2024 Gaskamp Award Nomination & Discussion Thread

[closetojumping 62,271]

Years ago, Russell Gaskamp was a rarely played participant on the OL at Texas. Dude barely got to sniff the turf from the sidelines until his senior year and by then, most folks didn't expect much of anything from the guy. It was during that senior year that the little known center rose to longhorn legend status, for the Internet dorks, at least, through highly competent play that had a big helping hand in getting Ricky Williams the Heisman Trophy.

Gaskamp has since gone on to an amazing coaching career. I say "amazing" only in the since that I can't believe the guy still has a head coaching gig. He went 1-20 in his first 2 seasons at the esteemed Franklin Pierce University, where abolitionists are still berated and ostricized to this day. He took them to 4-6 last year and they are expected to shout down dissenters and pursue an uneasy and unsettled peace with their rivals to the tune of 5-5 or maybe even 6-4 this season.

So there you have it, a senior came from nowhere, had a big season, and people in Longhorn Netdom celebrate him to this day. His celebration is managed through the honoring of the senior who randomly shows up in a given year, having done little ahead of that season, and kicks all kinds of ass. Or at least does decently enough for us to notice. This honor is called The Gaskamp Award*. There are nominations each season, but there isn't always a winner, unless someone is forced to name someone due to the Bill Miller BBQ sponsorship in which someone must be named and streamed about on their YouTube channel. Many seasons, there are only echoes in the hallways of those who have come before that season's team. 

Guys who have won this award, and others may recall more, but let's eventually get to the fucking point:

-Marcus Wilkins

-Mo Gordon

-Nate Jones

-John Harris

-Fozzy Whitaker

There's nothing super official here. I don't remember the last time I read about a nominee/winner process, but it still gets mentioned and @Red Five reminded me of it in a post earlier. So, fuck it, here's content fodder for people idiotic enough to be loitering on the football board like me. 

Seniors this season who have also played sparingly within position groups (not counting STs). Touted transfers and regular starters defeat the purpose of this discussion:

-Gavin Holmes - dude was relegated to 3rd string after transferring in from Wake Forest and is currently not winning any money for NIL unless he explodes onto the scene early this year.

-Maurice Blackwell - yes, he's been excellent on STs but he's always been a tweener on defense who hasn't played much.

-Juan Davis - outside of some specialty goal line stuff, I don't remember seeing this guy ever play a lick. That said, he's mentioned constantly as something akin to Windex in terms of being able to presumably fix any ailment in regard to the team's depth issues within any random position group. At the moment, people are penciling him into the rotation for productive snaps at both TE and TB. I'm assuming someone is on the verge of claiming that he's about to get reps at SS or Edge as well. 

-Alfred Collins - it's all relative, I guess. Collins was a highly touted 5 star, future sure-fire NFL draftee when he signed with Texas. While he's certainly received snaps during his tenure at Texas, I'd say they haven't been incredibly productive snaps. Ottomans have been more productive in most of our homes over the last 4 years. Encyclopedia collections have shown more resilience over that span for many of us. I've been less disappointed in my insolent children during Collins' time at Texas. I'm not looking for "okay" from this current bust. Anything less than 3rd Team All SEC doesn't qualify this loafer for the award. 

Anyway, open to other thoughts and interested how the votes shakeout. I'd make this an actual poll, but you can't really create content within the post when doing so. So we'll just count out where people stand, I guess.

*I don't remember for sure, but I think @Scipio started this on Go Big 12 or Hornfans. Not sure if he's doing it somewhere these days and I don't think anyone does it here these days but credit where it is due.

[cmontexas 3,260]

Broughton is currently 1st team at DT I don't think any of us anticipated that.

[statsman 5,430]

Great callback. This used to be more of a noticeable thing, ten to 20 years ago. In Mack’s teams, once a player had been passed on the depth chart by a younger recruit, he was stuck there. Mack really wasn’t into coaching different paces of development. Gaskamp, and many of his successors, got their senior playing time due to:

-necessity: usually an injury, or recruiting failure, and

-with no transfer portal, lack of other candidates  

Now, we have a transfer portal, but we also have a staff that keeps coaching guys even after they have been passed up. Will be fun to follow. 

[Red Five 40,701]

Broughton is currently 1st team at DT I don't think any of us anticipated that.

Eligible, IMO.

[Bodacious Bevo 3,576]

Personally, I don't think transfers should be eligible. Maybe a Ryan Watts kind of situation where they came in without much experience. But they should probably have to be here for at least three years. 

Anyways, here are my qualifiers and the kind of season they would need to win. 

- Mo Blackwell. Significant and positive contributor. 

- Juan Davis. Significant and positive contributor. 

- David Gbenda. All-SEC honorable mention. Sure, he played a lot last year, but he's always been an afterthought. If he puts together a really good year and gets drafted in the early-to-middle rounds, that meets the criteria for me. 

- Vernon Broughton. All-SEC honorable mention. See above. 

Collins has spent way too much time in the Longhorn public eye to qualify for me. He's had actual expectations every year since 2021. Gunnar Helm has been too good to qualify. Maybe if he's like an All-American. All the other seniors are returning starters, transfers, or walk-ons. 

Edited August 13 by Bodacious Bevo

[Wulaw Horn 18,991]

I think Mo Blackwell and David Gbenda and maybe even Vernon Broughton have all contributed too much already to really and truly be Gaskamp guys.
It's basically Juan Davis. 

If Juan wins it this year- in the age of the portal- we might have to retire the award because it might not ever be given out again. 

[Jiggy-Z 3,432]

To this day I  blame the Texas loss on Russell and his wife for scheduling their wedding on Big 12 championship game day....2001.

We watched the carnage at the reception. Really more on Russell since his wife is a bigger UT fan than him.

[LTtxfan 49,053]

Fyi --  2023 Winners per "Scipio Tex"

 

Quote

The most prestigious and coveted award in college football and arguably all of human existence is being conferred upon two deserving 2023 Longhorns. They are 5th year senior defenders Jett Bush and David Gbenda. First, a quick reminder of who the famed prize honors:

Russell Gaskamp was a highly recruited OL prospect from Weatherford, Okla. that came to Texas with great acclaim and then seemingly gathered dust like a College Station library book. In 1998 – then a fifth year senior – he was a struck by a meteorite doused in Gamma rays, won the starting center job, played extremely well, and helped Ricky Williams win the Heisman and revitalize Texas football with a record-breaking rushing performance.

Thereafter the award goes annually to the breakout senior who has spent much of their career forgotten, marginalized, downtrodden, or injured. Sometimes, these are players that spark some degree of derision from the fanbase until their breakout year – when thereafter they are remembered fondly, even wistfully: “I always knew he’d be a player!”

Former winners include late-breaking standouts Brandon Healy, Maurice Gordon, Nate Jones, Henry Melton, Chris Ogbonnaya, Ben Alexander, Eddie Jones, and John Harris. In some years, the Gaskamp has not been awarded to preserve its aura of gritty eliteness.

David Gbenda

Few plays better encompass the never-quit attitude that embodies the Gaskamp.

Since first earning playing time in 2019, the 5-11, 225 pound Gbenda struggled with consistency and had even seen his rotational playing time diminish in 2022 from prior years. Coming into this year, he was seemingly being written off, but Gbenda had other ideas. After a strong spring and summer, Gbenda turned in his best year at Texas with career highs in snaps (381), tackles (49, 4th on the team) and game impact to include 9 QB pressures, 2 sacks, 3 QB hits and a PBU.

Gbenda’s relentless energy, effort and quickness make the 2023 Longhorn defense better. Could Gbenda be the first Gaskamp Winner to return? Possibly. COVID years have gummed up the works, but a 5th year senior is a 5th year senior. But definitionally, a player can only win the Gaskamp once. Beyond the rules structure, awarding any player the Gaskamp twice would be too great a responsibility for any man, a burden comparable to bearing Tolkien’s Ring of Power in LOTR

Jeff Bush

Jett Bush will forever have the Kick Six to cherish in his scrapbook of memories, but the Gaskamp will eclipse it like the sun’s shadow.

Jett Bush’s 2023 wasn’t just characterized by right place, right time heady play but by his consistent dedication to choosing violence. The 5th year senior former walk-on totaled 17 tackles in his 254 snaps, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find another defender who gave up his body more willingly to destroy outside zone and pulling linemen in gap schemes than Bush. He was also a fill-up-the-box-score contributor who finished the year with 14 QB pressures, 2 sacks, 8 hurries, 4 QB hits, 1 interception and a batted ball.

Bush’s raw physicality and effort made the 2023 Longhorn defense better. Please congratulate both of these athletes for winning the most coveted prize in the world.

 

Note: The prestigious award panel consists of an elite group of evaluators, chaired by Paul Wadlington aka "Scipio Tex". 

The voters include Paul Wadlington. The appeals process is headed by Paul Wadlington and all appeals are filed for review in a Walmart trash dumpster.

 

 

 

[Red Five 40,701]

I was going to say that Gbenda could be the Archie Griffin of the Gaskamp, but I suppose one trophy makes you ineligible for the next.

[MuellerHorn 4,202]

It's probably Broughton or Collins as of now. However, neither of those fit the traditional description of the award.

So, I guess it must be Juan Davis right now. However, 6 reception for 34 yards isn't lighting it up; but it's still an exponential increase in terms of his past production.

Edited Wednesday at 04:56 PM by MuellerHorn

[tokamak 6,353]

Davis does a bunch of stuff for our offense that doesn't show up in the box score, most of it pretty nasty work. Given his perseverance and all he's been through to get to this point, I think he's a worthy winner.

[texifornia 56,594]

Collins is the closest, but even then he's been more "above average" than "lights out."

The award is probably dormant this year, honestly.

[Chuckie Finster 22,622]

Gunnar Helm probably embodies the "Senior far exceeds previous performance" spirit of the award more than anyone else, however most did expect him to be a solid contributor this year so it could be argued he doesn't really qualify.

Edited Wednesday at 05:51 PM by Chuckie Finster

[texifornia 56,594]

Just now, Chuckie Finster said:

Gunnar Helm probably embodies the "upperclassmen far exceeds previous performance" spirit of the award more than anyone else, however most did expect him to be a solid contributor this year so it could be argued he doesn't really qualify.

I had the exact same thought process

[HenryJames 65,919]

Juan Davis is the only candidate. 

[MuellerHorn 4,202]

13 minutes ago, texifornia said:

Collins is the closest, but even then he's been more "above average" than "lights out."

The award is probably dormant this year, honestly.

Yeah, there doesn't seem to be a clear cut answer this year.

[nbmishoid 948]

Helm or Gbenda.  Non stars who shone greatly their senior year.  

[immamac 42,713]

I love Juan, but no - he needs more catches and a TD. His blocking has been great and he's been doing fantastic this season, but he needs to be on the level of Gunnar last season to get the award. 

[Rimbo 25,875]

what year is Taafe, and why wouldn't he otherwise qualify

[Red Five 40,701]

7 minutes ago, nbmishoid said:

Helm or Gbenda.  Non stars who shone greatly their senior year.  

Gbenda won it last year, and has generally looked like the same Gbenda. 

Collins doesn't qualify, IMO. 

Taaffe is interesting. He played a ton last year so not really sure that he came out of nowhere, in the spirit of the award.

Guess it's Juan Davis.

[nbmishoid 948]

Ok, Taffe and Helm.

[SimkinsMan 4,358]

Gunnar Helm and it's not close at all.

[BurntOrange&White 39,817]

4 minutes ago, Red Five said:

Gbenda won it last year, and has generally looked like the same Gbenda. 

Collins doesn't qualify, IMO. 

Taaffe is interesting. He played a ton last year so not really sure that he came out of nowhere, in the spirit of the award.

Guess it's Juan Davis.

Why not Broughton? Yeah he played improved last year but no one expected him to play as well as he has this year and is vastly improved over his 2023 campaign?

 

But Helm does seem like the choice...before the season the general consensus was the tight end room was the weakest on offense yet Gunnar has greatly exceeded expectations and is a strength of the offense, especially in big games. In fact the tight end room is improved because of him over the previous year.

Edited Wednesday at 08:42 PM by BurntOrange&White

[bigcigar 1,164]

Taaffe and helm seem about the same. Contributors previously that have wowed this year. I’d argue taaffe’s more of a surprise than helm….but not sure either qualify for this award.

[Helobious 9,503]

50 minutes ago, Rimbo said:

what year is Taafe, and why wouldn't he otherwise qualify

He’s a junior

[Viper 12,035]

Helm, no question

[Rimbo 25,875]

48 minutes ago, Viper said:

Helm, no question

Yeah. I get that we had adequate expectations for him, but he's really performing at a high level on a team filled with achievers.

[BurntOrange&White 39,817]

1 hour ago, Rimbo said:

Yeah. I get that we had adequate expectations for him, but he's really performing at a high level on a team filled with achievers.

He is a semi finalist for best tight end in the country award. 

[Bevo14 8,282]

 

Helm flashed in previous years so the results this year aren't that surprising.

[Rimbo 25,875]

21 minutes ago, BurntOrange&White said:

He is a semi finalist for best tight end in the country award. 

Yeah that would rank for me as exceeding expectations to the point where I think he qualifies for this. The leader, in my mind.

[BurntOrange&White 39,817]

1 minute ago, Bevo14 said:

 

Helm flashed in previous years so the results this year aren't that surprising.

I wouldn't say he flashed....he may have made a few plays but not flashed. And definitely didn't "flash" enough for us and others around the country to think he's one of the best tight ends in the country. He didn't "flash" enough to be considered a mid round draft pick prior to the year.

[BurntEyes 5,863]

18 hours ago, SimkinsMan said:

Gunnar Helm and it's not close at all.

If Gunnar and Taafe don't qualify, there shouldn't be an award. They've both been outstanding, but as already discussed.. not sure either is unexpected or came out of "nowhere".

Edited Thursday at 03:25 PM by BurntEyes