My Mind's A-Racing- Here's What I Think!

Rick Karle here! Allright, I'm coming clean with my Heisman votes (and I'm darned proud of them). As one of over 900 Heisman voters nationwide, I take my job seriously- that's why I have chosen Alabama's Mark Ingram number one, followed by Colt McCoy and then Toby Gerhart. Homer pick you say? I beg to differ. I was all set to write in "McCoy" last Sunday when the night before, Ingram went off and McCoy went AWOL. Ingram vs Gerhart? Number 22 has a better yards per carry average than the Stanford star in fewer attempts. Tim Tebow? While he will go down as one of the top five college football players ever, his stats this season did not rival even the likes of Alabama's Greg McElroy. My gut feeling? It's a coin flip between Ingram and McCoy, with Gerhart closing fast!

Other mid-week thoughts: I see the NCAA is looking into yet another secondary rules violation by Lane Kiffin and the Tennessee Vols. It appears that Kiffin sent several recruiting hostesses to South Carolina to talk up big time recruit Marcus Latimore (wink wink). This just in: The other 11 SEC coaches wish they had thought of it... When I hear a pro boxer say he's retiring, it's kind of like Tiger Woods telling his wife he's running to the market for a quart of milk- both are hard to believe. But Jasper's Butterbean Esch is partaking in the last fight of his career Friday night at Boutwell Auditorium. From a man who used to build pre-fab homes to becoming one of the world's great celebrities, it's been quite a ride for the Bean... Any chance I can hire Jimmy Sexton as my agent? He put together quite a deal for Alabama football coach Nick Saban. By playing in the SEC Championship game and winning it, by being named SEC Coach Of The Year- by being named the Amos Alonzo Stagg Coach Of The Year- playing in the BCS Championship game, Saban has already pocketed over a half a million dollars in incentive money. If he beats Texas he grabs another $400,000. If he lands the Eddie Robinson Coach Of The Year Award (he's a finalist), I'm thinking Saban can take home over $1 million in incentives... I may take a few days off next week but I've asked the Salahi's to fill in for me... Was it proper for CBS TV to show Tim Tebow crying at last weekend's SEC Championship game, or is it simply part of the game? And what's your take on many Alabama fans at the Georgia Dome laughing when they saw it?... Charles Barkley tells me he's just signed a commercial deal with a major chain- I'll let him spill the beans... Taylor Hicks tells me he's already booked his hotel room in Pasadena... We'll be taking an entourage to Pasadena to cover the Crimson Tide (Paul Finebaum included)- look for our 60-minute special on January 6th, the day before the big game, live from So-Cal... Nice to see UAB quarterback Joe Webb named the Conference-USA Offensive Player Of The Year: 2300 passing yards, 1400 rushing yards, and responsible for 73 percent of his team's offense? Incredible... Sorry to hear former Auburn standout Ronnie Ross passed away. Ross was a standout receiver that hauled in passes from Pat Sullivan. He also turned linebacker in the 1970 Iron Bowl, intercepting the Tide's Scott Hunter in a 33-28 Auburn victory... Kudos to two of our state's great football stars. Last night, Ed Dyas and Woodrow Lowe were inducted into the National Football Foundation's "College Football Hall Of Fame". Dyas, now an orthopedic surgeon in Mobile, placed 4th in the 1960 Heisman voting. Lowe was a first-team All-American for the Tide for three straight years. Name the last time you've seen that happen... Wanna be my friend on Facebook? Check it out at Facebook/RickKarle... My son wants to play in two U-12 basketball leagues and play indoor soccer this winter. Too much? My real athlete may be my daughter, as she's burning it up in the Birmingham Swim League... Kind of a strange sight last weekend at the Georgia Dome as golfer Nick Faldo was walking around the press box. Word has it he dates a producer at CBS... Thanks for making "Sideline 2009 #1 (again). It's nice to know you recognize the hard work we put in here on Fox6, and I say "hats off" to the many high school football coaches, players, managers, cheerleaders, band members, and perhaps most importantly parents, who helped make it happen. And I like to think that we here at Fox6 know the importance of family. Five sports guys here at the station (all married), with a total of 11 kids- is there something in the water? No wonder w'ere tired all the time.

Speaking exhaustion, we could talk all night but it's getting late. See you on Fox6, on Facebook, Twitter and this very website. Rick Karle