Hlas column: Stanzi deserved Big Ten award ... and so did Robinson and Johnson-Koulianos

IOWA CITY - Never take awards too seriously. Unless you win one, of course.

Many Oscar, Emmy, Nobel Peace Prize and Employee Recognition awards probably go to the wrong people. Whaddya gonna do?

I've voted for the Heisman Trophy for several years, which should invalidate the award right there. Quarterbacks Danny Wuerffel and Chris Weinke won it, while Vince Young and Drew Brees didn't. So much for the Heisman.

The Big Ten named Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi the winner of its Offensive Player of the Week award. Stanzi was 17-of-24 passing for 248 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in Iowa's 38-28 win at Michigan. Good stuff, no question.

But what about Hawkeye running back Adam Robinson, who had 143 yards rushing and 61 receiving? He had a huge 26-yard catch-and-go play on third-and-8 from Michigan's 40 with Iowa ahead 35-28?

Or receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, who had three touchdown catches including a 31-yard thing of beauty in the second quarter?

Stanzi as this week's Player of the Week is the remotest thing from a scandal or controversy. He played a sharp, smart game on the road. If he had been off, Robinson and Johnson-Koulianos wouldn't have gotten their numbers and Iowa wouldn't have claimed a big win. I'd have picked Robinson, but not without internal wrestling.

The process is what I found interesting. Big Ten assistant commissioner Scott Chipman told me Monday that the league solicits one nominee for offensive, defensive, special teams and freshman of the week from the schools, then the league's five-person communications staff chooses the honorees.

Tuesday, I asked Ferentz what tilted the scale to Stanzi.

“I'm not sure the answer to that,” he replied. “I think he's deserving of it, certainly, but I haven't thought about that. Not really. I didn't look at what everybody else did, so I don't know.”

Ferentz was surprised after he was informed Iowa nominates its players for the award each week.

“Should we (coaches) know about that or not?” he asked with a hint of amusement. “Should we have a hand in that?”

Iowa's nominations are made by the school's sports information staff shortly after the Hawkeyes' Saturday games end. Hawkeyes Paki O'Meara, Mike Daniels and Adrian Clayborn have also earned league Player of the Week awards this season.

During Tuesday's Big Ten teleconference, Wisconsin Coach Bret Bielema discussed how he enjoys watching televised games on Saturday nights and assembling his weekly ballot for the coaches' Top 25. That probably isn't how most of his coaching peers look at the duty.

It's long been a not-so-hidden secret that many coaches forward the weekly voting to sports information staffers. Bielema, who began his coaching career on Hayden Fry's staff, said, “I know who filled his out.” It wasn't Fry.

So have a chuckle every time you hear it called the coaches' poll. The “coaches” ranked Ohio State one spot ahead of Wisconsin this week after the Badgers beat the Buckeyes, 31-18. And the BCS uses the coaches' poll in its formula.

Haddy admitted the fact Stanzi had never been a Big Ten Player of the Week entered into the thinking behind his nomination. He has been a three-time nominee this season, as has Robinson. Stanzi is, after all, third in the nation in passing efficiency.

Tuesday, Stanzi said “Personally, I think A-Rob deserved it more, or Derrell for his performance. I think a lot of guys on our offense could have gotten that award.”

But as Haddy noted, “Ricky won it. So it was a good choice.”