If you haven't read the book, you've probably never heard of him.Michael Oher is an offensive lineman for Mississippi, one of the most underachieving programs in college football. The Rebels have posted three straight losing seasons in the SEC, including an abysmal 3-9 this year.
But Oher -- a 6'5", 325 lb. left tackle -- still has NFL scouts excited, and he's projected to be taken anywhere from the mid-first round to early-second in the 2008 draft.
The Blind Side, by Michael Lewis, tells the story of how Oher arrived at Ole Miss. Without a real family or any significant football background, Oher mysteriously materialized at Briarcrest Christian School, an affluent, nearly all-white high school in suburban Memphis. He was truly a fish out of water.
But Oher was recognized as a young man in need by Sean and Leigh Ann Tuohy, who, after a series of events, more or less adopted the young behemoth. After a highlight video of Oher's junior football season reached Tom Lemming, the person responsible for choosing the high school All-American team, Oher's life would never be the same.
Between studying to get his grades up and fending off would-be suitors from just about every Division I football program in the nation, Oher had an extremely busy -- and rather unusual -- senior year at Briarcrest. But in the end he selected Ole Miss, which is his adopted parents' alma mater.
If you haven't read it yet, pick up the book. It's an excellent read, and Lewis does a great job of stepping back and pointing out the bigger picture. The left offensive tackle has evolved from a position that no one recognizes as special, to a spot at which NFL executives are willing to draft high and pay well.
Most fans remain unable to recognize the value of an offensive lineman, which often supersedes that of a good running back or a decent quarterback. But because of the book, perhaps we can start to wrap our minds around the concept of a star offensive lineman. One day, an offensive tackle will be famous, and not just for signing a big contract.
It could be Michael Oher.
1 comment:
I read it and in many ways enjoyed it more than "Moneyball". Perhaps because it contained more of the human element.
Seeing as my Bears need 1 (or 2 0r 3) tackles, I hope thye select Oher in the draft.
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