Better playing surface General, Troy Smith or Michael Conley?

[Big Papa]

Although I think they are/were both incredible, this is easy for me to pick Troy. He did it for longer. If Conley comes back for at least another season he could make this a lot closer comparison in my view. Troy led this team for over two BRILLIANT seasons. Aside from the BCS game, which we could debate for hours what happened there, he was untouchable, and could not be shaken, cold as ice. Conley is showing that ability, but he just needs to do it longer. Just my take. Although, is is very possible he could do something that Troy never did, in leading his team to a NC win.

 

[Big Papa]

Conley.

Troy took 3 years to become a capable QB, and 5 to become the best in the land. Troy developed into a legend, but Conley is almost there now. We won't see him in C-bus for 2 more years, let alone 4. He'll be busy starring in the NBA.

You don't think Troy was a capable QB in 2005 or in the win against scUM in 2004?? Other than the two tough loses to excellent teams (PSU, Tejas) that could have gone our way easily, how was he an "incapable" QB in 2005?

 

[jwinslow]

You don't think Troy was a capable QB in 2005 or in the win against scUM in 2004?? Other than the two tough loses to excellent teams (PSU, Tejas) that could have gone our way easily, how was he an "incapable" QB in 2005?

My statement was it took him 3 years before he was ready to play QB, and 5 before he was the best at his position. I was using the years to contrast their readiness and accomplishments.

1st year - redshirt | 3rd year - Troy is able to start | 5th year - Troy is the best
1st year - Mike is best in NCAA tourney | 3rd year - possibly 2nd year in NBA | 5th year - NBA vet, possible all-star

If you believe I pegged him as 'incapable' until this year, then apparently he won't be the best until 2 years from now.
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I also don't think the 'body of work' argument helps Troy as much as was suggested. The basketball season is longer, which makes up for Conley's lone year of play.

Troy has a number of great games (06 UM, 06 TEX, 06 IOW, 05 ND, 05 UM, 04 UM), but also a handful of bad ones (06 UF, 05 PSU, 05 Tex, 04 Pur).

When was Conley 'bad' all season? The closest thing I can find is MSU (4 pts, 5 ast, 1 to, 2 stl... foul trouble). Florida? (6-14 FG, 13 pts, 7 ast, 3 to, 4 stl). Conley was great (GTwn, Tenn, Xav, BTT final, Wisc). Conley was good (Memphis*, MSU, UNC, etc).

To me, Troy's 06 ILL game was worse than Conley's MSU game.

 

[fourteenandoh]

Troy, for now. If Mike leads this team to a championship tomorrow night that will be enough for me to change my vote. In the end, its all about winning championships.

 

[jwinslow]

Troy, for now. If Mike leads this team to a championship tomorrow night that will be enough for me to change my vote. In the end, its all about winning championships.

Are they very different in that category currently? It sems like a wash to me.

Troy
- Outright big ten champs
- Co big ten champs
- NC game berth

Mike
- Outright big ten champs
- Outright big ten tourney champs
- NC game berth

 

[OregonBuckeye]

My statement was it took him 3 years before he was ready to play QB, and 5 before he was the best at his position. I was using the years to contrast their readiness and accomplishments.

1st year - redshirt | 3rd year - Troy is able to start | 5th year - Troy is the best
1st year - Mike is best in NCAA tourney | 3rd year - possibly 2nd year in NBA | 5th year - NBA vet, possible all-star

If you believe I pegged him as 'incapable' until this year, then apparently he won't be the best until 2 years from now.

But no one dominates as a true freshman quarterback. It's far easier to play well as a true freshman in basketball than football. Apples and oranges.

 

[jwinslow]

But no one dominates as a true freshman quarterback. It's far easier to play well as a true freshman in basketball than football. Apples and oranges.

Well the whole thread is apples to oranges... however I think a third year QB compares somewhat to a first year PG. Perhaps that would have been a better chart.

I don't think Conley is anywhere near the legend of Troy Smith yet. But as a field general, I think he's been more consistently good/great.

 

[ScarletBlood31]

I'll just say Conley purely on the fact that he is doing things as a freshman that took Troy till his senior year to do.

In Troy's defense, basketball players are much more ready to play at younger ages than football players, and Troy is hands down the best QB in tOSU history.

 

[OCBucksFan]

This is a tough decision but I have to say Troy, he never lost to Michigan in football which is quite a feat, he won the Heisman, and took us to the NC game. Sure, we lost that game, but anyone who remembers will have to give some of his performance to the lackluster display by our offensive line that day.

Trust me, that game may be a bitter pill for us to swallow but JT will use that tape whenever he thinks his team is getting over-confident or not taking a team seriously.

 

[fourteenandoh]

Are they very different in that category currently? It sems like a wash to me.

Troy
- Outright big ten champs
- Co big ten champs
- NC game berth

Mike
- Outright big ten champs
- Outright big ten tourney champs
- NC game berth

exactly. conley and troy are even when it comes to what you've listed above, but conley doesn't have a heisman so that puts troy ahead in my eyes. the one thing that would put him ahead of troy is if he leads his team to the championship tomorrow. NC's trump all

 

[Flocka]

It has been said before, but they are different. Both have done something special, but as of now, it has to go to Troy. He has played a large part, and made huge plays to help us out. If Mike continues this trend for three seasons, then we have an argument.

 

[jwinslow]

If Mike continues this trend for three seasons, then we have an argument.

It also takes Troy three seasons to match the number of games Conley plays in one year.

Has Troy truly played in more big games? Debatable.

Conley faced a top-5 ranked Wisconsin squad 3 times, and clinched a big ten title and tourney title (& 1-seed)... yet in buckeye fandom one win over Michigan is far more valuable, imo.

Marquee OOC games:
Conley - UNC, UF, Tenn
Troy - Texas, @ Texas

Marquee B10 games:
Conley - @ Wisc, Ind, @ MSU, Wisc, BTT final
Troy - UM 04, @ PSU 05, @ UM 05, @ Iowa 06, UM 06

Marquee postseason games:
Conley - X, UT, Mem, GTwn, UF
Troy - ND, UF

 

[TRON]

No Troy means no title game.

No Mike means no title game.


It's a draw to me.

 

[ScriptOhio]

It is like comparing "apples to oranges, etc.", you can't really do it. I just think we are/were damn fortunate to have both of them on their respective teams.

 

[Dryden]

Conley faced a top-5 ranked Wisconsin squad 3 times, and clinched a big ten title and tourney title (& 1-seed)... yet in buckeye fandom one win over Michigan is far more valuable, imo.

Disagree. Conley faced a top-5 Wisconsin once. After they lost Butch, they weren't a top-5 team anymore. The Big Ten tourney and the NCAA tourney both exposed that.