underappreciated players in college football history.

It’s a reality that managed to do something that doesn’t happen very often – raise the public ire of ECU coach Ruffin McNeill.

“That’s the most idiotic thing I have ever heard in my life that they would not put that young man on there,” McNeill said at his regular weekly press conference Monday. “What are you looking for? A student? He already graduated. We had an academic meeting today and tried to find out how he can make the Dean’s List. He’s getting ready to break the all-time receptions record.

“I’m not the smartest guy in the world, but here is a `C’, here is an `A’ and I think there’s a `T’ around here somewhere (and) that spells CAT. Justin Hardy isn’t on there? I don’t know who is picking that. I hope these words get back to whoever didn’t choose him.”

The roster of Biletnikoff voters is available on the award’s official website. I happen to be one of them. As such, I’m embarrassed that so many of my colleagues were too lazy to look past the usual suspects when casting their ballots.

Only one of the 10 semifinalists, Colorado State’s Rashard Higgins, plays for a non-Power 5 conference team. That disparity, as McNeill made sure to point out, means that ECU was disrespected just as much as Hardy by the Biletnikoff Award semifinal snub.

“We conduct our athletic program from top to bottom, with first class and if someone doesn’t understand that, then they need to come over here and spend some time,” McNeill said. “There is respect and disrespect. When you’re young, you probably deserve some. But when you respect others then, in theory, they should respect you. And we respect all. So in turn, maybe it’s naïve, but I expect respect to our university, our athletic program and our kids. When it doesn’t happen, I’m going to stand up for them.”

For the record, Hardy was among the top three picks on my semifinal ballot. It should also be noted that I wrote his name in as the top pick on my subsequent ballot selecting the award’s three finalists. Though it won’t help right the wrong of Hardy’s omission, at least perhaps it will make a statement: That both Justin Hardy and ECU deserved better.

Hardy did receive a consolation prize on Tuesday when he named as one of 10 semifinalists for the Burlsworth Trophy – symbolic of the nation’s best college player who started his career as a walk-on.

He’ll also get a permanent place in the FBS record book with his fourth catch Saturday. When that happens and he reaches the magic mark of 350 career receptions, Hardy will become – statistically – the best receiver in major college football history.

Whether the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation recognizes him with trophy or not.

Contact Brett Friedlander

PAGE UPDATED 11/21/14 06:11 AM.

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