College Football Discussion Question

For all the hype propping them up, I wasn't all that supercrazy about the Ohio State linebacking corps. In fact, I'd consider them inferior to Alabama's corps, and probably a few others too.

Here's the question, and I'm not necessarily taking one side or another...

Is the hype behind Ohio State's linebackers deserved? If not, do you think they get more publicity because the stars are white? As in, if AJ Hawk and Bobby Carpenter were black, would they get as much attention? And if the racial angle makes you uncomfortable, do you think it might be that because Carpenter's such a good quote, he gets more publicity?