So, it's been a crappy year. All the build-up, the expectations, the swagger and we end up with a forgetable season topped off by the Insight Bowl, the DJK arrests, and the AIRBHG sparing Hampton and Wegher from future pain. But we should try to look on the bright side. For instance, we aren't Northwestern. And Ricky Stanzi proved himself to be one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten, even if he lost a little bit of his 4th quarter magic touch, and continues to be a class act. He was really one of our season's bright spots. I think the man deserves a little final recognition and a chance to cement his place in history as America's Quarterback, by leading Team USA in the next American Football World Cup. 

Now, you're probably thinking I'm crazy, but the American Football World Cup is a real thing. It's been played three times, and Team USA is the defending champ, although because it's an amateur team the results aren't as big of blowouts as you would expect. The next WC will be hosted by Austria in July. There are some strange eligibility rules: the team doesn't allow professionals or college players. It also says a player shouldn't be more than a year removed from college. Stanzi will probably be eligible, but I'm not sure if they allow drafted players (and if he really is the second best senior QB available, he would be silly not to go pro). The U.S. team has a nomination form, and knowing our past success with the Name of the Year contest and how far we got Pat Angerer, we should be able to make an impact if we can flood them similarly with nominations for the Manzi.