Despite our best efforts, we always miss a cheapie or two. Here is one that certainly deserved to be included on our list. Iowa State's Leonard Johnson flattens Omar Clayton after the Nevada Las Vegas quarterback scored a touchdown. Johnson was ejected and later issued an apology.
We present the cheapest shots of the 2008 season. Review the plays and vote for the cheapest shot at the bottom. This is like the WWE's Royal Rumble. It happens only once a year and you get to vote only once, so put some thought into it. The videos, in no particular order, are after the jump so we don't tie up your browser loading the main page.
This is the third year we've featured cheap shots, and here are links to the 2007 and 2006 cheapies. A chop block by Auburn's Chaz Ramsey on Louisiana State's Glen Dorsey was voted the cheapest shot of 2007. A late hit by Texas A&M's Kellen Heard on Colt McCoy was selected the cheapie of 2006.
A note to Boise State fans, who are not going to like what they are about to see. Three of the videos involve plays by the Broncos. No, we aren't picking on your team. It just so happens that three of the videos came from the Boise State-Oregon game — two involving your players and another involving an Oregon Duck.
The most-penalized team this past season was Hawaii.
Keep an eye on the right tackle for Auburn, who tries to take out an Alabama lineman from behind during Saturday's game in Tuscaloosa.
Blocks such as this have become all too commonplace at Auburn. Who can forget the cheap shot last season to Louisiana State's Glenn Dorsey, followed by another cheapie by the Tigers in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Houston defensive end Phillip Hunt flattens Tulane quarterback Joe Kemp after a whistle blows the play dead for delay of game during the Cougars' victory Saturday night in Houston. Unfortunately, Kemp suffered a broken collarbone in two places.
Hunt, who has since issued an apology, was called for unnecessary roughness but not ejected. Conference USA ruled Monday that Hunt won't be suspended, a ruling that Green Wave coach Bob Toledo said was wrong.
Tulane athletic director Rick Dickson has asked the Conference USA office to review the play, not only for Hunt's actions but also for how the officials handled it.
"It was the job of the officials to protect a defenseless player," Dickson said. "We saw a flag and everyone stop except one player and the official [back judge Ivan Daniels] did not move to protect the quarterback."
Houston was called for 143 yards in penalties in the 42-14 victory.
Boise State's Jeron Johnson now has a second nomination in the Cheap Shot of the Year contest. The safety, who was ejected in the fourth quarter of the Broncos' Sept. 20 game at Oregon for drilling airborne receiver Ed Dickson, was benched in the third quarter of last week's game at San Jose State after he shoved receiver David Richmond on an overthrown ball.
