Is Mike Hart "The A-Rod of College Football"?
| 17
|
by Tyduffy
In an article for Sunday's Detroit Free Press, Drew Sharp calls Mike Hart "the A-Rod of College Football."
Could there be a worse analogy?
First, Alex Rodriguez is a player known for his natural ability. If you had to design a baseball player, he would be built to A-Rod's specifications. He has been destined for stardom from the day he was drafted. Even on a bad year, he can skate on his innate talent and hit 30 HR and drive in 100 RBI.
Mike Hart was an unheralded recruit coming out of high school. He's 5'6". He fought his way up the depth chart at Michigan as a freshman based on pure effort. In a sport where big and fast are the two primary attributes, he possesses neither. Every yard he gains is pure unadulterated effort. While A-Rod is the natural talent, Mike Hart is the little man pushing every step of the way.
There is the whole loyalty issue. Mike Hart is Michigan Football. A-Rod plays for whomever will pay him the most money.
Most importantly, Mike Hart is a leader. When Michigan was down after their abysmal season starting losses. It was Mike Hart who put the rest of the team on his back and willed them to five straight victories. It is Mike Hart whom his teammates, coaches, and classmates regard with the ultimate respect. If you were ever in a fox hole, Mike Hart is the guy you would want in there with you.
A-Rod has not displayed an ability to lead. He led Texas to three last place finishes. He was a peripheral figure in the Yankee clubhouse, except, of course, when he was turning it into an Ibsen play. His Texas teammates nicknamed him "the cooler." There are those who are born to be leaders of men. Alex Rodriguez is not one of them.
One would actually have difficulty finding two more unlike figures. Their only shared attribute is the results. Sharp is correct to point out that neither player has a "signature victory." A-Rod has neither won nor appeared in the World Series. Mike Hart has never beaten Ohio State and never won a Bowl Game. However, no one has ever accused Mike Hart of being scared.
Originally published at Odds and Sods
