Crimson Red Sports

NEW YORK — If maybe just for the weekend, Trent Richardson was just like any college kid.

Granted, it wasn’t just any trip to New York — not every undergrad takes in the sights as a Heisman Trophy finalist — but he could take a rare step away from the public eye a few times.

Richardson was still a big fish, he was just swimming in a much bigger pond. That meant enjoying a few of the foreign sights around his Times Square hotel in relative anonymity.

“There’s a million folks out there in the New York streets, it ain’t like they’re just going to notice me out of everybody,” Richardson said. “It’s been fun. It’s been quite an experience. It almost feels weird having people not noticing me.”

And though he finished third in the voting behind Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck, Richardson said his first trip to the big city was incredible.

Entertainers dressed up as Elmo and the Cookie Monster from Sesame Street shocked him the most. Well that, and the 24-hour energy pumping through the veins of Times Square. Even his room high atop the Marriott Marquis couldn’t quiet the bustle.

“These people don’t sleep,” he said. “It’s just amazing to see these people up at 4, you can hear people downstairs at 4 in the morning and they’re still doing the same thing out there. They’re dancing, looking at themselves on the screen, and having fun. They’re living life, man. I don’t know if I can do it every day.”

The experience was also enhanced by spending time with the other finalists.

Griffin, the Baylor quarterback whose late surge pushed him to the Heisman win, said the time spent with just his fellow finalists was priceless.

“I’m comparing them back to the players on our team,” he said. “… Trent Richardson is hilarious...”

How does all the financials for the contestants work? Reimbursed for travel, lodging? Or does the Heisman Foundation book and pay for everything? The University? I hope BATR didn't clean out the mini-fridge and snacks. RTR anyway!

Title:16.1.7.2 – Established Regional, National or International Awards.

It is permissible for an outside organization (other than a professional sports organization) to provide actual and necessary expenses for a student-athlete to travel to a banquet designed to recognize the individual’s accomplishments as an athlete in order for the student-athlete to receive an established regional, national or international award (permitted by NCAA legislation). The outside organization also may provide actual and necessary expenses for the student-athlete’s spouse, parents or other relatives to attend the recognition event.

So you and I could have a contest in Belize for most yards by funny horned rimmed glasses wearing, 475+ bench pressing RBs and no one can say anything?

No, I think everyone would complain, including me.  :)

:(

Too 'mean spirited'?

HUGE difference between a little mean spirited banter and crushing the hopes and dreams of a fellow Tide fan. Does this have anything to do with the bail bale exchange? SIAP