College Football Monday – Week 14

Michigan Beats Ohio State
Oklahoma St Outlasts Sooners in Wild Bedlam Contest

                Draft Insiders’ – Top 25 Weekly Rankings

Team of Week –  
    Michigan Pounds Ohio St, 42-27
 
Upset of the Week –
    Oklahoma State Comes back vs Oklahoma, 37-33 in Bedlam Bowl

Offensive Player of Week – RB Hassan Haskins – Michigan
Defensive Player of Week – DE Aidan Hutchinson – Michigan
 
Upcoming Championship Games – 12/4
   SEC – #1 Georgia (12-0) vs #2 Alabama (11-1) at Atlanta, Ga.
   Big Ten – #4 Michigan (11-1) vs #13 Iowa (10-2) at Indianapolis, In.    
   
DraftInsiders.com – Staff – Top 25 Rankings

Rank / Team               Record               
1 Georgia                       12-0
2 Alabama                     11-1
3 Cincinnati                  12-0
4 Michigan                    11-1
5 Notre Dame               11-1                 
6 Oklahoma State      11-1
7 Ohio State                  10-2                 
8 Oregon                       10-2                 
9 Oklahoma                 10-2                 
10 Ole Miss                   10-2
11 Baylor                       10-2                 
12 Michigan State     10-2
13 Iowa                         10-2
14 Pittsburgh             10-2                 
15 Wake Forest          10-2     
16 BYU                          10-2
17 Utah                           9-3       
18 North Carolina St    9-3
19 Houston                     11-1
20 San Diego St           11-1
21 Louisiana                 11-1
22 Kentucky                  9-3
23 Clemson                    9-3                   
24 Texas A&M              8-4
25 Arkansas                 8-4                   
 
Coaches Poll
 
Rank /     Team                         Record / Pts    
1          Georgia (62)                 12-0      1550    
2          Alabama                        11-1      1440    
3          Michigan                       11-1      1408    
4          Cincinnati                    12-0      1399    
5          Oklahoma State         11-1      1285    
6          Notre Dame                 11-1      1250    
7          Ohio State                    10-2      1133    
8          Ole Miss                        10-2      1097    
9          Baylor                           10-2      1046    
10         Oregon                         10-2      932      
11         Oklahoma                   10-2      851      
12         Iowa                             10-2      845      
13         Michigan State         10-2      840      
14        BYU                                10-2      741      
15         Pittsburgh                  10-2      640      
16         Houston                      11-1      607      
17         Utah                               9-3        596      
18        Wake Forest               10-2      531      
19         San Diego State        11-1      396      
20         NC State                       9-3        334      
21         Louisiana                     11-1      268      
22         Kentucky                      9-3        226      
23         Texas A&M                  8-4        202      
24         Clemson                       9-3        170      
25         Arkansas                      8-4        128      
 
Others receiving votes: Wisconsin 100, UTSA 36, Appalachian State 30, Air Force 16, Minnesota 13, Purdue 11, Utah State 8, Coastal Carolina 8, Penn State 5, Fresno State 3, UCLA 3, Mississippi State 2
 
Dropped from rankings: Wisconsin 18, UTSA 20

College Football Monday – Week 13

Ohio State Bombs Michigan State
Utah Shocks Oregon

Draft Insiders’ – Top 25 Weekly Rankings

Team of Week –  
    Ohio St Destroys Michigan St, 56-7

Upset of the Week –
   Utah Shocks Oregon, 38-7

Offensive Player of Week – QB Bryce Young – Alabama
Defensive Player of Week – LB Devon Lloyd – Utah
 
Upcoming Key Weekly Matchup – 11/25
    #25 Mississippi State (7-4) @ #10 Ole Miss (9-2)
         Clash of instate SEC rivals
 
Saturday 11/27
#3 Ohio St vs #7 Michigan
#6 Oklahoma vs #8 Oklahoma St
#2 Alabama vs Auburn

DraftInsiders.com   Top 25 Rankings

 Rank / Team               Record               
1 Georgia                     11-0
2 Alabama                    10-1
3 Ohio State                 10-1                 
4 Cincinnati                 11-0
5 Notre Dame               10-1                 
6 Oklahoma                 10-1                 
7 Michigan                   10-1
8 Oklahoma State      10-1
9 Oregon                      9-2                   
10 Ole Miss                  9-2
11 Baylor                     9-2                   
12 Michigan State       9-2                   
13 Iowa                         9-2
14 UTSA                       11-0     
15 Texas A&M              8-3                   
16 Pittsburgh               9-2                   
17 Wake Forest            9-2       
18 BYU                         9-2
19 Utah                        8-3       
20 North Carolina St    8-3
21 Houston                  10-1
22 Wisconsin               8-3       
23 Louisiana                10-1
24 San Diego St           10-1                 
25 Mississippi State    7-4                   
 
Coaches Poll
 
Rank /     Team                         Record / Pts    
1          Georgia (62)                 11-0      1550    
2          Alabama                       10-1      1450    
3          Ohio State                    10-1      1428    
4          Cincinnati                    11-0      1388    
5          Notre Dame                  10-1      1258    
6          Michigan                      10-1      1250    
7          Oklahoma State           10-1      1210    
8          Ole Miss                       9-2        1049    
9          Oklahoma                    10-1      1010    
10         Baylor                          9-2        977      
11         Oregon                         9-2        864      
12         Iowa                             9-2        722      
13         Michigan State             9-2        698      
14         Texas A&M                   8-3        683      
15         BYU                             9-2        675      
16         Houston                       10-1      572      
17         Pittsburgh                    9-2        507      
18        Wisconsin                    8-3        485      
19         Utah                             8-3        478      
20         UTSA                           11-0      475      
21         Wake Forest                 9-2        404      
22         San Diego State           10-1      257      
23         Louisiana                     10-1      236      
24        NC State                       8-3        196      
25         Kentucky                      8-3        91        
 
Others receiving votes: Arkansas 67, Clemson 56, Mississippi State 42, Penn State 22, Appalachian State 20, Purdue 10, Air Force 9, Coastal Carolina 9, Oregon State 2
 
Dropped from rankings: Arkansas 22
 

College Football Monday – Week 12

Baylor Drills Oklahoma
Michigan Edges Penn State

Draft Insiders’ – Top 25 Weekly Rankings

Team of Week –  
    Ohio State Crushes Purdue
 
Upsets of the Week –
   Baylor Shocks Oklahoma, 27-14
   Mississippi State beats Auburn, 43-34

Offensive Player of Week – QB Will Rogers – Mississippi State
Defensive Player of Week – DE Aidan Hutchinson – Michigan
 
Upcoming Key Weekly Matchup – 11/20
    #8 Michigan State (9-1) @ #3 Ohio State (9-1)
         Clash for Big Ten East Leadership
     
DraftInsiders.com   Top 25 Rankings

Rank / Team               Record               
1 Georgia                       10-0
2 Alabama                     9-1
3 Ohio State                  9-1                   
4 Cincinnati                 10-0                 
5 Oregon                         9-1                   
6 Notre Dame               9-1                   
7 Oklahoma                   9-1                   
8 Michigan State          8-1                   
9 Michigan                     9-1
10 Oklahoma State      9-1
11 Wake Forest             9-1                   
12 Baylor                       8-2                   
13 Ole Miss                    8-2
14 Iowa                           7-2
15 UTSA                         10-0     
16 Texas A&M              7-3                   
17 Pittsburgh               8-2                   
18 North Carolina St    8-2
19 BYU                            8-2
20 Houston                  9-1
21 Wisconsin               7-3       
22 Louisiana                9-1
23 Arkansas                 7-3                   
24 San Diego St           9-1                   
25 Utah                          7-3       
 
Coaches Poll
 
Rank /     Team             Record / Pts    
1          Georgia (62)     10-0      1550    
2          Alabama           9-1        1464    
3          Cincinnati        10-0      1401    
4          Ohio State        9-1        1363    
5          Oregon            9-1        1320    
6          Notre Dame      9-1        1181    
7          Michigan          9-1        1153    
8          Michigan St     9-1        1139    
9          Oklahoma St    9-1        1102    
10         Ole Miss           8-2        948      
11        Oklahoma        9-1        878      
12         Wake Forest     9-1        847      
13         Baylor              8-2        826      
14         Iowa                 8-2        637      
15         BYU                 8-2        605      
16         Texas A&M       7-3        560      
17         Houston           9-1        541      
18         UTSA               10-0      528      
19         Pittsburgh        8-2        446      
20        Wisconsin        7-3        407      
21         Louisiana         9-1        239      
22         Arkansas          7-3        212      
23         San Diego St    9-1        210      
24         NC State           7-3        138      
25        Utah                 7-3        133      
 
Others receiving votes: Kentucky 113, SMU 45, Coastal Carolina 34, Appalachian State 31, Mississippi State 26, Penn State 20, Auburn 18, Utah State 9, Purdue 7, Louisville 5, Kansas State 4, Fresno State 4, Clemson 4, Arizona State 2
 
Dropped from rankings: Auburn 20, Coastal Carolina 21, Penn State 23
 

Heisman Trophy Watch 2021

Nov 12, 2021

QB Bryce Young – Alabama, Soph.
QB CJ Stroud – Ohio State, Fr.
RB Kenneth Walker III – Michigan State, Jr.
QB Caleb Williams – Oklahoma, Fr.
QB Kenny Pickett – Pittsburgh, Sr.
QB Matt Corral – Ole Miss, Jr.

Heisman Trophy award for 2021 will be announced live on Dec. 11, 2021 at 8 pm on ESPN.
Frank Coyle has been a Heisman Trophy award voter for 28 years.

Top Candidates

QB Bryce Young – Alabama, Soph.
First year starter has taken SEC by storm. Two late SEC games vs Arkansas and Auburn may determine his chances.

QB CJ Stroud – Ohio State, Fr.
Freshman starter performed well vs a soft early schedule. Finishes vs three top Big Ten clubs, Purdue, Michigan St and Michigan puts him center stage.

RB Kenneth Walker III – Michigan State, Jr.
Big athletic runner has been dominant in the Big Ten. His final two games vs Ohio St and Penn St. gives him a change to make a final statement.

QB Caleb Williams – Oklahoma, Fr.
Freshman starter took over early this season and never looked back. Gets three big late games vs Baylor, Iowa St and Oklahoma that gives him a chance to move to the top of this list.

QB Kenny Pickett – Pittsburgh, Sr.
Record setting senior has directed a potent offense vs top clubs. Maybe got on the radar late but completing an impressive final season.

QB Matt Corral – Ole Miss, Jr.
Slick throwing junior had a strong first half. Late season injury may be hurt his chances, though a late test vs Texas A&M could change that.

Walter Payton Award 2021 Watch List

UNI football’s Trevor Penning is the first offensive lineman to be named to this year’s Walter Payton Award watch list.

Penning was among 11 players added today, which now includes 46 players. The 2021 Stats Perform FCS Walter Payton Award is presented annually to the national offensive player of the year in college football’s Division I subdivision.

Trevor Penning is our #1 small college prospect and a potential high draft selection. He is scheduled to play in the 2022 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

For the 2021-22 Award Calendar- Player & Coach Awards – Go to www.draftinsiders.com

The Payton Award is celebrating its 35th anniversary season. It’s named for the legendary Hall of Fame running back. Past recipients include Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp and Trey Lance.

Penning became the first Panther to earn the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week award Oct. 25 following UNI’s win over No. 6 South Dakota State. He also earned MVFC First Team Preseason honors.

Newest members by position:

Quarterback
Davis Alexander, Portland State
Ren Hefley, Presbyterian
Keon Howard, UT Martin
Cole Johnson, James Madison
Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State
Jason Shelley, Missouri State
Xavier Shepherd, Kennesaw State

Running Back
Malik Grant, Sacred Heart
Isaiah Ifanse, Montana State

Wide Receiver
Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin

Offensive Line
Trevor Penning, UNI

College Football Monday – Week 11

Purdue Upsets Michigan State
Texas A&M Beats Auburn

Draft Insiders’ – Top 25 Weekly Rankings

Team of Week –  
  #9 Texas A&M beats #17 Auburn, 20-3
 
Upset of the Week –
    Purdue over Michigan St., 40-29

Offensive Player of  Week – QB Aidan O’Connell – Purdue
Defensive Player of  Week – CB Steven Jones – Appalachian State
 
Upcoming Key Weekly Matchup – 11/13
    #3 Oklahoma (9-0) @ #13 Baylor (7-2)
         Clash of Big 12 Contenders

DraftInsiders.com   Top 25 Rankings

Rank / Team               Record               
1 Georgia                        9-0
2 Alabama                     8-1                   
3 Oklahoma                  9-0                   
4 Ohio State                  8-1                   
5 Cincinnati                  9-0                   
6 Oregon                        8-1                   
7 Notre Dame               8-1                   
8 Michigan  State       8-1
9 Texas A&M                 7-2                   
10 Michigan                  8-1                   
11 Oklahoma State     8-1
12 Wake Forest            8-1                   
13 Baylor                       7-2                   
14 Ole Miss                   7-2
15 Iowa                          6-2
16 UTSA                        8-0       
17 Auburn                     6-3                   
18 Pittsburgh               7-2                   
19 North Carolina St   7-2
20 BYU                           8-2
21 Houston                    7-1
22 Coastal Carolina     7-1       
23 Penn State               6-3
24 Wisconsin               6-3       
25 Louisiana                8-1
 

Coaches Poll

Rank /     Team             Record / Pts    
1          Georgia (64)     9-0        1600    
2          Alabama            8-1        1483    
3          Cincinnati         9-0        1430    
4          Oklahoma         9-0        1423    
5          Ohio State         8-1        1356    
6          Oregon               8-1        1291    
7          Notre Dame      8-1        1182    
8          Michigan          8-1        1099    
9          Michigan St     8-1        1074    
10         Oklahoma St   8-1        1045    
11         Texas A&M       7-2        1023    
12         Ole Miss            7-2        862      
13         Wake Forest    8-1        769      
14         Iowa                   7-2        636      
15         BYU                    8-2        552      
16         UTSA                 9-0        525      
17         Houston           8-1        472      
18         Baylor              7-2        449      
19         NC State           7-2        445      
20         Auburn             6-3        382      
21         Coastal Carolina 8-1    335      
22         Pittsburgh        7-2        293      
23         Penn State        6-3        249      
24        Wisconsin         6-3        177      
25         Louisiana         8-1        164      

          Others receiving votes: Arkansas 116, San Diego State 103, Purdue 77, Kentucky 74, Utah 34, Iowa State 21, Appalachian State 19, SMU 18, Minnesota 10, Nevada 3, Fresno State 3, Clemson 3, Tennessee 2, Arizona State 1
 
Dropped from rankings: Kentucky 17, SMU 24
 

College Football Monday – Week 10

Michigan St Rallies to Beat Michigan
Ohio St Thumps Penn St – 33-24

Draft Insiders’ – Top 25 Weekly Rankings

Team of Week –  
  #6 Michigan State beats #9 Michigan, 37-33

Upset of the Week –
     Mississippi State over Kentucky, 31-17

Offensive Player of Week – RB Kenneth Walker – Michigan State
Defensive Player of Week – DE Felix Anudike – Kansas State
Special Teams Player of Week – RS/CB Marcus Jones – Houston
 
Upcoming Key Weekly Matchup – 11/6
    #13 Auburn (6-2) at #11 Texas A&M (6-2)
         Major Clash of SEC West Contenders

DraftInsiders.com   Top 25 Rankings

Rank / Team               Record               
1 Georgia                       8-0
2 Cincinnati                 8-0                   
3 Alabama                    7-1                   
4 Ohio State                 7-1                   
5 Oklahoma                 9-0                   
6 Michigan State        8-0                   
7 Oregon                        7-1                   
9 Michigan                    7-1
10 Wake Forest            8-0                   
11 Texas A&M                6-2                   
12 Oklahoma State      7-1
13 Auburn                      6-2                   
14 Baylor                       7-1                   
15 Kentucky                  6-2                   
16 Ole Miss                    6-2
17 Iowa                           6-2
18 SMU                            7-1
19 Pittsburgh               6-2                   
20 UTSA                         8-0       
21 North Carolina St   6-2
22 Coastal Carolina     7-1       
23 BYU                             7-2
24 Houston                    7-1
25 Penn State               5-3
 

Coaches Poll

 Rank /     Team             Record / Pts    
1          Georgia (64)     8-0        1600    
2          Cincinnati        8-0        1460    
3          Alabama           7-1        1453    
4          Oklahoma        9-0        1423    
5          Ohio State        7-1        1336    
6          Michigan St     8-0        1325    
7          Oregon               7-1        1198    
8          Notre Dame      7-1        1095    
9          Wake Forest     8-0        1051    
10         Michigan          7-1        1050    
11         Oklahoma St    7-1        922      
12         Texas A&M       6-2        910      
13         Baylor               7-1        815      
14         Auburn             6-2        802      
15         Ole Miss           6-2        680      
16         Iowa                  6-2        512      
17         Kentucky          6-2        497      
18         UTSA                  8-0        401      
19         Houston           7-1        349      
20         BYU                   7-2        310      
21         Coastal Carolina 7-1    301      
22         NC State           6-2        265      
23         Penn State       5-3        215      
24         SMU                    7-1        192      
25         Pittsburgh        6-2        162      

  Others receiving votes: Louisiana 156, Fresno State 73, San Diego State 65, Arkansas 65, Minnesota 29, Wisconsin 26, Mississippi State 20, Appalachian State 10, Utah 10, Air Force 9, Liberty 4, Clemson 4, Iowa State 4, Arizona State 1
 
Dropped from rankings: San Diego State 20, Iowa State 23
 
Frank Coyle is a long-time scout with nationwide ties with coaches, scouts and player agents. He is a long-time member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards – Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi, Thorpe, Biletnikoff etc for the past 28 years. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He was a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He does sports radio shows for ESPN and Sporting News on a year-round basis related to NFL and College Football especially during the postseason team and All-star Bowl time. He has worked for CBS Sports, NBC Sports, Yahoo and Rivals sports publications and web sites.

2021-22 College Award Calendar – Player & Coach Awards

Frank Coyle is a long-time scout with nationwide ties with NFL and college coaches, scouts and player agents. He is a member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards – Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi, Thorpe, Biletnikoff, Eddie Robinson etc for the past 25 years.

Award Dates

Award                                Watch List     Semifinalists    Finalist

Bednarik Award                         July 19             Nov. 1           Nov. 23                    Heisman Trophy

Biletnikoff Award                       July 22            Nov. 15             Nov. 23

Bronko Nagurski Trophy            July 27                                    Nov. 17

Broyles Award                                                     Nov 23              Nov. 29

Burlsworth Trophy                                             Nov. 9               Nov. 16

Butkus Award                            July 26             Nov. 1               Nov. 22

Davey O’Brien Award                July 20             Nov. 8               Nov. 23

Disney Sports Spirit Award

Doak Walker Award                   July 21             Nov. 16             Nov. 23

Eddie Robinson Award                                                                 Dec. 7

George Munger Award                                      Nov. 3               Dec. 22

Heisman Trophy                                                                           Dec. 6

John Mackey Award                  July 23                                      Nov. 23

Lou Groza Award                      July 28             Nov. 4               Nov. 23

Maxwell Award                          July 19             Nov. 1               Nov. 23

Outland Trophy                         July 27             Nov. 17             Nov. 23

Paul Hornung Award                 July 29                                      Nov. 17

Paycom Jim Thorpe Award        July 26         Oct. 25               Nov. 23

Ray Guy Award                            July 28          Nov. 10             Nov. 23

Rimington Trophy                      July 23                                      Dec. 6

Stallings Award

Walter Camp Award                  July 30            TBA                  TBA

William V. Campbell Trophy                            Sept. 29            Oct. 27

Wuerffel Trophy                        July 29             Nov. 2               Nov. 23

College Football Monday – Week 9

Alabama & Ohio State Impress with Strong Victories
Illinois Upsets Penn State

Draft Insiders’ – Top 25 Weekly Rankings

Team of Week –  
  #10 Ole Miss beats LSU, 31-17
 
Upset of the Week –
     Illinois over Penn State, 20-18, 9 OTs (NCAA record)

Offensive Player of Week – RB Chase Brown – Illinois
Defensive Player of Week – DE Kayvon Thibodeaux – Oregon
 
Upcoming Key Weekly Matchup – 10/30
    #6 Michigan (7-0) at #7 Michigan State (8-0)
            Interstate Clash of Big Ten Unbeaten

     #13 Ole Miss (6-1) @ #21 Auburn (5-2)
           SEC West bowl contenders in a crucial matchup

DraftInsiders.com   Top 25 Rankings

Rank / Team              Record               
1 Georgia                       7-0
2 Cincinnati                 7-0
3 Alabama                    7-1                   
4 Ohio State                 6-1                   
5 Oklahoma                 8-0                   
6 Michigan                   7-0
7 Michigan State       8-0                   
8 Oregon                       6-1                   
9 Ole Miss                     6-1
10 Kentucky                 6-1                   
11 Notre Dame             6-1                   
12 Iowa                           6-1
13 Texas A&M              6-2                   
14 Wake Forest            7-0                   
15 SMU                             7-0
16 San Diego State       7-0
17 Penn State                 5-2                   
18 Oklahoma State       6-1
19 Baylor                         6-1                   
20 Auburn                      5-2                   
21 Pittsburgh                 6-1                   
22 North Carolina St    5-2       
23 Coastal Carolina      6-1       
24 UTSA                          8-0       
25 Iowa St                      5-2
 

Coaches Poll
 
Rank /     Team             Record / Pts    
1          Georgia (64)      7-0        1600    
2          Cincinnati         7-0        1469    
3          Alabama            7-1        1439    
4          Oklahoma         8-0        1430    
5          Ohio State         6-1        1338    
6          Michigan           7-0        1313    
7          Michigan St      7-0        1208    
8          Oregon               6-1        1139    
9          Ole Miss             6-1        1019    
10         Iowa                   6-1        1008    
11         Notre Dame      6-1        950      
12         Kentucky           6-1        857      
13         Wake Forest     7-0        838      
14         Texas A&M        6-2        736      
15         Oklahoma St     6-1        684      
16         SMU                     7-0        535      
17         Penn State         5-2        517      
18         Baylor                6-1        509      
19         Pittsburgh        6-1        487      
20         San Diego St    7-0        431      
21         Auburn              5-2        418      
22         UTSA                 8-0        219      
23         Iowa State        5-2        190      
24         Coastal Carolina 6-1    134      
25         NC State            5-2        73        
 
Others receiving votes: Louisiana 42, BYU 42, Arkansas 41, Houston 27, Arizona State 27, Virginia 23, Oregon State 13, Florida 13, Fresno State 10, Air Force 9, Appalachian State 5, Liberty 3, Texas 3, Utah 1
 
Dropped from rankings: Clemson 24
 

Frank Coyle is a long-time scout with nationwide ties with coaches, scouts and player agents. He is a long-time member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards – Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi, Thorpe, Biletnikoff etc for the past 28 years. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He was a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He does sports radio shows for ESPN and Sporting News on a year-round basis related to NFL and College Football especially during the postseason team and All-star Bowl time. He has worked for CBS Sports, NBC Sports, Yahoo and Rivals sports publications and web sites.

Creator of ‘Mr Irrelevant’ – Paul Salata Passes

Paul Salata, the Newport Beach businessman and philanthropist who founded Mr. Irrelevant Week 45 years ago, died Saturday, October 16th. Salata was 94 years old and passed the day before his 95th birthday this past Sunday. He had been in declining health for several years.

Salata was part of the rich bizarre history and lore of the NFL Draft. He created Irrelevant Week in 1976 to honor the last player selected in the NFL Draft, who would be known as “Mr. Irrelevant.” A week’s worth of activities, including a welcome party, a golf tournament, a trip to Disneyland and The Lowsman Banquet’ with a parade, were among the events.

Mr. Irrelevant would be presented the ‘Lowsman Trophy’, which looked like the famed Heisman Trophy except the football player on the Lowsman Trophy is dropping the football. This last selection in the NFL Draft also created the ‘Salata Rule’ after an incident in 1979 between the LA Rams and Pittsburgh Steeler. The Rams passed on the next to last selection to allow the Steelers to move up one spot and the Rams would get the final selection. The Steelers also passed on the selection which forced the Commissioner Pete Rozelle and NFL office to rule that no team can pass on the next to last selection to claim the final overall draft choice. Steelers retained the last draft choice.

Salata gave to many charitable causes – Irrelevant Week always benefited local charities – and created endowments at USC where he played football and baseball.

Salata was master of ceremony and guest of honor at many events for many years in Orange County. His quick wit was always on display. One example: Tampa Bay Buccaneers placekicker Ryan Succop was a Mr. Irrelevant when he was the last player drafted in 2009 by the Kansas City Chiefs. Succop’s last name is pronounced “suck up.” With that in mind, Salata’s introduction of Succop included, “He comes from a whole family of Succops.” As a Buccaneer in 2021, Succop became the first ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ to win a Super Bowl ring with the Bucs.

Salata was a successful sewer contractor. The late Orange County Register columnist John Hall often called Salata “The Sewer King.”

Before getting into the business world, Salata was an outstanding receiver at USC. He caught a touchdown pass for the Trojans in a 25-0 victory over Tennessee in the 1945 Rose Bowl game (Salata would claim he caught two touchdown passes in the game, but an official, Salata said, made a mistake when the official ruled Salata was out of bounds on what would have been a touchdown reception). At USC, he was an infielder and part of the Trojans’ first College World Series title. His USC playing days were interrupted by an 18-month stint in the Army Air Corps.

Salata played for the Baltimore Colts when the Colts were in the All-American Football Conference and rejoined the team when the Colts were integrated in the NFL. He played for the San Francisco 49ers in 1949 and 1950. During the 1950 season, he had 50 receptions, playing for the 49ers and Colts that season.

He also played in the Canadian Football League in which he was an all-star receiver with the Calgary Stampeders. Salata played college and minor-league baseball.

Salata was an extra or bit-player in 18 films, including as a prisoner of war in “Stalag 17,” as one of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball players in the original “Angels in the Outfield,” the ‘Ten Commandments’, ‘Singin in the Rain’, and he was the guy who sliced open Frank Sinatra’s nose in “The Joker Is Wild.”

He is survived by his wife Carolyn, daughter Melanie Salata Fitch, son Brian Salata, granddaughters Alix and Marie, and brother George.

Salata Fitch assumed the leadership role in Irrelevant Week in recent years and hopefully continues this amazing tradition.