This is a brief story about being a good teammate.
Vanderbilt senior offensive lineman Jake Bernstein met with reporters Tuesday and was asked if the Commodores' star sophomore running back, Ralph Webb, was being overlooked entering the team's SEC opener this Saturday against Georgia. The Bulldogs, of course, feature Heisman Trophy candidate running back Nick Chubb.
Via the Athens Banner-Herald, here is what Bernstein said in response:
“Personally I would rather have Ralph Webb than Nick Chubb any day. He’s Vanderbilt’s running back and he’s going to get it done.”
This is what any good teammate on any team in the country ought to say about his team's starting running back. Bernstein didn't say Webb was better. He didn't say Chubb was overrated. He didn't say that Webb is the one who deserves to have the Heisman chatter, that Webb will run for more yards this Saturday, that in a fair and just universe Chubb would be polishing Webb's cleats, etc.
All Bernstein said is that he would rather play football alongside his teammate than a guy who plays the same position for the other team, and that he believed his teammate was good enough for the Commodores to win. If he'd said anything different -- "Ralph's OK I guess, but since I'm more concerned with winning games than playing with people I know and respect, yeah, it'd be nice if we could swap him out for that more talented guy" -- he'd have been (properly) raked over the proverbial coals.
Twitter took the opportunity to rake him over the coals anyway, of course.
@AdamSparks stupid remark by Jake, and I'm a Vandy fan! Chubb is the best back in the East
— Austin Hutchens (@commodorefan121) September 8, 2015
And these are supposed to be the smart kids. https://t.co/ZzbTooc3Q3
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) September 8, 2015
@AdamSparks @BarrettSallee is Bernstein Ralph Webb's father or step father...otherwise call the nearest medical facility
— Raymond Cox (@sugurray4UGA) September 8, 2015
@AdamSparks too bad our offense has the same mentality
— Vandy All Day (@VuVandy) September 8, 2015
Must be picking his Fantasy Knitting Team RT @AdamSparks: Bernstein: "I would rather have Ralph Webb than Nick Chubb any day."
— MacDawg (@TheMacDawg) September 8, 2015
Is Ralph Webb a better running back than Nick Chubb? No. Whatever anyone might have to say about Jake Bernstein, though, would both backs be equally happy to have a teammate as willing to stick up for them as Bernstein is? Absolutely.
