I don’t disagree that UT and our fans pushed him too hard. I still resent that they created an argument that defensive players deserved the award as well. Woodson is the only defensive player to ever win the award and there have been far more dominant defensive players IMO before and since.
Woodson was a great player and I have never taken anything away from him - they just created a controversy and many college fans were tired of hearing about Manning. Funny thing, he is still one of the most talked about football players.
I don’t think it hurt his career. There is a perception by SEC schools and fans that media is slanted towards some other conferences that are bigger media markets. Thankfully the string of BCS championships by the SEC seems to have changed that a bit.
It didn’t hurt Manning at all. He is above that fray.
It was UT that screwed it up. Look at what they did to the program by firing Fulmer.
Look at Cutcliff taking Duke to the ACC title game. That is nuts. Best season since 1941.
Tennessee has a leadership problem and it lies in the Regency.