Yeah, it's just a different game. Heck I'd take Charlie Ward over Peyton Manning any day for my college team, but I think he absolutely made the right decision to not even try playing pro.
I think Mack Brown got a lot of pressure to play Simms but it was a lot like Johnson vs Weldon, fans wanted Applewhite all the way (didn't help that Applewhite kept coming in to win games that Simms had left losing).
edit re: poll-
Tis okay, anyone in top 10 controls their own destiny to get to natnl championship, the season will weed out the rest.
Miami plays FSU, UF, Tennessee
Texas plays OU, Nebraska
OU plays Texas, Colorado
FSU plays Miami, UF
Tennessee plays UF, Miami
Colorado plays Oklahoma, Nebraska
UF plays Miami, Tennessee, FSU
Nebraska plays Texas, Colorado
Okay Washington and Michigan only play each other and could be shut out, but that serves them for waiting so long to drop the rose bowl snobbery.